South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) appointed businesswoman Jessica Castleberry (R) to fill the vacant District 35 state Senate seat on December 31, 2019. Castleberry assumed office on January 1, 2020, and her term will end on January 11, 2021.

Castleberry’s appointment came after former state Senator Lyndi Santo (R) resigned effective December 31, 2019. Santo was the second Rapid City senator to resign in 2019. Both vacancies have been filled, leaving no current vacant seats in the South Dakota State Senate.

Before joining the South Dakota State Senate, Castleberry was a preschool teacher and an instructor at Black Hills State University. Castleberry is also the owner of Little Nest Preschools in Rapid City, South Dakota.

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Additional Reading:
South Dakota State Senate
South Dakota State Senate District 35
Lynne DiSanto