Dan Ahlers
Democratic candidate for Governor in South Dakota
$9.2K
NOV 7, 2026
General Election
Voters choose the office holder.
Live Odds — South Dakota Governor winner?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
4.3%chance to win
$9.2KNOV 7, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleFormer State Representative
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
Age52 years old (Nov 14, 1973)
GenderMale
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LocationSouth Dakota
BackgroundBusinessman
EducationAugustana University — B.A.
Notable personal detailsDaniel Paul “Dan” Ahlers is an American businessman and Democratic politician from Dell Rapids, South Dakota. He served in the South Dakota Legislature representing District 25, including terms in the South Dakota House (2007–2009 and 2017–2019) and the South Dakota Senate (2009–2011). He was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Dakota in 2020 and is a Democratic candidate for governor in South Dakota’s 2026 election cycle.
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Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
Dan Ahlers emphasizes making South Dakota more affordable while investing in small businesses, workforce training, education, and infrastructure. He has said he would support repealing or reducing the sales tax on food and has also described his record as holding the line on taxes and respecting taxpayers.
Healthcare
Dan Ahlers says every South Dakotan deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare and calls for keeping rural hospitals open, addressing workforce shortages, and expanding mental health services. He has also said rural healthcare access should be protected and that expanding Medicaid eligibility was the right decision.
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Immigration & Border
Dan Ahlers has described immigration enforcement in both border-security and humanitarian terms. He has supported a border wall and denying funds to sanctuary cities, while also saying there is room for cooperation on immigration enforcement and criticizing heavy-handed tactics.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Dan Ahlers says he does not support adding further abortion restrictions and wants clearer, medically workable laws with stronger medical exceptions. He also previously described himself as pro-choice and said it is not his place to make that choice for a woman, while supporting exceptions for rape, incest, and the health of the mother.
Climate & Energy
Dan Ahlers has supported renewable energy as a job creator and has said economic development should minimize impacts on water and energy systems. His campaign materials emphasize rural investment, and he has also referenced the CO₂ pipeline debate without laying out a detailed climate policy agenda.
Public Safety & Guns
Dan Ahlers has a recorded 2nd Amendment issue position on Vote Smart, but the campaign materials reviewed do not spell out a detailed gun policy. His Vote Smart profile also shows low ratings from the NRA and Gun Owners of America, which points to a position that is not strongly aligned with either gun-rights absolutism or a clearly defined gun-restriction platform.
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