Marty Jackley Leads Nikki Gronli in South Dakota House Race
Republican Marty Jackley leads Democrat Nikki Gronli 60% to 32% in a new poll for South Dakota's sole U.S. House seat.
A poll released by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy shows Republican Attorney General Marty Jackley leading Democrat Nikki Gronli 60% to 32% in the race for South Dakota's sole U.S. House seat. Conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy between October 12 and 14, the survey of 500 likely voters reveals a stark divide in name recognition, with 61% of respondents unfamiliar with Gronli.
Jackley attributed his high visibility to his previous service as attorney general and U.S. attorney. Despite his overall lead, the race is nearly evenly split among independent voters, with 45% supporting Jackley and 44% supporting Gronli. Other data, including internal Democratic polling from Lake Research and Concord Public Opinion, suggest a tighter contest than the South Dakota News Watch survey indicates.
In response to the low name recognition, Gronli has launched television and radio advertisements and shifted her campaign focus toward the Sioux Falls metro area. The general election is scheduled for November 3.
