Sioux Falls Mayoral Candidates Tout Experience, Backgrounds at Chamber Forum

Four candidates discussed economic development, growth, and public safety priorities in the race to lead South Dakota's largest city.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 7:10pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of a city hall building or other political setting, with warm sunlight casting long shadows across the facade and surrounding landscape, capturing a sense of civic duty and the weight of local leadership.The Sioux Falls mayoral election will determine the city's leadership during a pivotal period of growth and infrastructure challenges.Sioux Falls Today

Four candidates running for mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota - Joe Batcheller, Christine Erickson, Greg Jamison, and Jamie Smith - participated in a forum hosted by the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. The candidates discussed their backgrounds, experiences, and visions for managing the city's growth, infrastructure, public safety, and relations with neighboring communities. A fifth candidate, David Zokaites, was not invited to participate.

Why it matters

The Sioux Falls mayoral election is an important one for the city, as it faces ongoing challenges around managing rapid growth, maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring public safety. The candidates' backgrounds, policy positions, and ability to lead will be key factors for voters in determining the city's future direction.

The details

At the Chamber forum, each candidate made their case for why they are best suited to lead Sioux Falls. Batcheller highlighted his urban planning expertise and experience leading downtown development, while the other candidates emphasized their political experience serving in elected roles. Erickson, Jamison, and Smith all discussed the need to proactively invest in infrastructure to keep pace with growth, with Jamison pointing to congestion issues on 41st Street as an example. Batcheller and Smith also stressed the importance of focusing growth within the city's existing footprint rather than sprawling outwards.

  • The mayoral forum was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Joe Batcheller

A candidate for Sioux Falls mayor with a master's degree in urban and regional planning and nearly 10 years of experience leading Downtown Sioux Falls.

Christine Erickson

A candidate for Sioux Falls mayor who has served in the state legislature and on the Sioux Falls City Council, and has experience as a small business owner and in industry associations.

Greg Jamison

A candidate for Sioux Falls mayor who has served in the state legislature and on the Sioux Falls City Council, and has experience as a small business owner.

Jamie Smith

A candidate for Sioux Falls mayor who has served in the state legislature, and has experience in healthcare, real estate, and as a teacher and coach in the Sioux Falls School District.

David Zokaites

A fifth candidate for Sioux Falls mayor who was not invited to participate in the Chamber forum.

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What they’re saying

“I don't just talk about growth: I've led it, and I know how to do it right.”

— Joe Batcheller, Candidate for Sioux Falls Mayor

“Through my time and through my career, I've been trusted.”

— Christine Erickson, Candidate for Sioux Falls Mayor

“Often times, what you learn is what not to do.”

— Greg Jamison, Candidate for Sioux Falls Mayor

“When I think about a leader, the thing that comes to the top is a coach.”

— Jamie Smith, Candidate for Sioux Falls Mayor

What’s next

The Sioux Falls mayoral election is scheduled for June 2, 2026. The candidates will continue to campaign and engage with voters in the lead-up to the election.

The takeaway

The Sioux Falls mayoral race features a diverse field of candidates with a range of backgrounds and experiences. Voters will have to weigh the candidates' visions, qualifications, and ability to lead the city as it grapples with ongoing growth, infrastructure, and public safety challenges.