South Dakota State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2022

South Dakota Legislative District 34

A district of about 20,000 people, 44% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+17.3 relative to the nation for president.

Where it sits among all 32 seats

Every South Dakota State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.

R+17.310th most
Democratic
Most DemocraticMost Republican17th seat · the majority lineDistrict 34

Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET

Every race on these lines

Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.

2016202020242026
U.S. SenateR+50.6R+49.1No raceNo race
South Dakota State SenateNo raceNo raceR+20.4R+4.6

Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year

Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: South Dakota Secretary of StateUpdated Nov 7, 2026, 3:01 PM ET

Who lives here, compared

Grey bars show the spread of all 32 seats. Small marks are other seats in South Dakota. The black marker is District 34.

Adults with a bachelor's degree44% 87th pct · 5th of 32 in SD

Higher than 87% of seats.

White adults without a degree44% 10th pct · 29th of 32 in SD

Lower than 90% of seats.

Hispanic residents7% 87th pct · 5th of 32 in SD

Higher than 87% of seats.

Black residents1% 52nd pct · 16th of 32 in SD

Higher than 52% of seats.

Asian residents1% 42nd pct · 19th of 32 in SD

Lower than 58% of seats.

People per square mile532 74th pct · 9th of 32 in SD

Denser than 74% of seats.

Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET

Who has held it

These lines took effect in 2022.

  1. Taffy Howard (R)
    2025– · Won 2024 by 20.4, 2026 by 4.6
  2. Michael Diedrich (R)
    2023–2025 · Won 2022 unopposed

Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)