Liz May
South Dakota State Representative, District 27 since 2012. Ran in 9 elections between 2006 and 2024, winning 7. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
South Dakota State Representative, District 27Born 1961Teacher
- In office
- 14 yrs
- Since 2012
- Bills became law
- 25
- 58 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 8.9%
- Chamber median 0.8%
- With party
- 91%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +11.7
- Won 2026
- 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
- State Affairs
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Administrative Procedure · Became law Mar 2026
Administrative Procedure · Became law Mar 2026
Appropriation · Became law Mar 2026
Eminent Domain · Became law Mar 2026
Code Commission · Became law Feb 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where May sits in the South Dakota House of Representatives
May is closer to the center than 32% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Scott Odenbach, Kaley Nolz, Bobbi Andera
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With May’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans91%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the South Dakota House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: May’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | May | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2026 | HB 1138: require the licensure of non-medical home care agencies, and to provide a penalty therefor. | Not voting | Yes | Yes | Failed 36–27 |
| Mar 30, 2026 | HB 1077: consider a cultivated-protein food product to be adulterated food. | Not voting | Yes | No | Failed 32–32 |
| Mar 9, 2026 | SB 245: create the homeowner property tax reduction fund, and to transfer moneys to the homeowner… | Yes | Yes | No | Passed 42–27 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | SB 159: revise requirements pertaining to the minimum age for marriage. | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 40–27 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | SB 179: permit a court to commit a juvenile adjudicated delinquent for certain weapons offenses to… | No | Yes | No | Passed 42–25 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time May 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 House of Representatives, District 27 | Won | R+11.7 | R+0.2 | +11.5 |
| 2024 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Won | R+2.6 | R+0.2 | +2.4 |
| 2022 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Won | D+2.2 | R+1.7 | −3.9 |
| 2020 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Won | R+1.0 | — | — |
| 2018 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Lost | D+2.2 | — | — |
| 2016 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Won | R+0.5 | — | — |
| 2014 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Won | D+1.8 | — | — |
| 2014 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Won | D+8.7 | — | — |
| 2006 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 | Lost | D+20.9 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats May has held
- South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 · since 2020
- South Dakota House of Representatives, District 27 · since 2012
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who May has run against
- Evangeline Poor Bear (I) · 2026 election, won
- Peri Pourier (D) · 2024 election, won
- Steve Livermont (R) · 2016 election, won
- Kevin Killer (D) · 2014 election, won
- Jim Bradford (D) · 2006 election, lost
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know May
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/2b581087-9814-4f0d-80e5-b29a6e7aee67
- Wikidata Q16194189
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET