David Zokaites is a longtime civic activist in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a repeat candidate for mayor who has spent years criticizing city government from the public-comment podium. His most recent bid, in June 2026, ended with about 2% of the vote in a five-way race, and a $22.2 million federal lawsuit he filed against the city days before the election was dismissed within days by a judge who called it “absolute nonsense.”1Dakota News Now. Lawsuit by Mayoral Candidate Zokaites Dismissed by Judge
Activism at Sioux Falls City Hall
Zokaites has addressed the Sioux Falls City Council nearly 200 times, often using printed PowerPoint slides to walk through arguments on government transparency, police reform, homelessness, housing affordability, and civil liberties.2Sioux Falls Live. Longtime City Hall Critic Makes at Least Third Run at Sioux Falls Mayor Office He has described himself as having studied Sioux Falls local government at a “crazy deep level” over roughly eight years.3South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Zokaites: Mayor’s Big Public Speaking Voice Can Help Solve City Problems
One of his more visible campaigns pushed the Sioux Falls Board of Ethics to investigate third-party paid travel by city officials, after a complaint against City Councilor Greg Neitzert over a trip paid for by Community Leaders of America. The City Council voted 5–2 that Neitzert had not committed an ethical violation, and the Ethics Board declined to recommend sanctions, though it acknowledged the practice appeared to be “common” among officials.4Argus Leader. Board of Ethics Asked to Investigate Travel Paid by Third Party for Sioux Falls Officials After the board unanimously declined his follow-up request for a broader investigation, Zokaites said the board had “protected and encouraged commonplace bribery.”5Argus Leader. David Zokaites Enters Mayor Race, Active at City Council Meetings
Zokaites has conceded he does not feel he has made a “whole lot of impact on any of the issues” he has raised at City Hall.5Argus Leader. David Zokaites Enters Mayor Race, Active at City Council Meetings
Mayoral Campaigns
Zokaites first tried to run for mayor in 2018 but never reached the ballot. He arrived at the City Clerk’s Office less than five minutes before the February 23 deadline and turned in petitions with only 196 valid signatures, four short of the 200 required. He blamed the shortfall on two day laborers he had hired that morning to help gather signatures, who never showed up.6Argus Leader. David Zokaites Says Day Laborers Cost Him Ballot Spot
He ran again in 2022, campaigning on his record of council-meeting activism and advocacy for government transparency.5Argus Leader. David Zokaites Enters Mayor Race, Active at City Council Meetings His 2026 run has been described in reporting as at least his third attempt at the office.2Sioux Falls Live. Longtime City Hall Critic Makes at Least Third Run at Sioux Falls Mayor Office
For 2026 he gathered the 200 signatures himself, declining volunteer help so he could talk directly with voters.7Dakota News Now. David Zokaites to Appear on 2026 Sioux Falls Mayoral Ballot His platform called for publicly funded elections, criminal justice reform that treats addiction as a health issue, affordable housing through zoning changes, cleanup of the Big Sioux River, and a shift toward walkable “new urbanist” design.8David Z for Mayor. Platform Summary In an SDPB interview, he summarized his approach as “Protect democracy and love your neighbor” and argued that the mayor’s most important function is providing a “big public speaking voice” for the city.9South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Zokaites: Mayor’s Big Public Speaking Voice Can Help Solve City Problems
The June 2, 2026, nonpartisan election to succeed term-limited Mayor Paul TenHaken drew five candidates. Zokaites finished last with 623 votes, roughly 2% of ballots cast. Christine Erickson led with 37%, state Sen. Jamie Smith followed at 28%, state Rep. Greg Jamison took 18%, and Joe Batcheller 15%, sending Erickson and Smith to a June 23 runoff.10South Dakota Secretary of State. Sioux Falls Municipal Election Results After the results came in, Zokaites said there was “little value” in running again and added, “I’m off to do something else.”11Argus Leader. Erickson, Smith Deadlocked as Sioux Falls Mayoral Runoff Looms
Lawsuits Against the City
In 2019, Zokaites filed a pro se civil rights lawsuit against the City of Sioux Falls under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier granted summary judgment to the city, finding he had not shown the city maintained an official policy, custom, or practice that caused the alleged violations, as required under the Supreme Court’s Monell standard for municipal liability. The Eighth Circuit affirmed the dismissal on May 20, 2021.12FindLaw. Zokaites v. City of Sioux Falls, Appeal No. 20-3338
On May 29, 2026, days before the mayoral election, Zokaites filed a 251-page federal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota seeking $22.2 million in damages.13Argus Leader. Mayoral Candidate David Zokaites Sues City to Protect Civil Rights The suit alleged “deprivation of rights,” citing multiple false arrests in 2024, unlawful stops, and First Amendment concerns.14Dakota News Now. Sioux Falls Mayoral Candidate Sues City Over Civil Rights Claims Named defendants included Mayor TenHaken, Police Chief Jon Thum, Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead, former Councilor Christine Erickson (who was also his rival in the mayoral race), sitting council members, and multiple unnamed officers. Zokaites called the pre-election timing a “great opportunity to encourage democracy.”
The case lasted only a few days. U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann dismissed it, calling the complaint “absolute nonsense” and finding it “cited no applicable basis for federal jurisdiction.”1Dakota News Now. Lawsuit by Mayoral Candidate Zokaites Dismissed by Judge15The Dakota Scout. Judge Wastes No Time in Tossing $22.2 Million Lawsuit
What He Says Is Next
Zokaites has described his approach to city government as “systems engineering,” framed as an effort to “understand the process, fix the process.”2Sioux Falls Live. Longtime City Hall Critic Makes at Least Third Run at Sioux Falls Mayor Office He has referenced a forthcoming book, “What’s going on: Guide to practical local government,” drawing on his roughly 200 council presentations.8David Z for Mayor. Platform Summary As of 2026, the book had not been published, and no publication date, excerpts, or reviews were publicly available.16David Z for Mayor. City Council Presentations