Dan Ahlers

Ahlers was born in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, graduated from Dell Rapids High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in government and international relations from Augustana University in 1997.⁠[1]

He owns and operates a small business in Dell Rapids, where he has lived for more than 20 years. He spent 12 years as president and interim administrator of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce and 11 years as president of the Haven before- and after-school program, and is a past president of the Dell Rapids Community Fund; he has also worked as a substitute teacher for about ten years.⁠[2][3][1]

Ahlers served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2006 to 2008. In 2008 he won the District 25 state Senate seat with 58.50 percent and served from 2009 to 2011; he lost to Republican Tim Rave in 2010 and again in 2012, by 48.8 percent to 51.2 percent.⁠[1]

In 2016 Ahlers won one of two District 25 seats in the state House and served from January 10, 2017, to January 7, 2019, when he was succeeded by Republican Jon Hansen. He finished third and lost in the same two-seat district in 2018 and 2022.⁠[1]

In 2020 he was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate and lost to incumbent Republican Senator Mike RoundsMike RoundsMike Rounds is an American Republican politician who has served as a U.S. senator from South Dakota since 2015 and was governor of South Dakota from 2003 to 2011; in November 2026 he won a third Senate term.Open the full entry, 34.3 percent to 65.7 percent.⁠[1][3]

On February 9, 2026, Ahlers, then executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, said he would run for governor, and he formally launched his campaign the next day at the Siouxland Downtown Library in Sioux Falls. He said, “South Dakota works best when we work together.”⁠[3]

Because the Democratic primary for governor scheduled for June 2 was canceled, Ahlers became the Democratic nominee without appearing on a primary ballot. In August he chose Steven McCleerey, a 73-year-old farmer from rural Sisseton and former state representative, as his running mate; Ahlers said McCleerey’s experience as assistant House minority leader showed how to win Republican support, and that his farming background and service on hospital and nursing home boards would help on agriculture, rural health and long-term care.⁠[4][5]

In the November 3 gubernatorial election Ahlers and McCleerey lost to Republican Governor Larry RhodenLarry RhodenLarry Rhoden is an American Republican politician and rancher who served in the South Dakota Legislature and as lieutenant governor before succeeding Kristi Noem as the 34th governor of South Dakota in January 2025. He was elected governor in November 2026.Open the full entry and his running mate, Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen; the Associated Press projected Rhoden as the winner. South Dakota last elected a Democratic governor in 1974.⁠[4][6][7]

Ahlers has said, “I believe we need to put South Dakota first.” He has said that “Education and healthcare are two areas I’m especially passionate about,” and lists workforce development, infrastructure, stronger rural communities, support for veterans and seniors, and efficient, transparent government among his priorities.⁠[1][2]

Ahlers for Governor (campaign): Official website: https://www.danahlers.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[8]

X: Public account: https://x.com/ahlers_dan (opens in a new window).⁠[8]