Taffy Howard won the race for State Senate, District 34 (partial city coverage not verified) in the November 3, 2026 election, with 4,943 votes (52.3%), according to unofficial results from South Dakota Secretary of State.
Michael Calabrese received 4,508 votes (47.7%). The margin was 435 votes, or 4.6 percentage points.
The election office reported 671 of 671 precincts reporting. In all, 9,451 votes were counted in this race.
Full results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taffy Howard (won) | Republican | 4,943 | 52.3% |
| Michael Calabrese | Democratic | 4,508 | 47.7% |
What the job involves
Members of the state legislature write and vote on state laws and the state budget, including school funding and the rules cities and counties work under.
What Taffy Howard said during the campaign
- Government and liberty: She says she supports fiscal restraint, individual liberties, and limited government. (Taffy Howard campaign website)
- Gun rights: She supports preserving Second Amendment rights and responsible gun ownership. (Taffy Howard campaign website)
- Families and freedom: She says her goals include protecting freedoms, improving families’ economic welfare, and maintaining South Dakota’s constitutional principles. (Taffy Howard campaign website)
What happens next
These results are unofficial. They become final when election officials certify them at the canvass, and totals can still change a little as remaining mailed and provisional ballots are counted.
Every race in Rapid City is on our election results page. More about Taffy Howard is on their candidate page.
