A South Dakota state senator is facing felony charges in an election fraud case, according to information released Monday, June 23, 2026.
Details of the specific charges — and the senator’s name — hadn’t been fully confirmed in initial reports circulating that day. What is clear is that the case involves allegations serious enough to carry felony-level exposure, which in South Dakota can mean years in state prison depending on the count and classification.
Election fraud cases at the state legislative level are rare in South Dakota, and a felony filing against an incumbent lawmaker would put immediate pressure on the senator’s standing in the chamber. Under state law, a convicted felon can face removal from office, though the legislature itself retains authority over questions of member discipline and seating.
The attorney general’s office and the state legislature hadn’t issued public statements as of Monday evening. It isn’t clear whether the senator had retained legal counsel or entered any plea. No hearing date had been announced.
