Joel Dykstra won the Republican nomination for US Senate gathering 66-percent of the vote over his two challengers, Sam Kephart and Charles Gonyo. Dykstra now faces incumbent Tim Johnson in the November general election. 

Joel Dykstra was a favorite to win the Republican nomination for U-S Senate, and he did so decisively. "And it's a humbling experience for me to have the confidence of so many people across South Dakota." 

Dykstra says his experience in the South Dakota legislature was a key for him securing the nomination. "I think it's critical, it's a process of working together across party lines and across the aisle working on real problems and moving the ball forward." 

Dykstra's primary campaign centered on a theme of change in Washington, DC. Now he's hoping that theme will resonate with South Dakota voters again, in the fall.