South Dakota — Governor

D Democratic Dan Ahlers

Supports budget balance and cost-of-living relief

Ahlers points to his experience as a small business owner and former member of the state House Appropriations Committee to advocate for balancing the state budget while investing in essential services. He aims to help communities find solutions to rising costs and supports economic policies that empower local businesses and entrepreneurs.

• Points to legislative experience balancing the state budget as an Appropriations Committee member.
• Advocates for fair trade and economic policies supporting local businesses and new entrepreneurs.
• Focuses on addressing rising costs for South Dakota families and small businesses.

“We need fair trade and strong economic policies that support American businesses and provide opportunity to new entrepreneurs.”

R Republican Larry Rhoden

Supports low taxes and business growth

Rhoden emphasizes fostering a strong economic climate for South Dakota businesses and families while maintaining limited government. During his legislative tenure, he frequently focused on agricultural property tax reform.

• Addressed agricultural property taxes as a key focus during his legislative tenure.
• Gubernatorial platform focuses on maintaining strong businesses and economic freedom.

“I want to keep South Dakota strong – strong families, strong businesses, and strong institutions.”

D Democratic Dan Ahlers

Supports increased public and special education funding

Ahlers views education as vital to individual success and state economic development. He supports strengthening public school funding and has sponsored state legislation to improve the special education funding formula.

• Prioritizes public education funding to prepare students for a modern workforce.
• Authored state legislation and funding formula improvements for special education.

“Our children deserve a quality education that prepares them for a 21st century workforce.”

“I am really passionate about education. Education is the key to personal success and economic development.”

R Republican Larry Rhoden

Supports public school funding

Rhoden made public school funding one of his primary legislative focus areas during his tenure in the state House and Senate, and previously served on a local school board.

• Identified public school funding as one of his most frequent topics as a state legislator.
• Served as a board member for the Meade 46-1 School Board.

D Democratic Dan Ahlers

Supports producer fair pricing and food security

Ahlers advocates for state and national food policies that guarantee food security for citizens while ensuring farmers and ranchers receive fair market prices for their products.

• Proposes policies aligning agricultural production with food distribution networks to combat hunger.
• Sought assignment on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee during his 2020 run to represent state producers.

R Republican Larry Rhoden

Supports agricultural producers and property tax relief

Rhoden leverages his background as a working rancher and former interim state Secretary of Agriculture to advocate for property tax relief and policy support for South Dakota's agricultural sector.

• Fourth-generation South Dakotan and active rancher.
• Served as South Dakota interim Secretary of Agriculture in 2020.
• Endorsed by the South Dakota Landowner and Outfitter Association.

D Democratic Dan Ahlers

Supports pragmatic problem-solving and independent redistricting

Ahlers challenges single-party control in South Dakota, calling for leadership focused on solving practical problems like healthcare and housing rather than chasing political distractions. He also favors independent redistricting.

• Advocates for non-partisan, independent redistricting process.
• Emphasizes bipartisan cooperation and pragmatic problem-solving over political distractions.

“We need leadership that is focused on solving real problems instead of chasing political distractions.”

R Republican Larry Rhoden

Supports executive branch resets and election law updates

Rhoden pledged to reset state executive relationships with lawmakers, the press, and Native American tribes using a collaborative leadership style. In 2025, he signed 20 election-related bills into law.

• Pledged to reset executive relations with the legislature, media, and South Dakota's nine Native American tribes.
• Signed 20 election-related bills into law in March 2025.

D Democratic Dan Ahlers

Supports expanded affordable healthcare access

Ahlers makes healthcare access and affordability a cornerstone of his gubernatorial campaign. He advocates for policy solutions that lower costs and ensure delivery of medical services across South Dakota communities.

• Identifies healthcare affordability as a central campaign priority.
• Supported state investments in healthcare systems during his time on the legislative Appropriations Committee.

“Americans deserve access to quality affordable health care.”

R Republican Larry Rhoden

Supports law enforcement and expanded gun rights

Rhoden emphasizes maintaining low crime rates and respect for law enforcement as key gubernatorial goals. As a legislator, he sponsored measures loosening pistol permit requirements and exempting firearms from federal regulation.

• Endorsed by the South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police and the National Rifle Association.
• Sponsored legislative bills exempting firearms from federal regulation and loosening pistol permit requirements.

“I want to keep South Dakota safe – with low crime and respect for law enforcement.”

D Democratic Dan Ahlers

Supports addressing housing affordability challenges

Ahlers highlights housing affordability as a priority issue, arguing that state leadership must address growing housing challenges across South Dakota communities.

• Identifies housing affordability as a key topic during his 2026 campaign interviews.

D Democratic Dan Ahlers

Supports infrastructure upgrades and investment

Ahlers advocates for state and federal investments to upgrade aging infrastructure, pointing to his prior legislative votes supporting infrastructure funding.

• Supported state infrastructure investments as an Appropriations Committee member.
• Identified replacing aging infrastructure as a major societal challenge.