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Mellissa Heermann and Roger DeGroot, both Republican incumbents, are running in South Dakota’s contested State House District 7 general election. Voters will cast ballots in the race on Nov. 3, 2026.
The field does not offer a contrast in party affiliation or current officeholding status. Both candidates are Republicans, and both enter the election as sitting state representatives. That makes the campaign’s development, including how each candidate presents a case to District 7 voters, an important part of the contest.
The District 7 field
The general-election field consists of Heermann and DeGroot. Because both candidates have the same party label, voters will not see a Republican-versus-Democratic matchup in this race. Because both are incumbents, the field also does not include an incumbent-versus-newcomer contrast.
The race is listed as contested, meaning District 7 voters have more than one candidate in the field. The listing does not identify either candidate as running for a separately designated place within the district, so the contest should be followed as a single District 7 state House race rather than as two individually labeled races.
Mellissa Heermann
Heermann is running as a Republican incumbent in the District 7 general election. Her incumbent designation tells voters that she already holds state House office as she seeks a place in the district’s next legislative term.
Her candidacy gives District 7 voters an incumbent Republican option alongside another incumbent from the same party. With no party-label difference separating the candidates, the campaign can turn on how Heermann identifies her priorities, describes her record and communicates with voters before Election Day.
Roger DeGroot
DeGroot is running as a Republican incumbent in the District 7 general election. His incumbent designation likewise tells voters that he already holds state House office as he seeks a place in the district’s next legislative term.
His candidacy gives District 7 voters an incumbent Republican option alongside another incumbent from the same party. With no party-label difference separating the candidates, the campaign can turn on how DeGroot identifies his priorities, describes his record and communicates with voters before Election Day.
What makes the race contested
The central fact of the District 7 contest is that two candidates are running and neither is distinguished by party affiliation or incumbent status. The names on the ballot therefore matter independently of the shared Republican label.
The election is part of South Dakota’s 2026 general election and is scheduled for Nov. 3. Between now and then, voters can watch for policy statements, campaign appearances and other direct communication from each candidate. Those developments may clarify how Heermann and DeGroot differ in their priorities for the district and their approaches to service in the state House.
The outcome will be decided through the general-election process. Until voting and counting are complete, the key civic question is how each candidate defines the job and asks District 7 voters for support.
