Christine Erickson Wins Sioux Falls Mayoral Race by Four Votes

A recount board certified Christine Erickson as the winner of the Sioux Falls mayoral election on July 10, 2026, following a two-day ballot recount. The final tally gave Erickson 18,281 votes and Jamie Smith 18,277 votes, a margin of four votes. This result follows an initial June 2 election day where Erickson led by only two votes, marking a third separate confirmation of her lead throughout the process.

Erickson stated she is ready to begin reviewing the city budget and plans to name a transition team and a Chief of Staff to prepare for her tenure. She is scheduled to be sworn into office on July 17, succeeding term-limited Mayor Paul TenHaken. She described the recount as a third victory, asserting that the results were clear both on June 23 and again following the recount.

Jamie Smith has refused to concede the election. He indicated that his campaign is evaluating further legal options and may pursue a challenge within a five-day window to formally accept the results. Smith suggested that the process revealed a need for legislative tweaks to improve the consistency of contested ballots. Despite the potential for a legal battle, the certification stands as the official result of the recount board's proceedings.