South Dakota Candidate Falls Short of Ballot Signature Requirement

Robert Arnold fails to submit enough valid signatures to qualify for Democratic primary for governor

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:53pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic interior scene of an empty government office, with warm sunlight streaming through the windows and deep shadows covering much of the room, creating a sense of uncertainty and transition around the political process.The failure of a gubernatorial candidate to meet signature requirements casts a somber mood over the state's political landscape.Mitchell Today

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson announced that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Robert Arnold did not submit enough valid petition signatures to qualify for the state's primary election ballot. Arnold turned in 1,407 total signatures, but a random sample found that only 79.51% were valid, resulting in an estimated 1,119 valid signatures - below the required 1,232 threshold.

Why it matters

Ballot access requirements are an important part of the democratic process, ensuring candidates meet certain criteria to appear before voters. This development means South Dakota Democratic primary voters will have one less choice when selecting their party's nominee for governor.

The details

Under state law, Democratic gubernatorial candidates in South Dakota must submit at least 1,232 valid petition signatures to qualify for the primary ballot. Arnold's campaign fell short of this requirement after a random sampling of his submitted signatures found that only 79.51% were deemed valid by election officials.

  • On April 8, 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson announced that Robert Arnold did not qualify for the Democratic primary ballot for governor.

The players

Monae L. Johnson

The Secretary of State of South Dakota, responsible for overseeing the state's elections and ballot access requirements.

Robert Arnold

A Democratic candidate for governor of South Dakota who failed to meet the petition signature threshold to appear on the primary ballot.

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What’s next

The South Dakota Secretary of State's office has published a full list of candidates who have qualified for the Primary Election on their website.

The takeaway

This story highlights the importance of ballot access rules in ensuring a fair and orderly electoral process, even as it limits voter choice in the upcoming Democratic primary for South Dakota governor.