Simplified: We don't yet know who most of Sioux Falls city leadership will be after Tuesday night's election because the mayoral race and three of the four City Council races will go to a run-off. Here's where the candidates stand in a now-narrowed field.

Why it matters

  • In the mayor's race, it came down to Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith, with 37% and 28% of the vote, respectively, in a crowded field of candidates vying to fill Mayor Paul TenHaken's shoes.
    • Smith told Sioux Falls Simplified his campaign is going into the run-off with the "same hard work we've been doing all along."
"I want to be a mayor for all people in the city and a mayor who brings people together," he said.
    • Erickson and SF Simplified ended up playing phone tag (it happens to the best of us), but she chatted with The Dakota Scout and said she's honored to make the run-off.
"We look forward to regrouping, getting back out into the community, and meeting with even more residents to listen to their concerns, share our vision, and continue earning their support," she said.
  • The only fully decided race was At-Large B, where the lone City Council incumbent, Rich Merkouris, held onto his seat with 60% of the vote over challenger Samantha Scarlata.
  • The other three City Council seats will go to a run-off because no candidate hit the required 50% of the vote to win a city election. Prior to 2017, council candidates were elected based on plurality, not majority – meaning a candidate could win with 34% of the vote. The Council considered returning to a plurality system last year to avoid costly run-offs, but ultimately opted to keep the 50% requirement.

Where do the council races stand?

The At-Large A seat was the closest to being fully decided with candidate James Oppenheimer taking 47% of the vote. He'll now face Vince Danh, who snagged 31% of the vote, in the run-off.

  • Juliann Perrigo Talkington took 22% of the vote and will not advance to the run-off.

Oppenheimer told Sioux Falls Simplified he was hopeful he'd avoid a run-off, but that he sees it as "a great experience and another opportunity to get to know more of the community."

Danh said he's also ready to keep going.

"We know for a fact we've got a lot of first-time voters and new voters," Danh said of his campaign. "It feels good to have activated a new demographic."

In the Central District, Zak Okuwe took 38% of the vote, followed by Zach DeBoer with 30%.

  • The Zak/Zach crew beat out Bob Trzynka, Tommy Kunz and Matthew McKinley.

Okuwe said he was feeling pretty good as early results trickled in around 11 p.m. Tuesday. DeBoer at around the same time said he was also optimistic about making a run-off, but didn't want to comment further until more results were in.

In the Southeast District, Sara Pankonin and Michael Crane took 41% and 37% of the vote, respectively.

  • Those two beat out Brady Kerkman, who ended the night with 21%.

What happens next?

We do this all again in three weeks. The run-off election for city candidates will take place on Tuesday, June 23.

Here's who'll be on that ballot:

  • For mayor: Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith
  • For At-Large A: James Oppenheimer and Vince Danh
  • For Central District: A battle of the Zak(ch)s with Zach DeBoer and Zak Okuwe
  • For Southeast District: Sara Pankonin and Michael Crane