Simplified: Three new faces are set to join the Sioux Falls City Council: James Oppenheimer, representing the entire city in the At-Large A seat, Zak Okuwe representing the Central District and Sara Pankonin representing the Southeast District. Here's how the votes rolled out.

Why it matters

  • All six of the council candidates who made it to the run-off were new faces to city government, with the folks who previously held their seats either term-limited or opting not to seek re-election.
  • The closest race was in the Central District, where Zak Okuwe edged out Zach DeBoer by just shy of 500 votes. In Southeast, Sara Pankonin brought in about 800 more votes than Michael Crane, and in the At-Large race, James Ooppenheimer got about 6,700 more votes than Vince Danh.
  • Overall, about 24% of Sioux Falls voters cast a ballot in Tuesday's run-off election – less than the primary election three weeks ago, and slightly low compared to the 2018 and 2010 run-off mayoral elections*, which both saw over 30% of voters turn out.

*(other years in which a new mayor was elected after one was term-limited)

Tell me more

Oppenheimer said he's excited to serve the city and was feeling "optimistic" as the night went on Tuesday.

  • Danh, on the other hand said while he didn't win the race, he still accomplished something big.
"We electrified an electorate," Danh said. "We brought new voters to the table – young people, new voices, different faces – and we reminded Sioux Falls that democracy works when more people show up."

In the Central District race, Okuwe said he wants to tell voters, "Thank you."

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of your lives and for believing in a vision of a safer, stronger and more united Sioux Falls," Okuwe said.

And in the Southeast District race, Pankonin said she also wants to thank the people who encouraged her in her campaign.

"I'm really looking forward to using my experience these past 19 years as a wife, a mom and an engineer to serve as a city councilor," she said.

What happens next?

The new councilors will be sworn in next month.