Christine Erickson Wins Sioux Falls Mayoral Race by Four Votes

Following a primary, runoff, and recount, Christine Erickson won the 2026 Sioux Falls mayoral election by four votes out of more than 36,000 cast. The victory makes Erickson the first woman to serve as mayor of the city in its history. She is scheduled to be formally sworn into office this Friday at 2 p.m., replacing the term-limited Paul TenHaken.

Jamie Smith announced his concession Tuesday morning at the Old Courthouse Museum. Smith stated he would not challenge the results in court, noting that the timeline for litigation would be more harmful than helpful to the city. While conceding, Smith highlighted issues faced by poll and absentee voters and called for improvements to South Dakota election laws to ensure counting consistency and the proper handling of mail-in ballots.

Erickson thanked Smith for a spirited campaign and urged the community to move past the election to strengthen the city. Smith is currently considering future political options, including a potential return to the state Senate in 2028.