Democrat Candidate for S.D. Governor Fails to Make Ballot

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A college student who announced he would run for South Dakota governor on the Democratic ticket has failed to gather enough valid signatures to appear on the June 2nd primary election ballot, according to the Secretary of State's office. Robert Arnold's petition drive came up short by over 100 signatures, with the final count falling just below the 1,232 valid signatures required.

Why it matters

This development means South Dakota voters will not have a Democratic candidate for governor on the primary ballot, potentially reducing competition and voter choice in the race. It also highlights the challenges independent and third-party candidates can face in getting on the ballot in the state.

The details

Secretary of State Monae Johnson said her office conducted a random sample of Arnold's petition signatures and found that 79.5% were valid. This resulted in a final count of 1,119 valid signatures, just short of the 1,232 required. Arnold had announced his candidacy in February, positioning himself as a progressive alternative to the expected Republican nominee.

• Arnold announced his candidacy in February 2026.
• The petition signatures were reviewed by the Secretary of State's office in early April 2026.
• The June 2nd primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026.

What’s next

The June 2nd primary election will proceed without a Democratic candidate for governor, leaving the Republican nominee as the likely winner of the general election in November.