Frye-Mueller likely Senate winner

As of press time it appears former District 30 Rep. Julie Frye-Mueller (R) will be the next District 30 Senator, as she led Libertarian challenger Gideon Oakes by a 70 percent to 30 percent margin.

In the statewide ballot contests, Constitutional Amendment A, an amendment to the South Dakota Constitution to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana; and to require the legislature to pass laws regarding hemp as well as laws ensuring access to marijuana for medical use was being approved 52 percent to 48 percent.

Constitutional Amendment B, an amendment to the South Dakota Constitution authorizing the legislature to allow sports wagering in Deadwood was being approved by a 58 to 42 percent margin.

Initiated Measure 26, an initiated measure to legalize marijuana for medical use passed by an even larger margin, with 69 percent in favor and 31 percent opposed as of press time.

In state races, it appears Republican Mike Rounds easily retained his seat in the U.S. Senate, as he was leading Democratic Dan Ahlers 68 to 32 percent. Rep. Dusty Johnson, also a Republican, was cruising to reelection in the U.S. House of Representatives by a landslide, with 83 percent of the vote.

District 30 representatives will be Tim Goodwin and Trish Ladner, who faced no challengers in the General Election.

In the race for a seat on the Pennington County Commission, Republican Travis Lasseter was well on his way to victory over Democrat Karen McGregor, leading by a 66 percent to 34 percent margin as of press time.

In the race for a seat on the Public Utilities Commission, Republican Gary Hanson was well on his way to victory as of press time, as he had captured 70 percent of the vote, as compared to 24 percent of the vote for Democrat Remi W.B. Bald Eagle and 5 percent for Libertarian Devin Saxon.

In the race for president, Joe Biden led in the Electoral College, but the race was not expected to be decided until much later than press time, if not days later.