Christine Erickson

Christine Erickson
Mayor of Sioux Falls
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 17, 2026
Preceded byPaul TenHaken
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
from the 11th district
In office
January 11, 2013 – May 20, 2014
Serving with Jim Stalzer
Preceded byLora Hubbel
Succeeded byMark Willadsen
Personal details
BornChristine Marie Vinatieri
(1978-01-29) January 29, 1978
Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
Tony Erickson
​
​
(m. 2005; div. 2023)​
Children3
RelativesAdam Vinatieri (brother)
EducationNational American University (AA)
University of Sioux Falls (BA)

Christine Marie Erickson[1] (née Vinatieri; born January 29, 1978) is an American politician who is the mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota following her victory in the 2026 election.[2] A member of the Republican Party, she has been an at-large member of the Sioux Falls City Council since 2014. She was previously a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 11 from 2013 to 2014.

Education

Erickson earned her associate degree in business administration from National American University and her bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Sioux Falls.[3][4]

Elections

In 2012, when incumbent Republican Representative Lora Hubbel ran for South Dakota Senate and left a District 11 seat open, Erickson ran in the four-way June 5, 2012 Republican Primary and placed first with 539 votes (31.2%) ahead of incumbent Representative Mark Willadsen; in the four-way November 6, 2012 General election, Erickson took the first seat with 5,685 votes (30.93%) and fellow Republican nominee Jim Stalzer took the second seat ahead of Democratic former Representative Darrell Solberg and Jim Larson,[5] who had run for the seat in 2010.

In 2014, Erickson ran for the at-large B seat of the Sioux Falls City Council, when Jim Entenman chose not to seek re-election. She defeated her Democratic challenger Denny Pierson by 17,489 votes (65%) to 9,470 (35%).[6] She resigned her District 11 seat after the election,[7] and her vacancy was filled by Willadsen, who was appointed by Governor of South Dakota, Dennis Daugaard, to finish her term.[8] In 2018, she defeated Nick Weiland 67% to 33%.[9]

In 2026, Erickson ran for Mayor of Sioux Falls. She placed first in the June 2 primary election, winning 37% of the vote.[10] Since none of the five candidates got 50% of the vote, she and state senator Jamie Smith advanced to a runoff election on June 23, where she defeated Smith by just two votes.[11] After a recount, Erickson's lead increased to four votes, and Smith conceded the race.[12] Erickson was sworn in as mayor on July 17, 2026; she is the first woman to hold that position.[13]

Personal life

Erickson's brother is former National Football League placekicker Adam Vinatieri, who currently holds the record for most points scored in the NFL.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Christine Erickson's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Christine Erickson announced as winner of Sioux Falls mayoral race after recount". Dakota News Now. July 9, 2026.
  3. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System".
  4. ↑ "Sky's the limit for fast-rising Erickson". Argus Leader. July 24, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Official Results General Election November 6, 2012". Pierre, South Dakota: Secretary of State of South Dakota. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Erickson earns term over Pierson in At-large B council race". April 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ "State Representative Erickson Resigns To Assume Position On Sioux Falls City Council". May 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ "South Dakota Agency Owner to Fill Vacant House Seat". June 18, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Transparency fuels At-Large City Council victory for Brekke, Erickson defeats Weiland". April 11, 2018.
  10. ↑ "2026 Primary Election Candidate List". SD SOS. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  11. ↑ "2026 City Runoff Election Results". siouxfalls.gov. June 24, 2026.
  12. ↑ Yost, Rae; Doorn, Michael (July 14, 2026). "Smith concedes Sioux Falls Mayoral race". Keloland Media Group.
  13. ↑ DeSmet, Jordan (July 17, 2026). "'Historic first': Erickson sworn in as first female SF mayor". Keloland Media Group.
  14. ↑ Sneve, Joe (September 16, 2025). "NFL legend, Hall of Fame inductee stumps for office-seeking sister in Sioux Falls". The Dakota Scout. Retrieved August 1, 2026.
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