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in 22 state legislative races where multiple candidates are bidding for party nominations -- five Democratic races, and 17 Republican.
• South Dakota Secretary of State Jason Gant is predicting that turnout will be about 50 percent, which is slightly above average. Gant said a crowded Republican field in the U.S. Senate race and competition for the Democratic nomination for governor has drawn voters' attention.
• The race receiving the most statewide attention is the GOP U.S. Senate primary. Rounds, who served as governor from 2003 to 2011, is widely considered the favorite with about $2.8 million in campaign funds. That far outpaces three of the other candidates, with state Sen. Larry Rhoden raising about $136,000, state Rep. Stace Nelson about $131,000 and attorney and Army Reserves Maj. Jason Ravnsborg less than $11,000. Dr. Annette Bosworth raised more than $1.1 million through March, but she has spent the majority of what she raised on direct mail marketing and her campaign fell deeper in debt.
• The GOP primary winner will join Democratic business owner Rick Weiland and two independents on the Nov. 4 ballot. Running without party affiliation are former Republican U.S. Sen. Larry Pressler and former state lawmaker Gordon Howie.
• South Dakota's U.S. Senate race is one of three involving a seat now held by a Democrat that Republicans believe they have a strong chance to win because President Barack Obama lost those states in the 2012 election. The others are in West Virginia and Montana. Republicans need to make a net gain of six seats to take over the majority in the U.S. Senate.
• In the race for governor, Daugaard faces former state Rep. Lora Hubbel in the Republican primary. Former state wildfire agency head Joe Lowe and state Rep. Susan Wismer are seeking the Democratic nomination. Daugaard succeeded Rounds as governor and is strongly favored to win a second term.
• The race for South Dakota's lone seat in the U.S. House will wait for November. Both Republican U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem and Democratic challenger Corinna Robinson are unopposed within their parties.
• Of South Dakota's more than 510,000 registered voters at the end of May, 46 percent said they were Republicans, 34 percent Democrats and 16 percent Independents. Libertarian, Constitution and Americans Elect party members make up the remainder, according to the Secretary of State's Office.
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• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Voters in heavily Republican South Dakota head to the polls Tuesday for primary elections that set the November slate for governor, U.

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