RepublicanIn office since Nov 2020

Helene Duhamel

South Dakota State Senator, District 32 since 2020. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

South Dakota State Senator, District 32Born 1962Journalist

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 6 yrs; Since 2020
Bills became law: 22; 39 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 2.8%; Chamber median 0.8%
With party: 51%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +4.8; Won 2026
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.

Local Government · vice chair
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Judiciary

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 39 sponsored · 22 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

HB 1299 permit the use of biological filtration systems in water recreational facilities located in certain lodging…
Administrative Procedure · Became law Mar 2026

HB 1161 amend provisions related to changing rooms, sleeping quarters, and restrooms.
Personal Rights and Obligations · Became law Mar 2026

SB 231 create the water infrastructure development fund, to provide an appropriation, to provide for the awarding…
Appropriation · Became law Mar 2026

HB 1107 modify restrictions on lands for certain public purposes.
Property · Became law Mar 2026

SB 36 authorize certain utilities to establish wildfire mitigation plans and associated liability limitations for…
Fees · Became law Mar 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Duhamel sits in the South Dakota State Senate

Duhamel is closer to the center than 82% of the chamber's Republicans.

Closest: Randy Deibert, Brandon Wipf, Kyle Schoenfish

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET

With Duhamel’s party

Votes with the chamber's Republicans51%

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: Duhamel’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Date	Bill	Duhamel	Rep. majority	Dem. majority	Result
Mar 9, 2026	HB 1082: establish parameters for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or…	Yes	Yes	Yes	Passed 20–14
Mar 5, 2026	HB 1245: authorize municipalities to establish a local funding mechanism for capital improvement…	Yes	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 Duhamel was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

202020212022202320242025202620272028South Dakota State Senate, District 32

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 Legislative District 32	Won	R+4.8	R+1.8	+3.0
2024	South Dakota State Senate, District 32	Won	R+19.9	—	—
2022	South Dakota State Senate, District 32	Won	R+12.3	—	—
2020	South Dakota State Senate, District 32	Won	R+28.2	—	—