Democrat Dan Ahlers Announces Bid for South Dakota Governor

Longtime party leader and former state lawmaker launches campaign for state's top office.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Dan Ahlers, the executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party and a former state legislator, has announced his candidacy for governor of South Dakota. Ahlers, who previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2020, will officially launch his campaign on Tuesday at the Sioux Falls Downtown Library.

Why it matters

Ahlers' entry into the race adds a new Democratic challenger to the 2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election, which has been dominated by Republican candidates in recent cycles. As a longtime party leader, Ahlers brings name recognition and organizational experience to his campaign, though he will need to gather over 1,200 signatures from registered Democrats by the end of March to secure a spot on the ballot.

The details

Ahlers, who has worked as the executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, is set to officially launch his campaign for governor on Tuesday at an event in Sioux Falls. He previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2020, but was defeated by incumbent Republican Mike Rounds. In order to appear on the ballot for the 2026 gubernatorial election, Ahlers must gather 1,232 signatures from registered Democrats by the March 31st filing deadline.

  • Ahlers will officially announce his campaign for governor on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
  • Ahlers must gather 1,232 signatures from registered Democrats by March 31, 2026 in order to appear on the ballot.

The players

Dan Ahlers

The executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party and a former state lawmaker who is launching a campaign for governor of South Dakota.

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What’s next

Ahlers will need to successfully gather the required 1,232 signatures from registered Democrats by the March 31st filing deadline in order to secure a spot on the 2026 South Dakota gubernatorial ballot.

The takeaway

Ahlers' entry into the 2026 South Dakota governor's race adds a new Democratic challenger to a race that has been dominated by Republican candidates in recent cycles, though he will need to quickly build momentum and support to overcome the state's Republican lean.