Dan Ahlers

Dan Ahlers was born in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. He earned a bachelor’s degree in government and international relations from Augustana University in 1997. Ahlers’s career experience includes working as a small business owner. He served as President of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce and President of the Dell Rapids Community Haven Before and After School Program.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Where I come from:

My wife, Amy, and I are high school sweethearts. We’ve been married for 27 years and are raising two sons, Jackson (19) and Aaron (14).

Like so many South Dakota families, we’ve built our lives around hard work, responsibility, and looking out for one another. I believe strong families are the foundation of a strong state. Government should help families succeed, not make life harder for them.

For more than 20 years, I’ve been proud to call Dell Rapids home, where I’ve owned and operated a small business. I know firsthand what it takes to meet a payroll, balance a budget, and make tough decisions, because I’ve lived them.

Giving back has always mattered to me. I’ve had the privilege of serving as President of the Haven Before and After School Program, the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce, and the Dell Rapids Community Fund. These roles weren’t about titles, they were about strengthening our community, supporting working families, and investing in our kids.​ For six years, I’ve had the honor of representing District 25 in the State Legislature. I didn’t go to Pierre to score political points; I went to solve problems.

While collaborating with colleagues from both parties and state agencies, I focused on making government work better and smarter. Together, we increased funding for education, improved how state services are delivered, supported our veterans, and protected our most vulnerable neighbors—all while holding the line on taxes

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?

At the heart of my campaign are three simple ideas. First, I believe we need to put South Dakota first. Government should focus on the things that affect people every day, not political headlines, partisan agendas, or special interests. That means making property-tax reform a Day One priority, fully funding our schools, protecting rural healthcare, supporting our farmers and small businesses, and ensuring our economic-development dollars actually help South Dakota businesses and communities. I believe we should invest in South Dakota first and make decisions based on what is best for the people who live and work here.Second, I want to be a governor who listens, works with people, and brings South Dakotans together. I have spent my career in small business, the Legislature, education, and my community. Throughout this campaign I have traveled across the state listening to people and hearing their concerns. I've talked with farmers, teachers, healthcare workers, small-business owners, students, seniors, veterans, and working families. Those conversations have shaped this campaign. I don't expect anyone to simply give me their vote; I want to earn it. And if I am elected governor, I will work with people regardless of their political party because the challenges facing South Dakota don't care whether someone is a Republican, Democrat, or independent.Finally, I believe South Dakota deserves a government focused on the challenges people are facing every day. This campaign isn't simply about replacing one person with another. It's about asking what we want our state government to focus on after nearly five decades of one-party leadership. We have real challenges that deserve our attention: property taxes, rural healthcare, education, housing, and workforce needs. I believe we can do better by focusing on practical solutions instead of political games. For me, this election is about more than a change in personalities; it's about a change in priorities, putting South Dakota first, listening to its people, and building a government that works for all of us.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education and healthcare are two areas I’m especially passionate about. As a substitute teacher for the past 10 years, I’ve seen firsthand the difference dedicated teachers and support staff make in our students’ lives. We need to give every student more opportunities to succeed while making sure our teachers and support staff are paid fairly.

Dan Ahlers did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Thank you for taking the opportunity to know me, my family and our values. My wife, Amy, and I are high school sweethearts and have been married for 21 years. We have two boys, Jackson and Aaron. I believe that the success of our great state begins with a strong family unit.

I am a long-time member of the Dell Rapids community where I have been a small business owner for the past 20 years. One of my core values is giving back to the community. It has been an honor to serve as the President of the Haven Before and After School Program, the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce and the Dell Rapids Community Fund.

Additionally, it has been an honor to serve District 25 as a SD State Legislator for six years. During my time in the state legislature, I worked with the departments and my legislative colleagues to ensure state government worked efficiently​ and provided services that met your needs. Together, we have worked to improve funding to education, improve delivery of government services, support veterans and protect our most vulnerable citizens. All of this was done without raising your taxes.

Communication is the best way to create good government. You deserve representation that listens to your concerns and works with others (regardless of party) to find commonsense solutions.

​

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?

Americans deserve access to quality affordable health care.We need fair trade and strong economic policies that support American businesses and provide opportunity to new entrepreneurs.Our children deserve a quality education that prepares them for a 21st century workforce. A good education creates opportunity no matter a child's socio-economic status.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I believe we need to do more to ensure food security for every American. We are a wealthy nation that produces more food than we can consume, yet tens of millions of Americans go hungry or don't have access to healthy foods. During this pandemic, farmers and ranchers had food rotting, milk spoiling and animals euthanized, while food banks struggled to meet demand . The USDA and Congress should have acted quicker. I would work to develop a policy and food strategy to ensure people are fed and farmers are paid a fair price for their product.

I am passionate about special education funding and providing more opportunities for children with disabilities. Since IDEA was passed nearly 40 years ago, the federal government has not lived up to its financial obligation to our schools. For the past 3 years, I have worked in our public schools and understand the struggles to provide services and education to this great group of students. As a state legislator, I passed legislation to improve access to services and helped improve the special education funding formula in South Dakota. I will work in Washington to improve special education funding, so schools can provide more staff and educational opportunities for these students.

Social Security needs to be made whole and improved to ensure benefits are not cut. This fund has been used to pay down the national debt. As a result, the solvency of this fund is in jeopardy. We need to act now to ensure it for the next generation.

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

George Washington. He established a great outline for leadership. He surrounded himself with capable people and listened to their advise. He worked with others to build consensus and achieve compromise. The best example of this was his leadership as President of the Constitutional Convention. Most importantly, Washington understood the need for a transition of leadership. After two terms as President, he left and went home. It is the standard we used in the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution.

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

The Essential America by George McGovern

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

Honesty, integrity and authenticity

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

People around me say my grit and determination define who I am as a person. If you tell me it's not possible or can be done, it drives me to succeed. I don't accept failure. I learn from it.

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

Listen to your constituents and work on policy that improves our quality of life.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be an example of good leadership and restore faith in our political system.

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

Ronald Reagan winning the 1980 Presidential election. I was 6 years old.

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

A paperboy for the Casper Star Tribune.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy and Ted Sorensen. It tells the story of eight senators that defied their political parties and public opinion to do what they thought was right and in the best interest of the country.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Han Solo

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

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

As a youth to overcome poverty, pay for college and start my own business.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

1) Ensuring affordable health care

2) Solvency for Social Security

3) Paying down the national debt

4) Immigration reform

5) Replacing aging infrastructure

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The six year terms lend it to being a more deliberative legislative body. The Senate approves presidential appointments like Supreme Court nominees. These decisions have an impact that lasts decades.

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

Experience can be very beneficial. An understanding the relationships between federal, state and local policy and how one decision impacts another can lead to better policy.

What do you think of the filibuster?

The filibuster has a storied history in the U.S. Senate, but I don't view it as a constructive way to influence policy.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?

1) Qualifications

2) Experience

3) Examples of leadership

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?

If we want to have effective government, we must find ways to work together. I spent a lot of time getting to know my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. When we understand one another, we learn how much we have in common. This understanding gives us a place for a conversation to start.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

The Committee on Agriculture because farming and ranching is important to South Dakota's economy. I have state legislative experience on Appropriations, Retirement Laws, Tribal Relations, Commerce and Transportation and feel I could contribute in any of these areas.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I admire George McGovern. He was a true statesman. McGovern was respectful of others and worked across party lines to get work done on behalf of the people of South Dakota. He had a passion for addressing the needs of our country's most vulnerable citizens. McGovern and Dole are responsible for the Food for Education Program.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1. Constituent issues

2. Education funding

3. Improving social programs[11][12]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

I am really passionate about education. Education is the key to personal success and economic development.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[12]

[the profile publisher] also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Dan Ahlers answered the following:

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

Ben Franklin and his pursuit for knowledge and perfection. Franklin was never satisfied with the status quo and was constantly searching for ways to improve the human condition.[12]

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else that best describes your political philosophy?

Aristotle’s “Politics and Ethics.”[12]

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

Honesty and integrity.[12]

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

I listen to my constituents and work to solve the problems they encounter with state government and policy. I work with my colleagues to find common goals instead of focusing on our differences.[12]

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

1. Represent the people of my district.

2. Address the needs of my district.

3. Address the needs of my state.[12]

What legacy would you like to leave?

I hope my legacy demonstrates the importance of public service and an example of statesmanship.[12]

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

I remember President Reagan being shot. I was 7 years old.[12]

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

My first job was a paper route for the Casper Star Tribune. I delivered papers for approximately 18 months.[12]

What happened on your most awkward date?

The girl didn’t show up.[12]

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, because of its focus on family and friends.[12]

What is your favorite book? Why?

Autobiography of Ben Franklin because I find his intellect intriguing.[12]

If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?

Superman, because of his integrity and ability to help others.[12]

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

My photo albums because it holds so many memories.[12]

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

December, 1963 by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.[12]

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

The people around me that constantly were telling me that I wasn’t good enough to achieve my goals and dreams.[12]

(For non-Nebraska candidates) What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

The state senate approves gubernatorial appointments.[12]

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

I think experience can be beneficial. My political science degree and internship in the state legislature gave me an advantage in understanding the process as a freshman legislator.[12]

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

Our greatest challenge is revenues keeping up with our education, healthcare and infrastructure needs.[12]

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

The process is designed to be adversarial, but I think it is important to always communicate with each other. It is also important to not make politics personal.[12]

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

It is essential to build good relationships with colleagues. We learn that we have many things in common. Often, we have similar goals but different ways to achieve these goals. When we have these good relationships, it allows us to come together with solutions to the challenges we face in state government.[12]

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Non-partisan and independent from the legislature.[12]

If you are a current legislator, what appealed to you about your current committees?

I enjoy Appropriations because it impacts all facets of state government.[12]

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I would like to be minority/majority leader.[12]

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Former U.S. Senator George McGovern[12]

Are you interested in running for a different political office in the future?

I would be interested in higher office, if it is the right opportunity and didn’t have a negative impact on my family.[12]

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

During my first term as a legislator, a young girl, who is deaf, testified for a bill I sponsored to improve education for students with disabilities. She shared her struggles in school and the her parents their frustration with getting good services. After her testimony the bill passed out of committee. I can remember the tears in her and her parents eyes. She came up to me and gave me a hug and told me thank you. I will never forget that day or how good it felt to have that kind of positive impact on another person.[12]