Kevin D. Jensen
South Dakota State Senator, District 16 since 2024. Ran in 6 elections between 2014 and 2024, winning 5. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 44
- 90 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 2.1%
- Chamber median 0.8%
- With party
- 94%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- −0.9
- Won 2022
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Agriculture and Natural Resources · vice chair
- Health and Human Services · chair
- Developmental Disability Service Delivery
- Emergency Medical Services Funding Task Force
- State Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Emergency Medical Services · Became law Mar 2026
Administrative Rule Revision · Became law Mar 2026
Juvenile Justice · Became law Mar 2026
Health Care · Became law Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Jensen sits in the South Dakota State Senate
Jensen is closer to the center than 27% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Mark Lapka, Sue Peterson, Joy Hohn
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With Jensen’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans94%
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: Jensen’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Jensen | 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. | No | 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 Jensen 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 16 | Won | — | R+45.9 | — |
| 2024 | South Dakota State Senate, District 16 | Won | — | R+45.9 | — |
| 2022 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 | Won | D+0.9 | R+42.5 | −43.4 |
| 2020 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 | Won | D+12.6 | — | — |
| 2018 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 | Won | R+2.2 | — | — |
| 2016 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 | Won | D+3.2 | — | — |
| 2014 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 (primary) | Lost | −17.5 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $4.2K
- Spent
- $3.7K
- Cash
- $818
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.
| Jensen for Senate State | Active |
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State filings through Oct 20, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 2:15 AM ET
Seats Jensen has held
- South Dakota State Senate, District 16 · since 2024
- South Dakota House of Representatives, District 16 · 2016–2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Jensen has run against
- Karla Lems (R) · 2022 election, won
- David L. Anderson (R) · 2020 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Jensen
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/1de26fd7-bcde-486b-b290-afdee6756c7c
- Wikidata Q99871049
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET