South Dakota Democrat Party Executive Director Dan Ahlers has stepped forwards to serve as the Democrat Party’s Candidate for Governor in 2026, according to media reports, and a newly unveiled website:
With a little grit and determination, I started a small business and served my community for 25 years. It’s that same grit and determination that South Dakotans past and present used to build this great state. Together, we have overcome tough times. But today, we face challenges we haven’t seen since the Great Depression. These challenges are complicated by politicians that have chosen party politics over representing you.
As a community leader, I brought a diverse group of entrepreneurs, non-profits and churches together to build a stronger community. For 6 years, I served District 25 in the state legislature. During that time, I collaborated with my Democrat and Republican colleagues to pass legislation that improved the education and funding for students with disabilities. We improved funding and increased access to quality health care. And I worked across party lines to increase funding to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family, ensuring thousands of South Dakota children have access to nutritional food.
Working in the minority, it would have been easy to sit back and blame Republicans for the problems and challenges we faced as a state. Besides, what can a Democrat accomplish in Pierre? I’m not built that way, and I was determined to find a way to get work done. I looked for opportunities to work together and found common causes. As a result, we passed legislation and increased funding to areas many thought was impossible.
Now more than ever you need a strong voice in Pierre. Send me to back to Pierre, and I will put that same grit and determination to work for you.
Good. I like Dan.
Dan’s a good man.
Nice guy, sure. Weak candidate for Governor, however.
is he better than Waltz
That’s not who the Dems told me was running. Dan was like #7 on the list. Lots of people said no I guess. Dan is a nice guy and taking another one for the team.
Why is the party writing off that young Mr. Arnold fellow? He might burst out of the primary like a microwaved egg, and take the electorate by the neck yoke. Mr. Arnold is a fresher, younger, probably smarter albeit less experienced, and better looking candidate for the Democrat Party.
grudznick, and my close personal friend Lar who used to be a Dem before he (and I) became Libertarians, endorse Mr. Arnold. I think my good friend Bill does as well, but he sold out to The Man so probably isn’t a Democratic fellow any longer.
Grudz the Libertarian friend you have “Lar” Kurtz has been calling for Gaia to destroy South Dakota! His past recreational drug impaired ramblings prefer that our state is buried in lava and ash from a Yellow Stone Super Volcano eruption. Are you aware of any candidate for governor here in South Dakota that is campaigning on such a doom and gloom platform?
Seems nice. No policy statements whatsoever though. Usually, you state your principles in your announcement. Not here, I guess? Commend him for running. Especially because he already knows the outcome. But, all in the name of ‘name ID’.