SD Dems Hope To Gain Legislative Seats

by Associated Press
November 02, 2012 3:08 PM


South Dakota Democrats got clobbered in legislative races two years ago, but the minority party hopes to make substantial gains in the state House and Senate in Tuesday's election.
 
Both sides point to Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard and GOP lawmakers as reasons they think their respective parties will win seats. State Democratic Party Chairman Ben Nesselhuf says Daugaard's work to cut education spending and impose merit pay for teachers won't sit well with voters. But state Republican
Party executive director Tony Post says GOP candidates will benefit from the past two years' cost cutting.
 
Republicans outnumber Democrats 30-5 in the Senate and 50-19 in the House. One House member is a GOP-affiliated independent.
 
Republicans are running more candidates for both House and Senate seats.