Help us improve in just 2 minutes—share your thoughts in our reader survey.
Ryan Maher
Ryan Maher (Republican Party) was a member of the South Dakota State Senate, representing District 28. He assumed office on January 10, 2017. He left office on January 14, 2025.
Maher (Republican Party) ran for election to the South Dakota House of Representatives to represent District 28A. He lost in the Republican primary on June 4, 2024.
Biography
Maher earned his B.S. in accounting from Black Hills State University in 2000. He went on to receive his M.S. in banking from Colorado Graduate School of Banking in 2007.[1]
Maher was a member of the Isabel School Board from 2002 to 2007.[1]
Maher worked as an auditor for the Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Health, from 2000 to 2002. He then worked as county executive director for Farm Service Agency from 2002 to 2004. From 2004 to 2008, he worked as a loan officer for Farmers State Bank. He became the owner of Sparker Bar and Grill in 2005.[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Maher was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senate Legislative Procedure Committee
- Appropriations Committee
- Joint Legislative Procedure Committee
2021-2022
Maher was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Maher was assigned to the following committees:
- Appropriations Committee
- Senate Appropriations Committee
- Senate Government Operations and Audit Committee, Chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Dakota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Legislative Procedure |
| • Local Government |
| • State Affairs |
| • Joint Legislative Procedure |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Maher served on the following committees:
| South Dakota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Commerce and Energy |
| • Education |
| • Taxation, Chair |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Maher served on the following committees:
| South Dakota committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources, Vice Chair |
| • Taxation |
| • Transportation |
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Maher served on the following committees:
| South Dakota committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Agriculture and Natural Resources |
| • Taxation |
| • Transportation |
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
2024
See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 28A
Jana Hunt defeated Carl J. Petersen in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 28A on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jana Hunt (R) | 57.5 | 2,563 |
| Carl J. Petersen (D) | 42.5 | 1,892 | ||
| Total votes: 4,455 | |||
 = 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. Carl J. Petersen advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 28A.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 28A
Jana Hunt defeated Ryan Maher in the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 28A on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jana Hunt | 55.9 | 476 |
 | Ryan Maher | 44.1 | 375 | |
| Total votes: 851 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Maher in this election.
2022
See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for South Dakota State Senate District 28
Incumbent Ryan Maher won election in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 28 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ryan Maher (R) | 100.0 | 7,094 |
| Total votes: 7,094 | |||
| = 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
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Ryan Maher advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 28.
2020
See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for South Dakota State Senate District 28
Incumbent Ryan Maher won election in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 28 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ryan Maher (R) | 100.0 | 7,506 |
| Total votes: 7,506 | |||
| = 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
The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent Ryan Maher advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 28.
2018
General election
General election for South Dakota State Senate District 28
Incumbent Ryan Maher defeated Alli Moran in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 28 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ryan Maher (R) | 67.8 | 5,818 |
| Alli Moran (D) | 32.2 | 2,764 | ||
| Total votes: 8,582 | |||
| = 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 State Senate District 28
Alli Moran advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 28 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Alli Moran | |
| ||||
| = 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 State Senate District 28
Incumbent Ryan Maher advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 28 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Ryan Maher |
| ||||
| = 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 State Senate 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 Betty Olson (R) did not seek re-election.
Ryan Maher ran unopposed in the South Dakota State Senate District 28 general election.[2][3]
| South Dakota State Senate, District 28 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Ryan Maher (unopposed) |
100.00% | 6,989 | |
| Total Votes | 6,989 | |||
| Source: South Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Ryan Maher defeated Steven Ritch in the South Dakota State Senate District 28 Republican primary.[4][5]
| South Dakota State Senate, District 28 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Ryan Maher |
86.24% | 2,307 | |
| Republican | Steven Ritch | 13.76% | 368 | |
| Total Votes | 2,675 | |||
2012
Maher won re-election in the 2012 election for South Dakota State Senate District 28. He was unopposed in both the Republican primary on June 5 and the general election on November 6.[6]
2010
Maher ran for re-election to the 28th District seat in 2010. He defeated Julie Garreau in the general election on November 2, 2010.
Maher had served as a Democrat from 2006 to 2010. In March, 2010, Maher changed his party affiliation to Republican.
| South Dakota State Senate, District 28 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Ryan Maher (R)
|
4,732 | 72.05% | ||
| Julie Garreau (D) | 1,836 | 27.95% | ||
2008
On Nov. 4, 2008, Maher won re-election to the 28th District Seat in the South Dakota State Senate, defeating opponent Les Wolff (R).[7]
Maher raised $20,735 for his campaign while Wolff raised $30,664.[8]
| South Dakota State Senate, District 28 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Ryan Maher (D)
|
5,134 | 62.34% | ||
| Les Wolff (R) | 3,101 | 37.66% | ||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ryan Maher did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Ryan Maher did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Ryan Maher did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
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.
2024
In 2024, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 9 to March 26.
- Legislators are scored on their stances related to the Rapid City business community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes related to business.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2023, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 10 to March 27.
|
2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2022, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 11 to March 28.
|
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2021, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 12 to March 29.
|
2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2020, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 30.
|
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2019, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 8 through March 29.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2018, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 26.
|
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.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the 91st South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 29.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the 90th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 30.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the 89th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 31.
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the 88th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 25.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the 87th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 19.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the 86th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 11 through March 28.
|
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Project Vote Smart, "Ryan Maher's Biography," accessed December 20, 2014
- ↑ 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 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 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 11, 2012
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2008 Election Results, South Dakota Senate, District 28," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "District 28 South Dakota Senate Spending, 2008," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ American Clarion, "South Dakota Freedom Index 2012," accessed August 14, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Betty Olson (R) |
South Dakota State Senate District 28 2017-2025 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
South Dakota State Senate District 28 2007-2015 |
Succeeded by - |
