Where Rapid City Candidates Stand on the Issues: November 3, 2026 Election
What each candidate on the Rapid City ballot has said, sorted by issue, in their words or a close paraphrase, with the source linked. A candidate with nothing on record is listed as such. This page does not score, rank or recommend anyone.
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Election day is November 3, 2026. Last updated November 3, 2026. For every race and candidate, see what's on the ballot in Rapid City.
Guns
State Senate, District 34 (partial city coverage not verified)
Gun rights: She supports preserving Second Amendment rights and responsible gun ownership. (Taffy Howard campaign website)
Michael Calabrese (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 33
No public statement found in our sources.
Values and rights: The campaign site lists support for conservative and family values and Second Amendment rights. (Curt Massie campaign website)
No public statement found in our sources.
Immigration
U.S. House, South Dakota at-large district
Immigration: He supports securing the border, finishing the border wall, and allowing law enforcement to do its job. (Marty Jackley for Congress)
Nicole "Nikki" Gronli (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Health care and retirement
U.S. Senate
Mike Rounds (Republican, incumbent)
Social Security and Medicare: He says he is committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare and supports reforms to keep the programs solvent without cutting benefits. (Rounds for Senate)
Health care: He supports making health care more affordable and accessible through a major overhaul of the system. (Brian Bengs for U.S. Senate)
U.S. House, South Dakota at-large district
No public statement found in our sources.
Nicole "Nikki" Gronli (Democratic)
Child care: She supports access to safe, affordable, quality child care and early learning, and says parents should not have to choose between work and care for their children. (Nikki G for SD)
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Larry Rhoden & Tony Venhuizen (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Dan Ahlers & Steven McCleerey (Democratic)
Rural investment: Ahlers’s campaign says it would invest in rural roads, bridges and broadband, support family farms, and improve access to rural health care. (Dan Ahlers for Governor — Issues)
State Senate, District 34 (partial city coverage not verified)
No public statement found in our sources.
Michael Calabrese (Democratic)
Housing and health care: He says he will focus on housing that working families can afford and healthcare that does not bankrupt local residents. (Michael Calabrese campaign website)
State House of Representatives, District 33
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
Healthcare: Hall identifies affordable healthcare as an issue she wants leadership to address. (Hall for House — About Kari)
State House of Representatives, District 35
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
Healthcare and housing: He identifies healthcare and housing as issues he is addressing in his campaign. (Ken Jeakins campaign website)
Schools and education
U.S. Senate
Mike Rounds (Republican, incumbent)
Education: He supports local control of education and opposes a one-size-fits-all federal directive for schools. (Rounds for Senate)
No public statement found in our sources.
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Larry Rhoden & Tony Venhuizen (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Dan Ahlers & Steven McCleerey (Democratic)
Public education: The campaign supports recruiting and retaining teachers, strengthening rural schools, and expanding early-childhood education and childcare. (Dan Ahlers for Governor — Issues)
Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Education funding: He says he will seek maximum investment returns for K–12 and higher education. (Brock Greenfield campaign site)
Education funding: She says responsible management of trust lands, fair-market returns, and protection of long-term land productivity can strengthen public education funding and reduce pressure on taxpayers, including property taxpayers. (Mettler for SD)
State Senate, District 34 (partial city coverage not verified)
No public statement found in our sources.
Michael Calabrese (Democratic)
Schools and jobs: He says he will support public schools and good jobs in Rapid City. (Michael Calabrese campaign website)
State Senate, District 35 (partial city coverage not verified)
Education: He supports parental rights and education. (Greg Blanc campaign website)
State House, District 32
Education: He supports curriculum transparency, limiting administrator pay, directing funding to follow students, and prohibiting school funds from being used for political lobbying. (Zac Martin for South Dakota)
Steve Duffy (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Nicole Uhre-Balk (Democratic, incumbent)
Campaign priorities: Her campaign identifies education, affordability, and protecting the Black Hills as priorities. (Nicole Uhre-Balk campaign website)
School funding: She supports a zero-percent school-construction revolving loan fund to reduce districts’ borrowing costs and ease pressure on property taxpayers. (Nicole Uhre-Balk campaign website)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 33
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
Public schools: Hall says she supports strong public schools. (Hall for House — About Kari)
State House of Representatives, District 34
Education and housing: She supports continued public education, affordable housing initiatives, and Ellsworth Air Force Base. (Becky Drury for District 34 House)
No public statement found in our sources.
Victor Diego Dominquez (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 35
Education and housing: He supports expanding school choice, protecting parental rights, and making housing more affordable for District 35 families. (Vote Jason Fleming)
Education choice: He supports parents’ right to direct their children’s education and educational choice. (Dale for South Dakota)
No public statement found in our sources.
Housing
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Larry Rhoden & Tony Venhuizen (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Dan Ahlers & Steven McCleerey (Democratic)
Affordable housing: The campaign says it would support local solutions to increase housing availability and reduce barriers to responsible housing development. (Dan Ahlers for Governor — Issues)
Public Utilities Commissioner
Energy affordability: He says his plan is to keep energy affordable, protect landowners, and strengthen the grid. (Don Haggar for PUC)
No public statement found in our sources.
State Senate, District 32 (partial city coverage not verified)
Helene Duhamel (Republican, incumbent)
Taxes and housing: She says the legislature can help residents through lower taxes and reduced red tape that increases consumer costs, and says the state can help first-time homebuyers and prioritize affordable housing. (Helene Duhamel for Senate)
No public statement found in our sources.
Public safety
U.S. House, South Dakota at-large district
Public safety: He says he will support police, sheriffs, and prosecutors in Congress, and that public safety comes first. (Marty Jackley for Congress)
Nicole "Nikki" Gronli (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Attorney General
Law enforcement: He describes himself as a proponent of law-and-order policies and says his work is aimed at protecting South Dakotans. (Lance Russell campaign website)
State Senate, District 35 (partial city coverage not verified)
Public safety: He says he supports law enforcement, the military, and Second Amendment rights. (Greg Blanc campaign website)
State House, District 32
Criminal justice: He supports sentencing reform for nonviolent offenders, expanding drug courts, and mental-health diversion and reentry programs. (Zac Martin for South Dakota)
Steve Duffy (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Nicole Uhre-Balk (Democratic, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 35
Public safety: He supports law enforcement, the Second Amendment, and military families at Ellsworth. (Vote Jason Fleming)
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
Energy and utilities
U.S. Senate
Mike Rounds (Republican, incumbent)
Energy: He supports an all-of-the-above approach to energy production and expanded use of domestic natural resources to lower energy costs and create jobs. (Rounds for Senate)
Data centers: He supports giving local communities a clear, workable opportunity to say no to AI data-center development. (Brian Bengs for U.S. Senate)
Public Utilities Commissioner
Consumer rates: He says he will focus on reliable power and protecting South Dakota consumers from unwarranted rate increases. (Don Haggar for PUC)
Utility rates: Kloucek says he would scrutinize utility rate proposals and oppose unjustified increases, emphasizing affordable and predictable rates for households and businesses. (Kloucek for PUC)
Data centers: He says he would oppose data-center development that raises South Dakotans’ bills or strains energy and water resources, and calls for transparency, local input, and clarity about who pays for infrastructure. (Kloucek for PUC)
Property rights: Kloucek says he would oppose pipeline projects that threaten landowners’ property rights or local control. (Kloucek for PUC)
Farming, land and water
U.S. House, South Dakota at-large district
Agriculture: He says he will fight for fair markets, honest trade, and less federal red tape for farmers and ranchers. (Marty Jackley for Congress)
Nicole "Nikki" Gronli (Democratic)
Agriculture: She says she will work to protect South Dakota agriculture and support free and open markets that reward farmers and ranchers. (Nikki G for SD)
Commissioner of School and Public Lands
Land leases: He supports responsible use of grazing, mineral, gas, and other land leases. (Brock Greenfield campaign site)
Land stewardship: He lists stewardship of public lands and dams as a priority. (Brock Greenfield campaign site)
Land stewardship: She says she would manage trust lands and public assets to generate sustainable revenue for K–12 schools, universities, and other public institutions while protecting the lands for future generations. (Mettler for SD)
State Senate, District 32 (partial city coverage not verified)
Helene Duhamel (Republican, incumbent)
Water security: She identifies water security as her major issue for western South Dakota and says the state should plan for future water needs. (Helene Duhamel for Senate)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House, District 32
No public statement found in our sources.
Steve Duffy (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Nicole Uhre-Balk (Democratic, incumbent)
Mining and water: She says she wants to modernize mining laws and protect Black Hills water and other natural resources. (Nicole Uhre-Balk campaign website)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 33
No public statement found in our sources.
Agriculture: He says he farms and ranches and advocates for agriculture, including property-tax reform. (Curt Massie campaign website)
No public statement found in our sources.
Elections and government
U.S. Senate
Mike Rounds (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Term limits: He supports term limits of no more than two Senate terms and says he would lead by serving no more than two terms. (Brian Bengs for U.S. Senate)
Secretary of State
Election administration: She says she supports robust post-election audits, improved hand-counting methods, and disaster-recovery plans. She also says she will make audit tools and training available to counties and enforce South Dakota’s proof-of-citizenship laws. (Heather Baxter for Secretary of State)
Campaign finance: She says she will work with legislators on campaign-finance reform and clear, open reporting. (Heather Baxter for Secretary of State)
Tamara J. Lesnar (Libertarian)
No public statement found in our sources.
Election trust: His campaign says he trusts South Dakota’s election system and will protect it, with the goal of ensuring every vote is counted and every voice heard. (Terrence Davis for South Dakota Secretary of State)
State Treasurer
Office operations: She says her experience in the Treasurer’s Office has given her hands-on knowledge of its daily operations and of protecting taxpayer funds. She says she is prepared to build on the office’s work and seek opportunities to improve it. (Melissa Hull for SD)
Accountability: Her campaign site highlights department accountability as a priority. (Melissa Hull for SD)
Financial oversight: She says she is running to protect state assets through integrity, accountability, and responsible financial oversight. (Margaret Kuipers for State Treasurer)
Transparency: She says she would be a transparent steward of state finances and ensure every tax dollar is accounted for. (Margaret Kuipers for State Treasurer)
State Senate, District 33 (partial city coverage not verified)
Budget and government: He says he balanced the state budget for eight consecutive years without raising taxes and supports reducing government bureaucracy. (David Johnson campaign website)
Christopher Baumgartner (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
State Senate, District 34 (partial city coverage not verified)
Government and liberty: She says she supports fiscal restraint, individual liberties, and limited government. (Taffy Howard campaign website)
Michael Calabrese (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
State Senate, District 35 (partial city coverage not verified)
Taxes and government: He says he supports limited government, fiscal responsibility, and lower property taxes. (Greg Blanc campaign website)
State House of Representatives, District 35
No public statement found in our sources.
Taxes and government: He supports keeping taxes low and limiting government, including to help South Dakotans start and grow businesses. (Dale for South Dakota)
Individual freedom: He says government should prioritize people and protect everyone’s freedom to live, believe, and define themselves without interference. (Ken Jeakins campaign website)
Taxes and spending
State Auditor
Catherine Barranco (Republican)
Spending and efficiency: She says that, as state auditor, she will identify savings, improve government efficiency, and create opportunities for tax relief. (Catherine Barranco South Dakota State Auditor)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House, District 32
Property taxes: He supports property-tax relief without raising the statewide sales tax to fund it, capping general-fund growth at population growth plus inflation, and a renter’s rebate. (Zac Martin for South Dakota)
Steve Duffy (Republican, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
Nicole Uhre-Balk (Democratic, incumbent)
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 33
No public statement found in our sources.
Taxpayers: He says he will advocate for South Dakota taxpayers and identifies his experience as a former state tax auditor as relevant to tax solutions. (Curt Massie campaign website)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 35
Property taxes: He supports cutting property taxes and says he will fight for tax relief while protecting landowners from government overreach. (Vote Jason Fleming)
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
Jobs and the economy
U.S. House, South Dakota at-large district
No public statement found in our sources.
Nicole "Nikki" Gronli (Democratic)
Trade and tariffs: She says her first priority is working with members of Congress to reclaim Congress's authority over tariffs, which she says are hurting consumers, businesses, and farmers. (Nikki G for SD)
Secretary of State
Business and access: She says she will simplify regulations and streamline processes for small businesses, and improve public access to records with modern, user-friendly tools. (Heather Baxter for Secretary of State)
Tamara J. Lesnar (Libertarian)
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
State Senate, District 34 (partial city coverage not verified)
Families and freedom: She says her goals include protecting freedoms, improving families’ economic welfare, and maintaining South Dakota’s constitutional principles. (Taffy Howard campaign website)
Michael Calabrese (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 34
No public statement found in our sources.
Economic development: Derby lists economic development as an issue he considers important to Rapid City, West River, and South Dakota. (Mike Derby campaign website — Issues)
Workforce: Derby lists workforce development as an issue important to the region and state. (Mike Derby campaign website — Issues)
Victor Diego Dominquez (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
Other positions
Secretary of State
No public statement found in our sources.
Tamara J. Lesnar (Libertarian)
Personal freedoms: Her campaign site describes her candidacy as a stand for preserving freedoms; the page retrieved did not provide a more specific local-policy position. (Lesnar for South Dakota)
No public statement found in our sources.
State Senate, District 33 (partial city coverage not verified)
Constitutional rights: He says he supports protecting and defending the U.S. and South Dakota constitutions, safeguarding the right to bear arms, and supporting quality-of-life issues in western South Dakota. (David Johnson campaign website)
Christopher Baumgartner (Democratic)
No public statement found in our sources.
State House of Representatives, District 33
No public statement found in our sources.
No public statement found in our sources.
Family costs: Hall says she is focused on the rising everyday costs families face. (Hall for House — About Kari)
State House of Representatives, District 35
No public statement found in our sources.
Military and veterans: He supports Ellsworth Air Force Base and says veterans and active-duty service members should be protected and supported. (Dale for South Dakota)
No public statement found in our sources.