South Dakota
US state whose federal circuit includes the 8th Circuit Court, where Justin D. Smith was confirmed in April 2026.
Last refreshed: 28 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
What federal courts cover South Dakota and why does it matter in 2026?
Timeline for South Dakota
Five US moratorium votes in seven days
Data Centres: Boom and BacklashMentioned in: Senate confirms Smith to 8th Circuit
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: Microsoft and Google back the Warner-Rounds bill
AI: Jobs, Power & Money- What states are in the 8th Circuit?
- The 8th Circuit covers seven states: Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
- Who are South Dakota's senators?
- South Dakota's senators are John Thune (Senate Majority Leader) and Mike Rounds, both Republicans. Neither is up for re-election in 2026.
Background
South Dakota is a Great Plains state in the northern United States, solidly Republican in federal elections and one of seven states in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals's jurisdiction. The state became tangentially relevant to the 2026 midterms through the 8th Circuit appointment: Justin D. Smith was confirmed to the 8th Circuit by unanimous consent on 20 April 2026, bringing Trump's total Article III judicial confirmations to 271.
South Dakota has no competitive federal races in 2026: its two Republican senators (Mike Rounds and John Thune — the Senate Majority Leader) are not up for election in 2026, and its single at-large House seat is safely Republican. The state's electoral significance in this cycle is primarily through its federal court jurisdiction rather than its own races.
South Dakota is notable for its conservative legal environment: it has been an active participant in multi-state AG coalitions challenging federal regulations, and its federal district has produced several rulings on firearms, abortion, and administrative law that have had national precedential impact.