Ernie Otten
South Dakota State Senator, District 6 since 2012. Ran in 8 elections between 2012 and 2024, winning 8. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 14 yrs
- Since 2012
- Bills became law
- 12
- 30 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.2%
- Chamber median 0.8%
- With party
- 79%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +19.9
- Won 2022
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Appropriations · lead co-chair
- Government Operations and Audit · vice chair
- Appropriations
- Bonding
- Developmental Disability Service Delivery
- Emergency Medical Services Funding Task Force
- Executive Board
- Government Operations and Audit
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Appropriation · Became law Mar 2026
Fund · Became law Mar 2026
Property Tax · Became law Feb 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Otten sits in the South Dakota State Senate
Otten is closer to the center than 52% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Amber Hulse, Jim Mehlhaff, Arch Beal
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With Otten’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans79%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the South Dakota State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Otten’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Otten | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 9, 2026 | HB 1082: establish parameters for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or… | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 20–14 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | HB 1245: authorize municipalities to establish a local funding mechanism for capital improvement… | No | Yes | Yes | Passed 19–15 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | HB 1138: require the licensure of non-medical home care agencies, and to provide a penalty therefor. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 20–14 |
| Mar 4, 2026 | HB 1263: eliminate an exclusion from the definition of an agricultural equipment dealer. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 28–6 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | HB 1313: require education in prenatal human growth and development. | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 31–3 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Otten was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | South Dakota State Senate, District 6 | Won | — | R+32.6 | — |
| 2024 | South Dakota State Senate, District 6 | Won | — | R+32.6 | — |
| 2022 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 6 | Won | R+19.9 | R+28.9 | −9.0 |
| 2020 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 6 | Won | R+14.2 | — | — |
| 2018 | South Dakota State Senate, District 6 | Won | R+30.2 | — | — |
| 2016 | South Dakota State Senate, District 6 | Won | R+37.7 | — | — |
| 2014 | South Dakota State Senate, District 6 | Won | R+43.6 | — | — |
| 2014 | South Dakota State Senate, District 6 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | South Dakota State Senate, District 6 | Won | R+30.9 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $5.6K
- Spent
- $6.9K
- Cash
- $4.6K
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State filings through Oct 20, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 2:15 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Friends of Ernie Otten State | Active |
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State filings through Oct 20, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 2:15 AM ET
Seats Otten has held
- South Dakota State Senate, District 6 · since 2024
- South Dakota House of Representatives, District 6 · 2020–2024
- South Dakota State Senate, District 6 · since 2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Otten has run against
- Aaron Aylward (R) · 2022 election, won
- Teresa Ann Robbins (D) · 2018 election, won
- Kyle Boese (D) · 2016 election, won
- Mel Zelmer (D) · 2014 election, won
- Richard F. Schriever (D) · 2012 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Otten
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/dda7bd46-d880-453e-b830-269e79425a9a
- Wikidata Q16186411
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET