Dakota
Voter
2026 SD State Auditor Race
Catherine Barranco – R
What are your top 2 priorities if elected?
What is the proper role of Government?
(written response not received yet)
Why are you the best candidate for the job?
In what ways do you stand out from your competitor?
I am Catherine Barranco, candidate for South Dakota State Auditor. I hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics. I developed budgets, projections, business strategies, and financial reports for a Walmart corporate division with more than $165 million in annual revenue, and I assisted financial fraud investigations at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. I understand both the private-sector discipline of managing large sums of money and the investigative rigor needed to protect the public from misuse of funds.
I firmly believe: Taxpayer dollars belong to the taxpayers. As State Auditor, my job is to be a careful, independent check before money leaves the state treasury. South Dakota is in the process of modernizing that work through Project BISON, the new statewide financial system that will replace our decades-old accounting platform. I am proud to be a part of those conversations already. When BISON is fully implemented in the Auditor’s Office, we will have real-time access to transactions, related documents linked together, and stronger controls on payments. That means greater efficiency, better productivity, and more transparency, plus additional oversight during the review process. My team and I will use those tools to strengthen pre-audit of claims and vouchers and to spot problems earlier. In short, I will work tirelessly to ensure you get more bang for your taxpayer buck.
President Reagan once said, “Every dollar the government spends comes out of your pockets.” As a single mom and a former small-business owner, I understand every dollar is hard-fought. I will continue the high standard this office has set and add sharper review and analytics, including a dedicated effort to identify waste, fraud, and inefficiency.
Community Endorsement:
“Catherine exhibited her dedication by meeting with the staff early on and demonstrating her knowledge of the intricacies and operations of the several departments and the attention they require. Combined with her education and her conservative principles, I extend my endorsement for her candidacy.” – RICH SATTGAST, State Auditor
Learn more about Catherine by visiting her:
Tom Cool – D
What are your top 2 priorities if elected?
What is the proper role of Government?
(video response not received yet)
Why are you the best candidate for the job?
In what ways do you stand out from your competitor(s)?
(written response not received yet)
Community Endorsement:
(community endorsement not submitted yet)
Learn more about Tom by visiting his: