Dan Ahlers

Dan Ahlers
Member of the South Dakota Senate from the 25th district
In office January 13, 2009 – January 11, 2011
Preceded by	Arnie Hauge
Succeeded by	Tim Rave
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 25th district
In office January 10, 2017 – January 8, 2019
Preceded by	Roger W. Hunt
Succeeded by	Jon Hansen
In office January 9, 2007 – January 13, 2009
Preceded by	Mike Kroger
Succeeded by	Oran Sorenson
Personal details
Born	Daniel Paul Ahlers (1973-11-14) November 14, 1973 Dell Rapids, South Dakota, U.S.
Party	Democratic
Spouse	Amy Coffaa Ahlers
Children	2
Education	Augustana University (BA)
Website	Campaign website

Daniel Paul Ahlers (born November 14, 1973) is an American businessman and politician who served in both the South Dakota House of Representatives, from 2006 to 2008 and later from 2017 to 2019, and the South Dakota Senate, from 2008 to 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Ahler represented the 25th legislative district, which encompasses Dell Rapids and areas north and northeast of Sioux Falls.

In 2020, Ahlers was his party's nominee for South Dakota's class 2 U.S. Senate seat, losing to Republican incumbent Mike Rounds. Ahlers is his party's nominee for the state's 2026 gubernatorial election.

Early life, education, and business career

Daniel "Dan" Paul Ahlers was born in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, on November 14, 1973. His family moved to Rapid City and Gillette, Wyoming, before returning to Dell Rapids when he was in high school. He graduated from Dell Rapids High School, where he participated in concert and jazz band, newspaper, basketball, and cross country. In 1996, Ahlers served as a Senate Intern to Senator Bernie Hunhoff, Senator Chet Jones, and Senator JoAnn Morford Berg. Ahlers was an assistant manager at Menards from 1992 to 2001. He graduated from Augustana University in Sioux Falls in 1997 with a Bachelor's of Arts in government and international affairs.

In 1999, Ahlers opened Video Plus, a video rental store in Dell Rapids. He also opened Video Plus stores in Hartford, South Dakota and Tea, South Dakota, selling both in 2005. The Dell Rapids Video Plus closed in 2019. Ahlers has been a substitute teacher in the Dell Rapids School District. He also owned Jabberwock Coffee House from 2008 to 2011.

Ahlers has served community organizations as a Kids Voting South Dakota board member, a Carroll Institute board member, president of the Haven before & after school program, and president of the Dell Rapids Community Fund.

In February 2021, Ahlers stepped down as president and interim administrator of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce after 12 years in the role.

Ahlers was hired in early 2023 to serve as executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party. Ahlers was re-hired in October 2023.

South Dakota State Legislature

Ahlers served in the state House of Representatives in 2007–08, in the state Senate in 2009–10, and again in state house in 2017–18. He narrowly lost his 2018 reelection bid, receiving 101 fewer votes than Republican Tom Pischke to represent the district in 2019–20.

U.S. Senate campaign

On September 24, 2019, Ahlers filed a Statement of Organization to form a committee to run for the U.S. Senate in South Dakota. Ahlers was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Dakota in the 2020 election, which he lost to Republican incumbent Mike Rounds by 66% to 34%.

2026 South Dakota gubernatorial campaign

In February 2026, Ahlers announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election.

Personal life

Ahlers is married to Amy. They have two children.

External links

• South Dakota Legislature - Dan Ahlers government website
• Campaign website

• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Follow the Money - Dan Ahlers
  • 2008 2006 campaign contributions