RepublicanIn office since Nov 2024

Taffy Howard

South Dakota State Senator, District 34 since 2024. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

South Dakota State Senator, District 34Born 1968

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 1 yr; Since 2024
Bills became law: 36; 111 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 0.2%; Chamber median 0.8%
With party: 97%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +4.6; 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.

Government Operations and Audit · vice chair
Government Operations and Audit · chair
Rules Review · vice chair
Appropriations
Appropriations
Military and Veterans Affairs

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

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 111 sponsored · 36 became law

BillIntroCmteSenateHouseLaw

HB 1066 revise a provision related to theft by a contractor, subcontractor, or supplier.
Crimes · Became law Mar 2026

SB 137 establish procedures for anti-SLAPP actions to protect the exercise of a person's constitutional rights,…
Attorney's Fees · Became law Mar 2026

SB 107 add licensed and registered child care programs to the definition of community safety zone.
Child Care · Became law Mar 2026

SB 135 protect residents from increased utility costs and utility shortages caused by data centers and clarify…
Administrative Procedure · Became law Mar 2026

SB 3 limit the types of residential improvements for which counties, municipalities, and townships may require a…
Construction Standards · 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 Howard sits in the South Dakota State Senate

Howard is closer to the center than 3% of the chamber's Republicans.

Closest: Greg Blanc, Tom Pischke, Sam Marty

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

With Howard’s party

Votes with the chamber's Republicans97%

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

Date	Bill	Howard	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 Howard was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

2016201720182019202020212022202320242025202620272028South Dakota House of Representatives, District 33 South Dakota State Senate, District 34

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 34	Won	R+4.6	R+16.5	−11.9
2024	South Dakota State Senate, District 34	Won	R+20.4	—	—
2020	South Dakota House of Representatives, District 33	Won	D+12.9	—	—
2018	South Dakota House of Representatives, District 33	Won	D+2.5	—	—
2016	South Dakota House of Representatives, District 33	Won	D+5.8	—	—