Georgia and South Dakota Voters Cast Ballots in Key Special and Runoff Elections

What Happened

On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, voters participated in two distinct electoral contests across the United States. In Georgia's 13th Congressional District, a special election was held to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Representative David Scott, a Democrat, who passed away in April at age 80. This district, encompassing southern and eastern Atlanta suburbs like Stockbridge, Conyers, and Snellville, is considered a heavily Democratic stronghold. Concurrently, in South Dakota, Republican voters returned to the polls for a gubernatorial primary runoff. Incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden, who assumed office after President Donald Trump appointed former Governor Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary, faced self-made millionaire and bitcoin investor Toby Doeden. Neither Rhoden nor Doeden secured over 50% of the vote in the June primary, necessitating this runoff. The Georgia winner will serve only until January, as the general election nominee, Georgia state Rep. Jasmine Clark, was already decided and is heavily favored for the full term in November.

The Georgia special election featured several candidates vying for the interim term. Marcye Scott, the late Representative Scott's daughter, sought to continue her father's legacy. Everton Blair, a progressive candidate, launched his bid after a confrontational town hall exchange with the elder Scott in late 2025, where Blair questioned Scott's legislative strategy. Former Mississippi judge Carlos Moore also entered the race, criticizing Scott's attendance record and pledging to be a more present leader. Moore had previously faced a one-year suspension from the bench in 2024 for mishandling a wrongful death settlement. In South Dakota, the runoff was characterized as an establishment-versus-outsider contest, with Governor Rhoden representing the establishment and Doeden, a bitcoin investor, positioning himself as an outsider. Key counties like Minnehaha (home to Sioux Falls) and Pennington were closely watched, as they contributed to Doeden's first-place finish in the June primary.

What the Evidence Establishes

The evidence establishes that the Georgia 13th Congressional District is a reliably Democratic area, with former President Trump losing the district by approximately 43 points in 2024. This strong partisan lean suggests that the winner of the Democratic special election will likely hold the seat until January, and the Democratic nominee for the full term, Jasmine Clark, is heavily favored against Republican Air Force veteran Jonathan Chavez in the November general election. The late Rep. David Scott, a 12-term lawmaker, had drawn increasing frustration from the progressive wing of his party prior to his death, evidenced by Everton Blair's primary challenge and his public criticisms regarding Scott's engagement and legislative strategy, including a reported shouting incident with a Politico photographer in late 2025.

In South Dakota, the gubernatorial primary runoff between Gov. Larry Rhoden and Toby Doeden is a contest between an incumbent appointed by President Trump and an outsider millionaire. Rhoden, who took office after Kristi Noem's appointment to Homeland Security secretary, failed to secure an outright majority in the June primary, indicating a significant challenge to his incumbency. Doeden's strong performance in Minnehaha and Pennington counties in June suggests a base of support, particularly in urban and western areas. Historically, South Dakota has not elected a Democratic governor since the 1970s, making the Republican primary runoff the de facto decider of the state's next chief executive. The state's political landscape heavily favors Republican candidates in statewide elections, with the last Democratic governor, Harvey Wollman, serving only six months in 1979.

Where the Accounts Conflict

The provided source documents, Fox News and The Hill, largely align on the factual reporting of the special elections in Georgia and the gubernatorial runoff in South Dakota. Both outlets confirm the timing of the elections, the key candidates involved (Marcye Scott, Everton Blair, Carlos Moore in Georgia; Gov. Larry Rhoden, Toby Doeden in South Dakota), and the political context of the vacancies and runoffs. There are no direct contradictions regarding specific events or outcomes reported as of the polls closing.

However, the accounts differ in their depth of detail and narrative emphasis. Fox News provides significantly more background information on the candidates and the political dynamics surrounding the races. For instance, Fox News details the specific incidents that led Everton Blair to challenge the late Rep. David Scott, including a confrontational town hall exchange and Scott's reported expletive-laden interaction with a Politico photographer. Fox also introduces the concept of the 'Biden effect' as a broader trend of millennial candidates challenging aging Democrats. The Hill, while accurate in its reporting, offers a more concise, results-focused overview without delving into the extensive biographical or anecdotal details provided by Fox News. This difference reflects a variation in editorial scope rather than conflicting factual claims, with Fox News offering a broader political narrative context to the election events.

Context and Stakes

The Georgia special election for the 13th Congressional District carries significant symbolic weight, even though the winner will serve only a short term until January. The district's strong Democratic lean means the outcome will not shift the balance of power in Congress, but the race highlights internal party dynamics. The challenges to the late Rep. David Scott, particularly from progressive candidate Everton Blair, underscore a broader trend within the Democratic Party. This trend, dubbed the 'Biden effect' by some, refers to younger, more progressive candidates seeking to replace long-serving, often older, Democratic incumbents, especially following perceived weaknesses in national leadership. The contest also showcases the desire for a 'new generation' of leaders, as articulated by Blair, and the complexities of legacy politics, as Marcye Scott seeks to continue her father's work.

In South Dakota, the Republican gubernatorial runoff is a critical test of incumbent strength and the appeal of outsider candidates within the GOP. Governor Larry Rhoden, appointed after Kristi Noem's departure, faces a challenge from Toby Doeden, a bitcoin millionaire. This 'establishment-versus-outsider' dynamic is a recurring theme in contemporary Republican politics, often influenced by figures like former President Donald Trump. While Trump's direct endorsement in this specific race is not detailed, his prior appointment of Noem and the general political climate he fostered contribute to the backdrop. The outcome will determine the Republican nominee in a state that has not elected a Democratic governor in over 40 years, effectively deciding who will lead the Mount Rushmore State for the next term. The performance of candidates in key counties like Minnehaha and Pennington will be closely scrutinized for insights into voter sentiment within the state's Republican base.

What to Watch Next

The immediate focus will be on the official certification of results for both the Georgia special election and the South Dakota gubernatorial runoff. In Georgia, the winner will assume office for a brief period, serving until January. Attention will then shift to the November general election for the 13th Congressional District, where Democratic nominee Jasmine Clark is expected to face Republican Jonathan Chavez. The margin of victory for Clark in November will be a key indicator of the district's continued strong Democratic lean and potentially the impact of the special election's outcome on voter engagement. Observers will also monitor any public statements from the losing candidates in Georgia, particularly Everton Blair and Carlos Moore, regarding their future political aspirations or endorsements.

In South Dakota, the winner of the runoff between Governor Larry Rhoden and Toby Doeden will proceed to the general election. Given the state's strong Republican history, the runoff winner is highly likely to become the next governor. Therefore, the primary outcome effectively determines the state's leadership for the next term. Political analysts will be watching the vote distribution in Minnehaha and Pennington counties to assess the strength of the 'outsider' movement within the South Dakota GOP. Furthermore, any post-election comments from the candidates, especially Doeden, regarding the influence of grassroots support or the 'establishment' narrative, will provide insight into future political strategies within the state. The transition of power, whether Rhoden retains his seat or Doeden takes over, will also be a point of observation.

Bottom Line

The special election in Georgia's 13th Congressional District and the Republican gubernatorial runoff in South Dakota represent distinct but interconnected facets of the current American political landscape. In Georgia, the race to fill the late Rep. David Scott's seat underscores internal Democratic Party generational shifts and the desire for new leadership, even in a reliably blue district. The short-term nature of the special election winner's tenure means its immediate impact on national legislative dynamics is minimal, but it serves as a precursor to the November general election where a Democrat is heavily favored to win the full term.

Conversely, the South Dakota runoff is a decisive contest for the state's highest office, pitting an incumbent appointed by a former president against a self-made millionaire outsider. This election tests the enduring appeal of anti-establishment sentiment within the Republican base and the ability of an incumbent to consolidate support. Given South Dakota's deep red political leanings, the outcome of this runoff will effectively determine the state's next governor. Both elections, while geographically disparate, reflect ongoing national political narratives concerning party evolution, generational change, and the influence of prominent national figures on local and state-level contests.