Timothy Reed (South Dakota Senate candidate)

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Timothy Reed

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Personal

Birthplace

Wooster, Ohio

Religion

Non-Denominational

Profession

Child support specialist

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Timothy Reed (Democratic Party) ran for election to the South Dakota State Senate to represent District 14. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Reed completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Timothy Reed was born in Wooster, Ohio. He attended Cuyahoga Community College. Reed's career experience includes working as a child support specialist. He has been affiliated with the American Civil Liberties Union, with South Dakota Voices for Peace and South Dakota Voices for Justice, with Planned Parenthood of South Dakota, and with Lead, South Dakota.

Elections

2020

See also: South Dakota State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for South Dakota State Senate District 14

Larry P. Zikmund defeated Timothy Reed in the general election for South Dakota State Senate District 14 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry P. Zikmund (R)	56.0	7,391
		Timothy Reed (D)	44.0	5,808

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 13,199
= 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. Timothy Reed advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota State Senate District 14.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 14

Larry P. Zikmund defeated David Zellmer in the Republican primary for South Dakota State Senate District 14 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry P. Zikmund	59.2	1,519
		David Zellmer	40.8	1,046

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,565
= 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.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Timothy Reed completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Reed's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a progressive candidate, dedicated and ready to create solutions and solve problems for South Dakota by bringing common sense, forward-thinking leadership to District 14 as your next senator. Pierre should be investing in education, healthcare, and solving problems - not making them.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I support Medicaid expansion in S.D. and Medicare for all.
• I support funding education, including early childhood, and paying teachers higher wages that they deserve.
• I support common sense, data and logic. I don't have all the answers. That's why under my leadership, we will learn from people who do and solve problems together.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare

Education

Civil rights, personal freedoms and civil liberties

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Marianne Williamson's candidacy for the 2020 presidential election inspired me to form my own campaign committee and run locally myself. She is dedicated to talking about real and relevant issues, important things in our lives that matter, and ways to solve problems across party lines and personal convictions. Great leaders listen, I intended to follow that path and continue to learn, daily.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Untold History of The United States of America.

A Politics of Love, by Marianne Williamson

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty and integrity. If you cannot be honest and lead the people towards something better and with promise, why are you running?

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am an honest individual looking to use truth to achieve change and progress for us all.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To better the lives of constituents and solve problems they face that are bigger than themselves and that there are systemic barriers to overcoming.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A torch that can be passed, picked up and run with by the next generation of leaders ready to face their calling and tackle the challenges of their time.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I vividly remember 9/11 and watching it happen on live television from my fourth grade classroom at the time. I was 10 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was working and running the audio production boards at a local radio station. I worked there for several years throughout high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Because this book teaches us that society can be quick to judge, adamant about labeling another, and supportive of the very ideals they claim to stand against. In the end, it is the truth that sets everyone free.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Learning how to and becoming a candidate versus a constituent and voter. It's hard work, but I learn more about it daily.

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

Checks and balances that have limited bad policy suggestions from becoming state law. Many issues and potential solutions begin in the house, it is the senate who has continually been a voice of reason for the people of S.D.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes and no. Being previously elected does not mean you are prepared to represent your constituents well, or equipped to lead. The basic framework of how policy is built and passed is important, but the average American needs to be elected to office. Not career politicians. I have experience working within both state run agencies and programs that I believe will make me a capable and effective leader.

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

Providing healthcare, educational opportunities, high paying jobs and critical infrastructure to the people all over South Dakota, but especially in rural areas without access to resources. Enough pandering to win elections, the time for real action was yesterday.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

One that functions to solve the several critical issues facing the state with the support of the governor and a legislature that can effectively pass meaningful legislation. As a part of the checks and balance system, the work between the legislature and the governor should be a working, professional relationship grounded in serving the people and measuring results of both.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes. Whether you're working down or across the aisle, the entire country and state works better when we work together. As legislators, we will of course professionally disagree. But civility, common courtesy and respect are how we make progress and achieve change. Partisan disputes and personal insults get none of us anywhere.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Fair and balanced redistricting where voters feel confident their voices and vote matters because the district isn't drawn to pre-select a winner before an election has even occurred.

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.

See also

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Footnotes

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Current members of the South Dakota State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Jim Mehlhaff

Minority Leader:Liz Larson

Senators

District 1

Michael Rohl (R)

District 2

Steve Kolbeck (R)

District 3

Carl Perry (R)

District 4

Stephanie Sauder (R)

District 5

Glen Vilhauer (R)

District 6

Ernie Otten (R)

District 7

Tim Reed (R)

District 8

Casey Crabtree (R)

District 9

Joy Hohn (R)

District 10

Liz Larson (D)

District 11

Chris Karr (R)

District 12

Arch Beal (R)

District 13

Sue Peterson (R)

District 14

Larry Zikmund (R)

District 15

Jamie Smith (D)

District 16

Kevin Jensen (R)

District 17

Sydney Davis (R)

District 18

Lauren Nelson (R)

District 19

Kyle Schoenfish (R)

District 20

Paul Miskimins (R)

District 21

MyKala Voita (R)

District 22

Brandon Wipf (R)

District 23

Mark Lapka (R)

District 24

Jim Mehlhaff (R)

District 25

Tom Pischke (R)

District 26

Tamara Grove (R)

District 27

Red Foster (D)

District 28

J. Marty (R)

District 29

John Carley (R)

District 30

Amber Hulse (R)

District 31

Randy Deibert (R)

District 32

Helene Duhamel (R)

District 33

Curt Voight (R)

District 34

Taffy Howard (R)

District 35

Greg Blanc (R)

Republican Party (32)

Democratic Party (3)