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Governor and Lieutenant Governor
2026 South Dakota Governor and Lieutenant Governor — General Election · November 3, 2026
Filed running mate: Steven McCleerey
Official filing status and all displayed profile fields are shown with retained source evidence. Final ballot placement remains explicitly pending.
Last reviewed September 15, 2026Policy statements from campaign-controlled sources are labeled candidate positions; they are not independently presented as proven outcomes.
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South Dakota Secretary of State — 2026 General Election Candidate List
Contest: Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Candidate: Dan Ahlers
Party: Democratic
Petition or convention filing date: 2026-04-02
Ballot order: 2
Status: Active
Lieutenant Governor running mate: Steven McCleerey
Only contact details published in official filing records, FEC filings, or a verified candidate-owned source with retained exact evidence appear here.
Publication here means only that the contact detail appeared in the cited filing. It is not an endorsement, and older filings may remain visible until an amended official record is captured.
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lines to get things done. That’s how I’ve served—as a legislator,
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lines to get things done. That’s how I’ve served—as a legislator,
As a business owner, volunteer and state legislator, I have been through tough economic times like those we face today. My business faced the challenges of the Great Recession. With hard work and determination, my business not only survived, it grew.
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
As a business owner, volunteer and state legislator, I have been through tough economic times like those we face today. My business faced the challenges of the Great Recession. With hard work and determination, my business not only survived, it grew.
A position shows what the candidate said—not FactVote's endorsement.
Each summary is supported by the candidate's own words from a campaign source, direct candidate response, or official primary record retained with the profile.
Expand access to early childhood education and childcare so every student starts ready to learn.
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Expand access to early childhood education and childcare so every student starts ready to learn.
As our state grows, people are being priced out of the housing market. South Dakotans deserve access to safe, affordable housing.
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As our state grows, people are being priced out of the housing market. South Dakotans deserve access to safe, affordable housing.
Work to make government open, honest, and accountable to the people.
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Work to make government open, honest, and accountable to the people.
Invest in Main Street businesses and local economies that are the backbone of rural communities.
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Invest in Main Street businesses and local economies that are the backbone of rural communities.
Invest in school infrastructure so students have the facilities they need to succeed.
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Invest in school infrastructure so students have the facilities they need to succeed.
Support local solutions to increase housing availability in both rural and growing communities.
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Support local solutions to increase housing availability in both rural and growing communities.
Fight for wages that let hardworking South Dakotans get ahead, not just get by.
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Fight for wages that let hardworking South Dakotans get ahead, not just get by.
Restore trust in state government through consistent principled transparency.
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Restore trust in state government through consistent principled transparency.
Modernize roads, bridges, and broadband, to keep communities connected and competitive.
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Modernize roads, bridges, and broadband, to keep communities connected and competitive.
Create new afterschool programs so children and students can access new enrichment and extra learning sources.
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Create new afterschool programs so children and students can access new enrichment and extra learning sources.
Work with state and local leaders to reduce barriers and encourage responsible housing development.
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Work with state and local leaders to reduce barriers and encourage responsible housing development.
Invest deeply in small businesses who drive our communities.
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Invest deeply in small businesses who drive our communities.
Support family farms and agricultural producers by expanding access to new markets and programs.
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Support family farms and agricultural producers by expanding access to new markets and programs.
Support efforts that help working families, seniors, and young people find homes they can afford.
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Support efforts that help working families, seniors, and young people find homes they can afford.
Keep rural healthcare accessible and invest heavily in public education to keep more of our bright minds in-state.
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Keep rural healthcare accessible and invest heavily in public education to keep more of our bright minds in-state.
Fight to keep rural hospitals open and long-term care facilities thriving.
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Fight to keep rural hospitals open and long-term care facilities thriving.
Incentivize businesses to grow and hire in small towns across the state.
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Incentivize businesses to grow and hire in small towns across the state.
Expand access to mental health services across the state.
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Expand access to mental health services across the state.
Recruit and retain great teachers in classrooms across the state.
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Recruit and retain great teachers in classrooms across the state.
Strengthen rural schools and keep them at the heart of their communities.
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Strengthen rural schools and keep them at the heart of their communities.
Prepare students for college, careers, and technical trades through real workforce pathways.
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Prepare students for college, careers, and technical trades through real workforce pathways.
Every South Dakotan deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare, regardless of where they live.
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Every South Dakotan deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare, regardless of where they live.
Address crucial workforce shortages straining our healthcare system.
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Address crucial workforce shortages straining our healthcare system.
Partner with businesses, schools, and unions to train our workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.
The text below is the exact source material used for this statement.
Partner with businesses, schools, and unions to train our workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.
Use the state's economic development tools to attract responsible businesses that are good neighbors and real partners in our communities.
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Use the state's economic development tools to attract responsible businesses that are good neighbors and real partners in our communities.
South Dakota needs to be a government that works for the people, not one that hides from them.
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South Dakota needs to be a government that works for the people, not one that hides from them.
Communicate clearly and directly with constituents about decisions that affect their lives.
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Communicate clearly and directly with constituents about decisions that affect their lives.
Clean out the waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars.
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Clean out the waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars.
Executive public-record methodology
An executive record will attach only from official orders, directives, vetoes, signed actions, legal filings, or direct official statements that explicitly attribute the action to this person. Agency outcomes and events during an administration are not inferred as personal actions.
Official filings may be amended after publication.
South Dakota's official campaign-finance search is linked. No amount attaches until one exact candidate or committee identity, compatible 2026 election, reporting period, and amendment state are captured. Missing values are not zero.
Claims that did not clear the publication standard remain visibly excluded.
Reason: NO_STABLE_ELIGIBLE_PUBLIC_RECORD_IDENTITY_ATTACHED
Names and candidate-stated prior service alone never attach another person's records.
Every profile claim points back to retained source evidence.
South Dakota Secretary of State
Open South Dakota Secretary of StateDan Ahlers campaign
Open Dan Ahlers campaignDan Ahlers campaign
Open Dan Ahlers campaignLink checked September 15, 2026.
Dan Ahlers campaign
Open Dan Ahlers campaignLink checked September 15, 2026.
Dan Ahlers campaign
Open Dan Ahlers campaignLink checked September 15, 2026.
South Dakota Secretary of State
Open South Dakota Secretary of State