Jensen wins at-large council race by 110 votes; Stehly to ask for recount

Sioux Falls banker and former lawmaker Alex Jensen has narrowly defeated incumbent Theresa Stehly for the at-large City Council seat the music teacher and civic activist has held since 2016.

Stehly, facing opposition from the Republican party establishment and Jensen's record-setting campaign war chest, trailed in her re-election bid by 0.4 percentage points when the final ballots were published by the City Clerk shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday. 

With more than 28,800 votes counted, Jensen squeaked out a victory by less than a 1% percent margin, making the race eligible for a recount should Stehly demand a second look at the ballots cast.  

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Election Day vote totals counted Tuesday evening had Jensen enjoying as much as an 11% lead over his competition. But as the counting went into Wednesday morning and more than 15,000 absentee ballots began to get processed, Stehly surged back into contention. 

In the end, Jensen held on to the lead, with 50.2% of the total votes cast in the race, or 13,640. Stehly received 13,530 votes.  

"It feels great and here's why: We got into this race not running against anyone but running for Sioux Falls," Jensen said. "We know a lot of people in Sioux Falls and our mission is to make Sioux Falls safe for all people. That’s paramount, and we can do that through collaboration." 

City Clerk Tom Greco cautioned that the results aren't official until they are formally canvassed by the City Council next week. And a few more absentee ballots could turn up as Minnehaha County Auditor Bob Litz continued to open primary absentee ballots Wednesday evening.

"As primary absentees are opened, a city ballot may be found," he said.

If the results hold, Jensen, a 33-year-old father of one with a campaign fund of nearly $100,000, is just the third candidate to unseat an incumbent city councilor eligible for re-election since the city adopted the city council form of government in the early 1990s. 

Like the two times the challenger in those two prior races emerged victorious over incumbents, there were unusual circumstances at play. Originally, the city election had been slated for April 14, but instead was delayed and paired with the state and county primary elections due to concerns around COVID-19.

A desire to keep people apart and away from large groups prompted the Secretary of State earlier this spring to send out absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in South Dakota. That led to a surge in voter turnout that likely saw some ballots cast by voters who don't typically participate in municipal elections.

Out-fundraised by her opponent by a 5 to 1 margin, Stehly isn't conceding the race just yet. State law provides that a candidate who loses by fewer than 2% of the total votes cast is entitled to a recount, and Stehly, having lost by just 110 votes, intends to do that.

"I'm going to be asking for a recount," she told the Argus Leader. "I also want to take a look at the under votes and the spoiled ballots."

Her desire for a recount won't be resisted by the Jensen camp. Jensen said with that small of a margin separating the two candidates compared to the total number of ballots cast, ensuring every vote was counted right makes sense.

"That’s the most votes that a city council race like this has ever seen, period," Jensen said. "It’s a great thing that all those people have come out and voted. With 110 votes out of almost 29,000, that’s a small margin, so lets just make sure that its right."

If a recount doesn't prove successful for her, Stehly said she's at peace with returning to civilian life because she could go back to the hobbies and careers she's had to put on the back burner since 2016, she said.

"It would set me free to go back to my students, my garden and my friends," she said.

More:Minnehaha County reporting only partial results through midnight

The narrow split among Sioux Falls voters means nearly half of those who cast ballots are on the losing end of the election. Jensen said although more than 13,000 people didn't vote for him, he's committed to representing all citizens of the city no matter where their allegiances fall.

"About half didn't vote for me, and I understand that," he said. "I will always have an open ear to what they have going on in their world. We have to make this a place that is welcoming to all, a safe place for the people that live here and a place that has a strong economy