State Senator Jamie Smith Launches Sioux Falls Mayoral Campaign

Jamie Smith, a Democratic state senator and former 2022 gubernatorial candidate, officially launched his campaign to become the next mayor of Sioux Falls, aiming to succeed term-limited Mayor Paul TenHaken. Smith announced his candidacy at a rally on the front lawn of the Washington Pavilion, emphasizing his commitment to collaboration, communication, and focusing on families, development, and safety as key elements of his platform. Drawing on his background as a public school teacher, real estate agent, and legislator, Smith highlighted his local roots and public service experience as strengths for addressing the city's challenges. Although he lost the gubernatorial race to Kristi Noem, his strong performance in Sioux Falls energized local Democrats and contributed to the momentum of his mayoral bid. Smith has filed the necessary paperwork to run and acknowledged the importance of building a strong relationship with the state legislature to manage city budget issues like the property tax cap. Other candidates, including perennial contender David Zokaites, have also filed to run, but the exact date for the 2026 mayoral election has yet to be set by the city council.