PIERRE, S.D., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Republican Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard brushed back Democratic opponent Scott Heidepriem to succeed the outgoing Gov. Mike Rounds in South Dakota, returns showed.
The term-limited Rounds, who spent eight years as governor, leaves office in the hands of Daugaard, who won in another Republican landslide -- 62 percent of the vote against Heidepriem's 38 percent -- CBS News reported.
In a hotly-contested battle for South Dakota's only House seat, Republican state Rep. Kristi Noem was declared winner over Democratic incumbent Stephanie Herseth Sandlin by a slim margin of 48 percent to 46 percent margin.
Noem criticized Sandlin for aligning with Democratic leadership while Sandlin highlighted Noem's driving record, which includes 20 speeding tickets, six court notices for failure to appear and two arrest warrants, The New York Times said.
