Duhamel wins third term; Dist. 32 House Reps split parties

State Sen. Helene Duhamel will return to the South Dakota Legislature for a third full term after beating challenger Karen McNeal in Tuesday's election.

Duhamel, a Republican, won with 60% of the vote to independent McNeal's 40%, according to unofficial results from the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office.

"I'm so pleased, so thankful to the citizens of District 32. It's a great honor to serve in the Legislature and now to have been elected three times," said Duhamel, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Kristi Noem in 2019 and won elections in 2020, 2022 and this year.

"I'm so proud of actively representing Rapid City on lots of issues. It's (also) really exciting right now with John Thune and Mike Rounds in their positions in the Senate, and the possibilities of having South Dakota have a real strong voice. So right now, I'm looking forward to really leading and pushing forward," Duhamel said.

Part of that push forward will focus on Missouri River water for western South Dakota. She mentioned the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, a project years in the making that feeds into southeast South Dakota, northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota.

"We were supposed to go west, but that never happened," she said. "We cycle in and out of drought. As it is, we're dry and arid, really like a desert. We now have awakened to the dire need for water in western South Dakota. Water is the fuel for economic growth and we are asking for water for western South Dakota, while Sioux Falls is asking for a second pipeline. With our legislators in these powerful positions in in Washington D.C., this is our golden opportunity to push this project. We have to really prioritize water for western South Dakota."

Duhamel added, "We just want our share of that so we can grow, we can prosper, we can have certainty of drinking water in the future."

Duhamel, who by day is the public information officer for the Pennington County Sheriff's Office, also mentioned the need to continue supporting Ellsworth Air Force Base. The base is in the middle of billions of dollars on construction work to prepare for the arrival of additional airmen with the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber program.

"The state benefits to the tune of some $85 million between sales and excise taxes. The state is benefiting. We're asking if we brought a private business to South Dakota that promised that many jobs, good paying jobs and that many people coming. We'd move mountains to give them everything they needed to make salt go to their home. But because it's the federal government, we're not we're not helping in this effort," Duhamel said, speaking specifically about the need for additional school facilities to accommodate that population growth.

Duhamel said a summer study session by Legislature members looked at how to help the base and the topic will come up at the upcoming session. A possibility is using some of the sales or excise tax money funneled into the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. According to its website, the Legislature-created SDEDA is design to work with local governments, the private sector on base issues, work with the U.S. Department of Defense, promote the economic impact of the base and prepare for future growth.

Duhamel said she's ready to head back to Pierre.

"It's time to get going on important things, you know, let's, let's mend some fences, heal some wounds, let's join forces, hold hands and do the right thing for South Dakota," she said.

McNeal said she was disappointed with the outcome.

"I'm not a politician. I've never run for anything in my life before," said McNeal, who grew up in Rapid City and attending the South Dakota School of Mines for chemistry before a career with Shell that took her to Texas before retiring and returning to the Black Hills.

"The reason I decided to run was that I didn't like (Duhamel's) votes on several things," McNeal said, "and so my idea was, if you don't like how things are going, then you can either whine and complain or you can do something. So I decided to do something."

Asked if she'll work to stay involved on issues affecting the area, McNeal said she's dedicated to serving and protecting children, so she might look in that area.

"I ran because I care about kids and I didn't like what I was seeing," she said, while also recounting visiting the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls during the campaign. "That's out of 'The Shawshank Redemption.' That place is horrible. I just look at these inmates and I think if somebody had intervened when they were young before they got on this track, maybe we wouldn't be taking care of stuff at the back end instead of the front end. So early childhood education is kind of important to me."

Asked if she'll run again, McNeal said she entered the racing thinking "this was going to be my one shot," but "never say never."

Dist. 32 House Republican State Rep. Steve Duffy secured his second term Tuesday night, roughly tying Democrat Nicole Uhre-Balk with 35% of the vote in District 32.

Duffy and Uhre-Balk will represent District 32 in Pierre after beating Republican Brook Kaufman, who took 30% of the vote.

Duffy referred to Uhre-Balk as a good person and a smart person during an interview with the Journal Wednesday morning.

"Maybe her and I don't philosophically agree on everything, but ... I think we both agree that things that move Rapid City or South Dakota forward, I hope we can work on those together. And I think we can," Duffy said. "I think there's a lot of this stuff that should not be as partisan."

Uhre-Balk told the Journal she's honored and grateful for the chance to represent Rapid City, adding it "took a village" to get there and she's looking forward to getting started. She said Duffy is a great guy, and between family connections and conversations on the campaign trail the two are friendly.

"I think we can work well together, and definitely won't agree on everything, but I think we can pick the problems that really matter to District 32, and try to find innovative solutions that can work," Uhre-Balk said.

PHOTOS: Rapid Citians turn out for Election Day

Voters in Rapid City turn out to cast their ballots in the 2024 General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

A man votes on Nov. 5 at the Canyon Lake Activity Center in Rapid City.

Rapid City voters head to the polls at West Park Apartments on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Voters line up outside Rapid City's Community Center West to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

A man turns in his ballot at West Park Apartments on General Election Day 2024.

A poll worker assists voters at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

A woman gets her ballot at West Park Apartments on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

A poll worker hands out ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Voters cast their ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

A man casts his ballots at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

A woman casts her ballot at the Canyon Lake Activity Center on General Election Day 2024.

Voters line up to cast their ballots in Rapid City on Election Day 2024.

Voters leave with election materials after casting their ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Voters leave after casting their General Election ballots on Nov. 5, 2024.

Voters leave Rapid City's Community Center West after casting their ballots on General Election Day 2024.

Lines at several polling places — like here at Rapid City's Community Center West — were out-the-door on Election Day 2024.

Poll workers hand out "I Voted" stickers to voters in Rapid City on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

A woman casts her ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 at West Park Apartments in Rapid City.

Voters cast their ballots at West Park Apartments in Rapid City.

A poll worker hands out ballots at West Park Apartments on General Election Day 2024.

An Indigenous child is given a sample ballot to practice voting on at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City.

An Indigenous woman casts her vote at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City.

A woman casts her vote at the Parkview Church on the south side of Rapid City.

Voters throughout Rapid City, including at Bethel Church, Rapid City Christian School and Rapid City Community Center South, headed to the pol...

An Indigenous man fills in his ballot at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City on Nov. 5.

An Indigenous woman fills in her ballot at General Beadle Elementary in Rapid City on Nov. 5.

A Vote Here sign sits outside of He Sapa New Life Church in Rapid City.

A woman submits her ballot on Nov. 5 at the He Sapa New Life Church in Rapid City.

A Native Votes Matter! sign sits outside of the COUP Council in Rapid City where volunteers are providing free rides to the polls.

A woman casts her ballot at He Sapa New Life in Rapid City on Nov. 5.

A ballot sits ready to be filled out on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Bethel Church in Rapid City.

Residents cast their vote on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, inside Bethel Church in Rapid City.

Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

A man votes while holding a child at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Pennington County voters head to the polls at Valley View Elementary School Gym on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Pennington and Meade County voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Pennington Co. and Meade Co. voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Pennington and Meade County voters head to the polls at Box Elder City Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Voters fill in their ballots at Parkview Church in Rapid City on Nov. 5.

Voters fill in their ballots at General Beadle Elementary School in Rapid City on Nov. 5.

Chuck Thibault poses with his 8-week old son, Gregory, after voting at Rapid City Community Center South on Tuesday, Nov. 5. "For the record, ...

The American flag waves outside Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The school was one of many polling cites throughout the area.

Voters cast a ballot at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Election workers said about 1,000 people had voted by 11:30 a.m.

Election workers were ready at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday morning.

Election workers help a woman as she gets ready to vote at Rapid City Christian School on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

A blue sky with puffy clouds is the backdrop for an American flag waving outside Rapid City Christian School.

Voters at Rapid City Christian School.

A man and woman leave the Pennington County Administration building on Monday, Nov. 4 in Rapid City.

Residents wait in line to vote while others cast their ballots at the Pennington County Administration building on Monday, Nov. 4 in Rapid City.

Voting at Rapid City Community Center South.

Contact Mike Brownlee at

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Darsha Dodge City Editor