Daniel P. Ahlers

Dan Ahlers opened a video rental store in Dell Rapids in 1999 and later renovated a downtown building into The Jabberwock, a coffee shop that hosted music, weddings and graduation parties.¹ He and his wife, Amy, are high school sweethearts and have two sons, Jackson and Aaron.²

Ahlers ran distance events at Augustana and graduated with a degree in government and international relations.¹ Alongside his businesses, he has worked as a substitute teacher and led local organizations, including the Haven Before and After School Program, Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Dell Rapids Community Fund.¹²

He served six years in the Legislature, including work on its joint budgeting committee in both the Senate and House.¹ In 2018, he sponsored legislation creating an advisory committee to support language development for young children who are deaf or hard of hearing; Governor Dennis Daugaard signed it into law.³¹ He became executive director of the state Democratic Party in 2023 and stepped back from those duties during the campaign.¹

Challenging Republican Governor Larry Rhoden, Ahlers proposes investing in rural healthcare, teacher recruitment, childcare, infrastructure and local businesses.⁴⁵ He also supports free school meals, recalling how a different colored lunch ticket singled him out as a child receiving reduced price meals.¹