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Dan Ahlers
Dan Ahlers (Democratic Party) was a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 25. He assumed office on January 10, 2017. He left office on January 7, 2019.
Ahlers (Democratic Party) ran for election to the South Dakota House of Representatives to represent District 25. He lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Ahlers is a former Democratic member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 25 from 2017 to 2019. Ahlers was defeated in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Ahlers served in the South Dakota State Senate, representing District 25 from 2009 to 2011. He also served in the state House from 2006 to 2008.
Biography
Dan Ahlers was born in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. He earned a bachelor’s degree in government and international relations from Augustana University in 1997. Ahlers’s career experience includes working as a small business owner. He served as President of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce and President of the Dell Rapids Community Haven Before and After School Program.[1]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Dakota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Retirement Laws |
| • Appropriations |
2011 legislative session
Prior to leaving the state Senate, Ahlers served on the following committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 (2 seats)
Incumbent Jon Hansen and incumbent Randy Gross defeated Dan Ahlers and David Kills A Hundred in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jon Hansen (R) | 33.8 | 6,733 |
| ✔ |  | Randy Gross (R) | 32.0 | 6,364 |
 | Dan Ahlers (D) | 22.8 | 4,535 | |
| David Kills A Hundred (D) | 11.4 | 2,260 | ||
| Total votes: 19,892 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Dan Ahlers and David Kills A Hundred advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Randy Gross and incumbent Jon Hansen advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tom Pischke (R)
2020
See also: United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2020
United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2020 (June 2 Democratic primary)
United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2020 (June 2 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. Senate South Dakota
Incumbent Mike Rounds defeated Dan Ahlers in the general election for U.S. Senate South Dakota on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mike Rounds (R) | 65.7 | 276,232 |
| Dan Ahlers (D) | 34.3 | 143,987 | |
| Total votes: 420,219 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Dan Ahlers advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate South Dakota.
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Clara Hart (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Dakota
Incumbent Mike Rounds defeated Scyller Borglum in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate South Dakota on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Rounds | 75.2 | 70,365 |
 | Scyller Borglum | 24.8 | 23,164 | |
| Total votes: 93,529 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 (2 seats)
Jon Hansen and incumbent Tom Pischke defeated incumbent Dan Ahlers and BJ Motley in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jon Hansen (R) | 32.0 | 5,982 |
| ✔ |  | Tom Pischke (R) | 28.2 | 5,272 |
| Dan Ahlers (D) | 27.7 | 5,174 | |
 | BJ Motley (D) | 12.1 | 2,266 | |
| Total votes: 18,694 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 (2 seats)
Incumbent Dan Ahlers and BJ Motley advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Dan Ahlers |
| ✔ | | BJ Motley |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 (2 seats)
Jon Hansen and incumbent Tom Pischke defeated Tamera Enalls in the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jon Hansen | 41.7 | 1,450 |
| ✔ | | Tom Pischke | 36.7 | 1,277 |
| Tamera Enalls | 21.6 | 751 | ||
| Total votes: 3,478 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 29, 2016. Incumbent Kris Langer (R) did not seek re-election.
Tom Pischke and Dan Ahlers defeated incumbent Roger Hunt and David Haagenson in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 general election.[2][3][4]
| South Dakota House of Representatives, District 25 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Tom Pischke |
31.23% | 6,390 | |
| Democratic | Dan Ahlers |
26.51% | 5,423 | |
| Republican | Roger Hunt Incumbent | 26.33% | 5,387 | |
| Democratic | David Haagenson | 15.93% | 3,259 | |
| Total Votes | 20,459 | |||
| Source: South Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Dan Ahlers and David Haagenson defeated Ryan Tellberg in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 Democratic primary.[5][6]
| South Dakota House of Representatives, District 25 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Dan Ahlers |
56.11% | 918 | |
| Democratic | David Haagenson |
25.61% | 419 | |
| Democratic | Ryan Tellberg | 18.28% | 299 | |
| Total Votes | 1,636 | |||
Incumbent Roger Hunt and Tom Pischke defeated Courtney Ecklund in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 Republican primary.[5][6]
| South Dakota House of Representatives, District 25 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Roger Hunt Incumbent |
38.06% | 765 | |
| Republican | Tom Pischke |
31.99% | 643 | |
| Republican | Courtney Ecklund | 29.95% | 602 | |
| Total Votes | 2,010 | |||
2012
Ahlers ran in the 2012 election for South Dakota State Senate District 25. Ahlers ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 5 and was defeated by Timothy Rave (R) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Tim Rave |
51.2% | 5,629 | |
| Democratic | Dan Ahlers | 48.8% | 5,359 | |
| Total Votes | 10,988 | |||
2010
Ahlers ran for re-election to the 25th District seat in 2010. He was defeated by Tim Rave in the general election on November 2, 2010.
2008
On Nov. 4, 2008, Ahlers won election to the 25th District Seat in the South Dakota State Senate, defeating opponent Paul Jensen (R).[8]
Ahlers raised $5,569 for his campaign while Jensen raised $19,949.[9]
| South Dakota State Senate, District 25 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Dan Ahlers (D)
|
6,502 | 58.50% | ||
| L. Paul Jensen (R) | 4,613 | 41.50% | ||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Dan Ahlers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Dan Ahlers completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ahlers' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I am a long-time member of the Dell Rapids community where I have been a small business owner for the past 20 years. One of my core values is giving back to the community. It has been an honor to serve as the President of the Haven Before and After School Program, the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Dell Rapids Community Fund.
Additionally, it has been an honor to serve District 25 as a SD State Legislator for six years. During my time in the state legislature, I worked with the departments and my legislative colleagues to ensure state government worked efficiently and provided services that met your needs. Together, we have worked to improve funding to education, improve delivery of government services, support veterans and protect our most vulnerable citizens. All of this was done without raising your taxes.
Communication is the best way to create good government. You deserve representation that listens to your concerns and works with others (regardless of party) to find commonsense solutions.
- Americans deserve access to quality affordable health care.
- We need fair trade and strong economic policies that support American businesses and provide opportunity to new entrepreneurs.
- Our children deserve a quality education that prepares them for a 21st century workforce. A good education creates opportunity no matter a child's socio-economic status.
I am passionate about special education funding and providing more opportunities for children with disabilities. Since IDEA was passed nearly 40 years ago, the federal government has not lived up to its financial obligation to our schools. For the past 3 years, I have worked in our public schools and understand the struggles to provide services and education to this great group of students. As a state legislator, I passed legislation to improve access to services and helped improve the special education funding formula in South Dakota. I will work in Washington to improve special education funding, so schools can provide more staff and educational opportunities for these students.
2) Solvency for Social Security
3) Paying down the national debt
4) Immigration reform
2) Experience
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Dan Ahlers participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on September 4, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Dan Ahlers's responses follow below.[10]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1. Constituent issues
2. Education funding |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I am really passionate about education. Education is the key to personal success and economic development.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[12]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Dan Ahlers answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
| “ | Ben Franklin and his pursuit for knowledge and perfection. Franklin was never satisfied with the status quo and was constantly searching for ways to improve the human condition.[12] | ” |
| “ | Aristotle’s “Politics and Ethics.”[12] | ” |
| “ | Honesty and integrity.[12] | ” |
| “ | I listen to my constituents and work to solve the problems they encounter with state government and policy. I work with my colleagues to find common goals instead of focusing on our differences.[12] | ” |
| “ | 1. Represent the people of my district.
2. Address the needs of my district. 3. Address the needs of my state.[12] |
” |
| “ | I hope my legacy demonstrates the importance of public service and an example of statesmanship.[12] | ” |
| “ | I remember President Reagan being shot. I was 7 years old.[12] | ” |
| “ | My first job was a paper route for the Casper Star Tribune. I delivered papers for approximately 18 months.[12] | ” |
| “ | The girl didn’t show up.[12] | ” |
| “ | Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, because of its focus on family and friends.[12] | ” |
| “ | Autobiography of Ben Franklin because I find his intellect intriguing.[12] | ” |
| “ | Superman, because of his integrity and ability to help others.[12] | ” |
| “ | My photo albums because it holds so many memories.[12] | ” |
| “ | December, 1963 by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.[12] | ” |
| “ | The people around me that constantly were telling me that I wasn’t good enough to achieve my goals and dreams.[12] | ” |
| “ | The state senate approves gubernatorial appointments.[12] | ” |
| “ | I think experience can be beneficial. My political science degree and internship in the state legislature gave me an advantage in understanding the process as a freshman legislator.[12] | ” |
| “ | Our greatest challenge is revenues keeping up with our education, healthcare and infrastructure needs.[12] | ” |
| “ | The process is designed to be adversarial, but I think it is important to always communicate with each other. It is also important to not make politics personal.[12] | ” |
| “ | It is essential to build good relationships with colleagues. We learn that we have many things in common. Often, we have similar goals but different ways to achieve these goals. When we have these good relationships, it allows us to come together with solutions to the challenges we face in state government.[12] | ” |
| “ | Non-partisan and independent from the legislature.[12] | ” |
| “ | I enjoy Appropriations because it impacts all facets of state government.[12] | ” |
| “ | I would like to be minority/majority leader.[12] | ” |
| “ | Former U.S. Senator George McGovern[12] | ” |
| “ | I would be interested in higher office, if it is the right opportunity and didn’t have a negative impact on my family.[12] | ” |
| “ | During my first term as a legislator, a young girl, who is deaf, testified for a bill I sponsored to improve education for students with disabilities. She shared her struggles in school and the her parents their frustration with getting good services. After her testimony the bill passed out of committee. I can remember the tears in her and her parents eyes. She came up to me and gave me a hug and told me thank you. I will never forget that day or how good it felt to have that kind of positive impact on another person.[12] | ” |
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of South Dakota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 26.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 27. The legislature held a special session on June 12.
|
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 23, 2020
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 21, 2016
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Official Results State Canvas," accessed May 2, 2017
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Official State Canvass Recount," accessed May 2, 2017
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "State primary results," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Office of the South Dakota Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed April 9, 2012
- ↑ 2008 Election Results, South Dakota Senate, District 25
- ↑ District 25 South Dakota Senate Spending, 2008
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Dan Ahlers's responses," September 4, 2018
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 12.12 12.13 12.14 12.15 12.16 12.17 12.18 12.19 12.20 12.21 12.22 12.23 12.24 12.25 12.26 12.27 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kris Langer (R) |
South Dakota House of Representatives District 25 2017 - 2019 |
Succeeded by Jon Hansen (R) |
| Preceded by - |
South Dakota State Senate District 25 2009–2011 |
Succeeded by Tim Rave (R) |
