South Dakota's 6th legislative district

South Dakota's 6th legislative district is one of 35 districts in the South Dakota Legislature. Each district is represented by 1 senator and 2 representatives. In the Senate, it has been represented by Republican Ernie Otten Jr. since 2025. In the House, it is represented by Republicans Aaron Aylward and Herman Otten.^[1]

South Dakota's 6th State Senate district

Geography

The district is located in the southern suburbs of Sioux Falls entirely within Lincoln County, in southeastern South Dakota.^[2] Its largest city is Harrisburg.

Recent elections

South Dakota legislators are elected to two-year terms, with each permitted to serve a maximum of four consecutive two-year terms.^[3] Elections are held every even-numbered year.

State senate elections^[4]

Year	Incumbent	Party	First elected	Result	General election	Primary elections
2024	Ernie Otten Jr.	Republican	2024	Incumbent retired. Republican hold.	▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. (Republican) 100%	Republican: ▌Y Aaron Aylward 61.3% ▌Y Herman Otten 61.3% ▌ Larry Tidemann - 38.7%
2022	Herman Otten	Republican	2020	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Herman Otten (Republican) 100%
2020	Herman Otten	Republican	2012	Incumbent retired. Republican hold.	▌Y Herman Otten (Republican) 66.7% ▌ Nancy Kirstein (Democratic) 33.3%	Republican: ▌Y Herman Otten 61.3% ▌ Larry Tidemann - 38.7%
2018	Ernie Otten Jr.	Republican	2012	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. (Republican) 65.1% ▌ Teresa Ann Robbins (Democratic) 34.9%
2016	Ernie Otten Jr.	Republican	2012	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. (Republican) 68.9% ▌ Kyle Boese (Democratic) 31.1%
2014	Ernie Otten Jr.	Republican	2012	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. (Republican) 71.8% ▌ Mel Zelmer (Democratic) 28.2%
2012	Art Fryslie	Republican	2008	Incumbent re-elected.	▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. (Republican) 65.4% ▌ Richard Schriever (Democratic) 34.6%	Republican: ▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. 58.9% ▌ Gene Abdallah - 41.1%

State House of Representatives elections^[5]

Year	Incumbent	Party	Result	General election	Primary elections
2024	Herman Otten (Seat 1) Aaron Aylward (Seat 2)	Republican	Republican hold.	▌Y Herman Otten (Republican) 41.7% ▌Y Aaron Aylward (Republican) 37.8% ▌ Garret Campbell (Democratic) 20.5	Republican: ▌Y Aaron Aylward 40% ▌Y Herman Otten 33% ▌ Wendi Hogan - 27%
2022	Ernie Otten Jr. (Seat 1) Aaron Aylward (Seat 2)	Republican	Republican hold.	▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. (Republican) 59.9% ▌Y Aaron Aylward (Republican) 40.1%
2020	Ernie Otten Jr. (Seat 1) Aaron Aylward (Seat 2)	Republican	Republican hold.	▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. (Republican) 45.1% ▌Y Aaron Aylward (Republican) 30.8% ▌ Cody Ingle (Democratic) 24.1%	Republican: ▌Y Ernie Otten Jr. (Republican) 37.9% ▌Y Aaron Aylward (Republican) 26.8% ▌ Nathan Block (Republican) 26% ▌ Thomas Werner (Republican) 9.4%
2018	Herman Otten (Seat 1) Isaac Latterell (Seat 2)	Republican	Republican hold.	▌Y Herman Otten (Republican) 31% ▌Y Isaac Latterell (Republican) 28.8% ▌ Nancy Kirstein (Democratic) 17.8% ▌ Kyle Boese (Democratic) 17.6% ▌ Aaron Aylward (Libertarian) 4.9%
2016	Herman Otten (Seat 1) Isaac Latterell (Seat 2)	Republican	Republican hold.	▌Y Herman Otten (Republican) 35.5% ▌Y Isaac Latterell (Republican) 32.4% ▌ Clara Hart (Democratic) 17.8% ▌ Kyle Rogers (Democratic) 14.3%
2014	Herman Otten (Seat 1) Isaac Latterell (Seat 2)	Republican	Republican hold.	▌Y Herman Otten (Republican) 45.7% ▌Y Isaac Latterell (Republican) 33.9% ▌ Richard Schriever (Democratic) 20.4%
2012	Herman Otten (Seat 1) Isaac Latterell (Seat 2)	Republican	Republican hold.	▌Y Herman Otten (Republican) 36.3% ▌Y Isaac Latterell (Republican) 31.6% ▌ Joseph Weis (Democratic) 18.2% ▌ Michael Jauron (Democratic) 13.9%