2026 Runoff Election Update, Next Steps

Published on June 24, 2026

The City of Sioux Falls held a runoff municipal election on June 23, 2026, for the elective offices of mayor, city councilor southeast district, city councilor central district and city councilor at large A. Approximately 24% of 151,535 total registered voters, or 36,623 registered voters, participated in this election. The ballots were then tabulated with the following unofficial results:

Mayor

City Council Southeast District

City Council Central District

City Council At Large A

City Councilor Rich Merkouris was re-elected to the position of city councilor at large B as a result of the June 2, 2026, election, and no runoff was required.

The Sioux Falls City Council will now convene as the official election canvass board to declare the official results for this election at a special meeting on Friday, June 26, 2026, at 8 a.m. at Carnegie Town Hall, 235 W. 10th St. Following the official canvass of the election, certificates of election will be issued to the candidates who have been declared the winner by the official canvass.

Due to the unprecedented two-vote margin of victory in the mayoral runoff, a petition for a recount is likely to occur for that office. Once such a petition is filed, the law requires a recount board to be appointed to conduct the recount process as expeditiously as reasonably possible until completed. The recount board would consist of one person chosen by each candidate then a third member would be chosen by mutual agreement of both candidates. Once the recount board has completed their work, they will submit a certification of their recount result to the official canvass board. If the results of the election change, then a new certificate of election would be issued to the mayoral candidate who is declared the winner. By law, Mayor Paul TenHaken will continue serving as mayor until a successor has been duly elected and taken office.

The remaining races for the three city council positions are unlikely to generate a recount. Those three incoming city councilors are expected to take their oaths of office and begin their terms by July 17, 2026. Their first City Council meeting would then be held on July 21, 2026.

Additional updates will be provided as new information becomes available.

For more information, visit siouxfalls.gov/election.