South Dakota’s electoral votes cast for Trump as Biden’s win is confirmed

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s three presidential electors awarded the state’s electoral votes on Monday to President Donald Trump.

The state’s electors, which included Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden and Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, met at the Capitol building in Pierre Monday afternoon. South Dakota GOP Chairman Dan Lederman replaced Republican Gov. Kristi Noem as the state’s third elector after the governor decided not to participate last week.

Trump received nearly 62% of the popular vote in South Dakota, defeating Democratic nominee Joe Biden by more than 100,000 votes. The state has chosen the Republican nominee for president in every general election since 1964.

Nationwide, presidential electors confirmed Biden’s victory, giving him a solid electoral majority of 306 votes. The state-by-state voting Monday took on added importance this year because of President Trump’s refusal to concede he had lost. Heightened security was in place in some states as electors met under various threats.

The results will be sent to Washington and tallied in a Jan. 6 joint session of Congress.

For all the defeated Republican president’s objections, there was little suspense and no change in the electoral votes allocated to Biden and Trump.

December 15, 2020