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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1978/US Senate/South Dakota
      1978·US Senate·South Dakota

      South Dakota US Senate

      Winner
      REP
      Larry Pressler
      66.8%170,832 votes
      Runner-up
      DEM
      Don Barnett
      33.2%84,767 votes
      Margin
      R+33.7
      255,599 total votes
      2 candidates255,599 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Larry PresslerREP✓
      		REP170,83266.8%
      Don BarnettDEM
      		DEM84,76733.2%

      Seat History

      US Senate in South Dakota(Class I)

      2022
      John R ThuneREP
      R+43.5
      2020
      Michael RoundsREP
      R+31.5
      2016
      John R ThuneREP
      R+43.7
      2014
      Michael RoundsREP
      R+20.9
      2010
      John R ThuneREP
      R+100.0
      2008
      Timothy V JohnsonDEM
      D+25.0
      2004
      John R ThuneREP
      R+1.1
      2002
      Timothy V JohnsonDEM
      D+0.2
      1998
      Thomas A DaschleDEM
      D+25.7
      1996
      Timothy V JohnsonDEM
      D+2.6
      1992
      Thomas A DaschleDEM
      D+32.4
      1990
      Larry PresslerREP
      R+7.3
      1986
      Thomas A DaschleDEM
      D+3.2
      1984
      Larry PresslerREP
      R+49.0
      1980
      James AbdnorREP
      R+18.8
      View all US Senate history for South Dakota →

      Candidates

      Don BarnettDEM
      Record0W-1L
      Avg MarginR+33.7
      Career1978-1978
      US Senate
      Full profile →
      Larry PresslerREP
      Record4W-1L
      Avg MarginR+21.8
      Career1976-1996
      US Senate / US House
      Full profile →

      Also in South Dakota, 1978

      US House2 contests →Governor1 contest →
      ← All 1978 US Senate races1978 overviewSouth Dakota profileAll elections