Sioux Falls Mayoral Race Narrows to 2 Votes, Triggering Recount Fight

Q: Will a recount decide the Sioux Falls mayoral race separated by only two votes?

Yes. With Christine Erickson leading Jamie Smith by just two votes, the Sioux Falls mayoral race is almost certain to be settled through a recount rather than the initial tally. The unofficial result stands at 18,279 votes for Erickson and 18,277 for Smith after all ballots, including valid provisional ballots, were counted. Both candidates have said they expect a recount, and Smith has not conceded. In a race this close, even a very small adjustment during review could change the outcome or confirm the current lead. Under South Dakota’s recount rules, a margin this narrow falls well within the range for a formal recount request, and the process is expected to follow the canvass of the election. That means the final certified result may not be known for weeks, potentially into July. A recount does not guarantee the result will flip. Many recounts change only a handful of votes, and sometimes none at all. But with only two votes separating the candidates, the recount is likely to be the decisive step in determining the winner. So the practical answer is that the race has not truly been decided yet: the recount is expected to determine whether Erickson’s two-vote edge holds or whether Smith overtakes her.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 24

Sioux Falls ended Election Day with Christine Erickson ahead of Jamie Smith by just 2 votes, leaving South Dakota’s largest city without a clear mayoral winner.
Both candidates said they expect a recount after the lead swung repeatedly late Tuesday in a race that followed an earlier round narrowing a crowded field to two.
The officially nonpartisan contest carries partisan weight: Erickson is backed by leading Republicans seeking to hold the open seat, while Democrats see a rare chance to gain power in the state.
In a city of more than 210,000 people, the razor-thin margin adds to a recent run of Democratic mayoral gains in places including Omaha, Miami, Boca Raton and Waukesha.