Daniel Ahlers


Daniel Paul Ahlers is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in South Dakota for the November 2020 election.
Ahlers is a former Democratic member of the South Dakota House of Representatives and of the South Dakota Senate, both representing District 25, encompassing Dell Rapids, South Dakota and areas north and northeast of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Early life, education, and business career

Daniel "Dan" Paul Ahlers was born in Dell Rapids, South Dakota November 14, 1973. His family moved to Rapid City and Gillette, Wyoming before moving back 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. Ahlers was an assistant manager at Menards from 1992-2001. Ahlers graduated from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1997 with a Bachelor's of Arts in government and international affairs.
He opened Video Plus, a video rental store in Dell Rapids, in 1999. He also opened Video Plus stores in Hartford, South Dakota and Tea, South Dakota, selling both in 2005. The Video Plus in Dell Rapids closed in 2019. He has been a substitute teacher in the Dell Rapids School District. Ahlers also owned Jabberwock Coffee House from 2008-2011.
Ahlers has served community organizations as Kids Voting South Dakota board member, Carroll Institute board member, President of the Haven before & after school program, and President of the Dell Rapids Community Fund.
As of June 2020, Ahlers serves as president and interim administrator of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce.

South Dakota State Legislature

Ahlers served in the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2007-2008, in the state senate in 2009-2010, and again in state house from 2017-2018. He narrowly lost in his re-election bid in November 2018, receiving 101 fewer votes than Republican Tom Pischke to represent the district for 2019-2020.

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 is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in South Dakota for the November 2020 election versus Republican incumbent Mike Rounds.

Personal life

Ahlers is married to Amy. They have two children Jackson and Aaron.