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Latest SDSU Poll shows signs of polarization in South Dakota

SDPB
/
The SDSU Poll

The interview posted above is from SDPB's daily public affairs show In the Moment with Lori Walsh.

The race is tight for the next South Dakota governor, and voters are unlikely to change their minds.

That's according tothe latest results from the SDSU Poll.

A poll released earlier this week showed incumbent Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is four percentage points ahead of her challenger, Democrat Jamie Smith. A "political temperature" poll released Friday shows a very similar difference between the two candidates.

David Wiltse is the director of the SDSU Poll. noted that to 20 or 30 years ago, undecided voters were more likely to cross party lines. But he said that is not the case this election.

Wiltse called the new phenomenon "negative partisanship." He describes it as where the antipathy one has towards the opposing party is greater than warmth they have for their own party.

"It's one of the really nasty sides of polarization," he said.

The SDSU Poll is a nonpartisan research group housed in the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University, according to Wiltse. Its latest poll consisted of a survey of over 500 registered voters in the state. There is a 4% margin of error.

Marissa Brunkhorst is a junior at the University of South Dakota. She is from Hutchinson, Minnesota and is based out of the Vermillion studio.