Dan Ahlers Announces Pick for Running Mate in Gubernatorial Race

McCleerey Named Democratic Nominee For South Dakota Lieutenant Governor

SIOUX FALLS — A farmer who formerly served in the Legislature emerged Wednesday as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of South Dakota.

Sisseton farmer, former state legislator announced as Ahler's Lt. Gov.

Democratic candidate for governor Dan Ahlers chose Sisseton farmer and former lawmaker Steve McCleerey to be his running mate.

Ahlers announces lt. gov. pick, finalizing November ballot for SD Democrats

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Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor brings legislative and agricultural experience to race

Steven McCleerey speaks to the media on Aug. 12, 2026, in Sioux Falls after being announced as the running mate for the Democratic nominee for governor of South Dakota, Dan Ahlers. (Photo by Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)SIOUX FALLS — A farmer who formerly served in the Legislature emerged Wednesday as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of South Dakota. Steven McCleerey, 73, of rural Sisseton, served six years in the state Ho…

Dan Ahlers announces pick for running mate in gubernatorial race

The two will share the Democratic ticket in the race for South Dakota governor, giving Ahlers a running mate with legislative experience as the campaign moves into the fall.

Ahlers Must File Running Mate’s Name by 5 p.m. Tuesday

Governor Larry Rhoden formalized Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen‘s unquestioned status as his running mate in the 2026 election last week by filing the certification of that pick to the Secretary of State. Venhuizen now appears on the Secretary’s online list of general election candidates ampersanded to Rhoden. As of the end of business today, Democratic candidate Dan Ahlers has not filed any such certification of his running mate. Ahlers spo…