Sue Peterson
South Dakota State Senator, District 13 since 2024. Ran in 5 elections between 2016 and 2024, winning 5. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 35
- 96 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 4.1%
- Chamber median 0.8%
- With party
- 90%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +17.0
- Won 2024
- 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.
- Commerce and Energy · vice chair
- Taxation · chair
- Education
- Emergency Medical Services Funding Task Force
- Legislative Procedure
- Legislative Procedure
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Administrative Rule Revision · Became law Mar 2026
Election Verification · Became law Mar 2026
Absentee Voting · Became law Mar 2026
Administrative Procedure · Became law Mar 2026
Eminent Domain · Became law Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Peterson sits in the South Dakota State Senate
Peterson is closer to the center than 30% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Kevin Jensen, Chris Karr, Mark Lapka
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
With Peterson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans90%
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: Peterson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Peterson | 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 Peterson 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 13 | Won | — | R+10.7 | — |
| 2024 | South Dakota State Senate, District 13 | Won | R+17.0 | R+10.7 | +6.3 |
| 2022 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | Even | R+9.3 | −9.3 |
| 2020 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | R+2.2 | — | — |
| 2018 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | R+5.2 | — | — |
| 2016 | South Dakota House of Representatives, District 13 | Won | D+10.3 | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of State (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $67.9K
- Spent
- $80.4K
- Cash
- $12.6K
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.
| Sue Peterson for District 13 State | Active |
| Susan Peterson for South Dakota State | Active |
Source: South Dakota Secretary of State filings through Oct 20, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 2:15 AM ET
Seats Peterson has held
- South Dakota State Senate, District 13 · since 2024
- South Dakota House of Representatives, District 13 · 2016–2024
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Peterson has run against
- Ali Rae Horsted (D) · 2024 election, won
- Tony Venhuizen (R) · 2022 election, won
- Richard L. Thomason (R) · 2020 election, won
- Kelly A. Sullivan (D) · 2018 election, won
- G. Mark Mickelson (R) · 2016 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of State (unofficial)
How we know Peterson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/10c3de09-4e65-4885-bbbb-78b2903a36e2
- Wikidata Q55956039
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET