Poll: Republican way ahead in South Dakota Senate race

Former South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds (R) remains on track to pick up the state's open U.S. Senate seat, in the new poll from Monmouth University.
Rounds has 45 percent support, comfortably ahead of Democratic candidate Rick Weiland at 31 percent. Former Republican Sen. Larry Pressler, who is now running again as a centrist independent, has 19 percent. The poll also found that in a two-way race, Rounds would still lead Weiland at 48 percent to 40 percent. The survey of likely voters was conducted from Oct. 24 to 27, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.
The seat is currently held by Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, who is retiring after three terms, in what has looked for most of this cycle like an easy gain for Republicans.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Weiland, a former FEMA official, has now accused national Democrats of sabotaging him and trying to help Pressler, who supported President Obama in both 2008 and 2012.
"There was some buzz earlier in the month that South Dakota’s Senate seat may be back on the toss-up board. It looks like that was a false alarm," writes polling director Patrick Murray.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
El Palace Barcelona: old-world luxury in the heart of the city
The Week Recommends This historic hotel is set within a former Ritz outpost moments from the Passeig de Gràcia
-
The best history books to read in 2025
The Week Recommends These fascinating deep-dives are perfect for history buffs
-
July 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include the danger of talking politics at a family picnic, and disappearing Medicaid entitlements
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami