South Dakota mayoral candidates separated by just two votes in shockingly close race, recount expected

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Out of more than36,000 votes castin the Sioux Falls. South Dakota, mayoral runoff contest, the candidates are shockingly separated by just two votes.

Christine Erickson, a former South Dakotastate representativeand former Sioux Falls city council member, is leading state Sen. Jamie Smith, who is also a former state House member, by that razor-thin two-vote margin.

The candidates have 18,280 and 18,278 votes respectively.

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Mayoral candidate Jamie Smith looks up at the television during his watch party on Tuesday. June 23, 2026, at the Overlook Café at Falls Park in Sioux Falls, S.D.(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Smith. who plans to request a recount, said during a phone call with Fox News Digital on Thursday that "every vote does count," noting, "This is exactly anelectionthat shows you that."

While the race was nonpartisan. Smith is listed as a Democrat on theSouth Dakotalegislature's website, while Erickson, who served in the state House over a decade ago, is listed as a Republican on the site.

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Mayoral candidates Jamie Smith. Christine Erickson chat before the public mayoral debate with Sioux Falls Live editor Patrick Lalley and Sioux Falls Simplified founder Megan Raposa on Friday, June 12, 2026, at Carnegie Hall in Sioux Falls, S.D.(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

"Thank you Sioux Falls! To my family, friends and supporters, I couldn’t have done this without you. This election exemplified that every single vote truly matters. To the people of Sioux Falls. even with a close margin, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to lead Sioux Falls forward for the next four years," Erickson said in a Wednesday statement.

"Even though the polls have closed, the fight continues. We know there will be a recount and I feel confident going into this next phase. My team and I are prepared to make sure the recount moves forward fairly with accuracy and transparency," she continued.

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Mayoral candidate Christine Erickson participates in a public mayoral debate on Friday. June 12, 2026, at Carnegie Town Hall in Sioux Falls, S.D.(USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

"Congratulations also to Jamie for a hard fought campaign. Sioux Falls has a bright future,. we will come together to make sure our community thrives today and for generations to come. My promise is the same as it was on day one of this campaign: I will lead with common sense. make sure city government serves you, the people. I’m excited to get to work," she concluded.

Alex Nitzberg is a writer for Fox News Digital.