South Dakota House District 23 race preview

South Dakota House District 23 voters will encounter a contested State House race in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The two candidates are Spencer Gosch and Scott Moore, both Republican incumbents.

That makes this a contest between two sitting lawmakers carrying the same party label. The central question is not which party each candidate represents, but how voters distinguish between two incumbents seeking to represent the same district.

Spencer Gosch

Spencer Gosch is running as a Republican and is an incumbent in the South Dakota House. His incumbent status means he enters the election as a current officeholder rather than as a first-time candidate for the seat.

Gosch’s candidacy gives voters one of two choices from the same party and with the same incumbent designation. With no party contrast between the candidates, the campaign can turn on the distinctions each candidate draws through public appearances, campaign messages and statements during the election.

No policy positions are documented for Gosch in this race. Voters looking to compare him with Moore will need to watch for positions Gosch sets out as the campaign develops, including any priorities he identifies for another term in the Legislature.

Scott Moore

Scott Moore is also running as a Republican and is also an incumbent in the South Dakota House. Like Gosch, Moore approaches the general election as a current officeholder rather than as a newcomer seeking election for the first time.

Moore’s candidacy creates the other side of a same-party contest between incumbents. His Republican label and incumbent designation match Gosch’s, so those ballot descriptions alone do not establish a difference between the two candidates.

No policy positions are documented for Moore in this race. Voters seeking a direct comparison will need to watch for positions Moore presents during the campaign, including the legislative priorities he says he would pursue if returned to office.

What is contested

The District 23 race is contested because more than one candidate is running in the general election. Gosch and Moore share two major characteristics: Both are Republicans, and both are incumbents. The contest therefore does not offer a choice between party labels or between an incumbent and a challenger.

Instead, the campaign’s distinctions will depend on what the candidates say about their records, priorities and approach to representing District 23. Any candidate forums, public statements or campaign materials could give voters more points of comparison before Election Day.

The matching party labels also make individual candidate information especially important. A voter cannot use party affiliation by itself to separate Gosch from Moore, and incumbency does not distinguish them because each currently holds office.

Election timeline

The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. That is when District 23 voters will make their decision in the State House contest.

Between now and Election Day, the key developments will be whether Gosch and Moore identify different policy priorities and how each explains his case for continuing in office. Those campaign details will shape the practical choice in a race where party and incumbent labels are the same.