Election 2026: Five candidates, two seats — District 8 Republican primary to decide South Dakota House race outright

BROOKINGS — There are two open seats for District 8 in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

There are five Republican candidates for those seats — Samuel Krueger of Elkton, Todd Wilkinson of De Smet, Danny Brown of Madison, Jon Nelson of Lake Preston and James Sapp of Bruce.

District 8 Republican voters — which include those voters in Brookings County who live outside Brookings city limits — will have to decide which two of those candidates will represent their party in the next legislative session. This is because there’s no Democratic or independent opposition in the November general election, so the two candidates who win in the June 2 primary will win their seats outright.

The Brookings Register sent questionaries to to the candidates on why they think GOP voters should select them to serve in Pierre. These are there responses:

What would you like to tell our readers about yourself?

• Brown: Outside of work, I am a husband, father, and grandfather who has coached youth sports for years, enjoys the outdoors, and stays active in the community. I have served on a number of local boards, including our church council and the Madison Regional Health System. My wife and I made South Dakota our home more than 26 years ago, and we have lived in the same community ever since, where we raised our three children. If elected, I will work hard, be present, and focus on results. I will lead with steadiness, respect, and common sense, and I will remain accessible, transparent, and committed to representing your interests and our shared values.

• Krueger: My name is Samuel Krueger. I am a lifelong South Dakotan, born, raised, educated, and building my business in Brookings County and the surrounding area. I am a small business owner with Working Hands Carpentry, where I value craftsmanship, debt-free practices, and long-term sustainability over short-term growth.

I also serve as an engineer officer in the South Dakota Army National Guard. I earned both my Bachelor’s degree and Master of Architecture from South Dakota State University and have spent much of my professional life working in construction, design, historic preservation, and community development.

My Christian faith, military service, and commitment to hard work and stewardship have shaped who I am and why I serve.

• Nelson: I’m a lifelong resident of Lake Preston, where my wife Cathy and I have farmed for over 40 years. Today we farm alongside our son and daughter-in-law. I’ve spent my life serving through agriculture, education, church, and community leadership. As a husband, father, and grandfather of four, I care deeply about keeping rural South Dakota strong for future generations.

• Sapp: I was born and raised on a small dairy farm right here in Brookings County and am a 26 year old America First patriot. After being homeschooled through high school, I attended South Dakota State University to major in political science and economics. I first got interested in politics during Donald Trump’s 2016 election and have worked as a committee secretary in Pierre for the legislative session giving me valuable insight into Pierre politics.

• Wilkinson: I am a fourth generation South Dakotan who has spent my life working in agriculture, the law, and public service. My roots in this region run deep, and I care deeply about the future of our rural communities.

For nearly four decades, I have practiced law in De Smet, helping families, farmers, small businesses, and local governments navigate challenges and plan for the future. I also served as Kingsbury County State’s Attorney for 20 years.

Alongside my son Nick, our family operates a cow calf and cattle feeding operation. Agriculture is not just something I talk about. It is part of our daily life and has shaped my values of hard work, responsibility, and stewardship.

I believe South Dakota’s greatest strength has always been its people and communities, and I want to help preserve those opportunities for future generations.

Why are you running for a seat in the South Dakota House?

• Wilkinson: I am running because I believe South Dakota works best when practical, experienced people are willing to step up and serve their communities.

Through my work as an attorney, cattle producer, and former State’s Attorney, I have spent decades helping people solve problems, balance budgets, and make thoughtful decisions. I want to bring that same approach to Pierre.

District 8 includes communities with strong agricultural roots, growing businesses, excellent schools, and hardworking families. We need leaders who understand both the opportunities and challenges facing rural South Dakota.

I am running to be a steady voice focused on supporting agriculture, protecting our economy, strengthening local communities, and making sure future generations continue to have opportunities right here in South Dakota.

• Sapp: I watched as my father was forced to give up the dairy my grandfather built after he returned from the Navy because of overregulation and mega corporations pushing out the small farms.

I have watched it get steadily harder for people like me to purchase a home, raise a family, and live the American dream. And I watched as the political class in Pierre and Washington failed to do anything meaningful about this and instead focused on bringing massive out of state corporations to the state rather than helping South Dakota businesses. So I am now running with the goal of making the American dream possible again for people like me by supporting our small businesses and permanently reducing property taxes, sales taxes, and potentially any other taxes on our South Dakota citizens.

• Nelson: I’m running because I believe rural South Dakota needs strong, common-sense leadership that understands agriculture, landowner rights, affordability concerns, and the importance of safe communities. After a lifetime of farming and community involvement, I feel a responsibility to give back and represent District 8 by standing up for rural families, supporting law enforcement, and helping create opportunities for future generations.

• Krueger: I believe strongly in civic engagement and local leadership. I decided to run because I want to bring a fresh perspective to the South Dakota House and help refocus government on its proper role: protecting life, liberty, and the conditions that allow strong communities and the private sector to thrive.

My background comes from construction sites, military service, business ownership, and community involvement. I believe government works best when it remains closest to the people it serves, and when communities are empowered rather than becoming dependent on government.

I want to help protect constitutional freedoms, strengthen families, support personal responsibility, and ensure South Dakota remains a place where people can afford to live, work, raise children, and pursue opportunities.

• Brown: I am running for the House because I want to serve the community, the timing is right, and Pierre needs strong, thoughtful leaders. Rather than sit on the sidelines and complain about politics, I am stepping forward to help advance practical policies that reflect our shared values. With more than 25 years of legal experience — including 14 years in general practice, eight years as Assistant City Attorney for Sioux Falls, and more than three years as General Counsel for East River Electric I understand both policy and people. I have the experience and perspective to serve effectively from day one and to focus on solutions that benefit District 8 families and communities.

What sets you apart from your opponents? Why should people vote for you?

• Brown: My career has given me a front-row seat to how decisions made in state government affect families, schools, businesses, and rural communities.

As general counsel for East River Electric and previously as Senior Assistant City Attorney for Sioux Falls, I have worked across political lines, advised elected leaders, and helped navigate difficult issues with practicality and fairness. Voters should choose me because I bring proven legal experience, deep community roots, and a steady, collaborative approach to leadership. I have worked in private practice, city government, and rural electric cooperatives, and understand how to solve problems thoughtfully. I will listen, communicate openly, and work every day to represent District 8 with integrity.

• Krueger: I am a constitutional conservative with liberty-minded principles. I believe government should remain limited, accountable, and rooted in the Constitution while protecting the freedoms that allow people and communities to govern themselves effectively.

I believe lasting change happens from the ground up through strong families, churches, local businesses, and engaged communities rather than centralized government. I grew up on an acreage and developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors, including gardening, raising animals, and land stewardship. That respect for rural life and the rhythms of nature has carried into my adult life.

I am also an avid outdoorsman and have worked with and volunteered for the Boy Scouts of America, helping mentor young people through wilderness guiding and outdoor leadership. I care deeply about reverence, self-reliance, stewardship, and passing those values to the next generation.

• Nelson: I bring real-life experience and a lifetime of involvement in our communities. I’ve spent decades farming, serving on the Lake Preston School Board, leading in church and agricultural organizations, and working with people across South Dakota. I understand the challenges facing rural families because I live them every day. I’m not running for politics—I’m running to serve the people of District 8 with honesty, common sense, and practical leadership.

• Sapp: While many of my opponents might talk about bringing “civility” back to Pierre, I am more interested in helping the people of South Dakota and not the political class. While I am perfectly willing to work with other representatives out there, I will never abandon the people I represent in favor of the political elite.

And if that makes me some enemies, so be it, because the people will always come before the political class. And as I am from the generation that has found it harder to live the American dream, I actually have a personal incentive to make the lives of common South Dakotans better.

• Wilkinson: I believe my combination of real world experience, public service, and deep South Dakota roots sets me apart.

I have spent nearly 40 years representing families, farmers, businesses, and local governments across this region. I understand the legal, economic, and regulatory challenges people face because I have worked directly with them for decades.

I also bring firsthand agricultural experience as a cattle producer. Agriculture remains the backbone of our state economy, and it is important to have legislators who understand that industry from personal experience.

Most importantly, I believe in thoughtful leadership. People are tired of division and political theater. They want elected officials who listen, work hard, treat others respectfully, and focus on solving problems instead of creating them.

What are the most important issues facing the legislative district?

• Wilkinson: Like much of South Dakota, District 8 is focused on affordability, workforce challenges, housing, agriculture, and keeping our communities strong for the next generation.

Families and seniors are concerned about rising property taxes, health care costs, and the overall cost of living. Employers across the district continue to face workforce shortages, especially in health care, skilled trades, agriculture, and education.

Agriculture also continues to face pressure from rising input costs, uncertainty in markets, and increasing regulations.

At the same time, communities in District 8 are working hard to grow responsibly while maintaining the quality of life that makes this area attractive to families and businesses. Supporting strong schools, reliable infrastructure, public safety, and economic opportunity will remain essential priorities moving forward.

• Sapp: High taxes that limit growth and increase housing costs for average South Dakotans. And yet our state budget has increased massively threatening to raise taxes even further. We are also seeing the number of students in our schools declining and the average test scores decreasing as well. This despite the legislature massively increasing spending on education. And we have seen the number of farms decrease while massive farms (often owned out of state and sometimes even out of country) have continued to grow and are seriously threatening our farming community.

• Nelson: Protecting agriculture and landowner rights remains a major issue for District 8. Families are also concerned about affordability, property taxes, and making sure rural communities remain safe and strong. We need to support law enforcement, create opportunities for young people and working families, and ensure our small towns continue to have the schools, infrastructure, and economic opportunities needed to grow and succeed.

• Krueger: Affordability is one of the biggest challenges facing working families, including housing costs, property and sales taxes, inflation, childcare, education, and infrastructure. We must also support agriculture, trade education, innovation, and small businesses so young people can build their futures in South Dakota. The best way to lower the costs of living long-term is for the government to cut spending, lower taxes, and shift more responsibility to the private sector.

Protecting constitutional freedoms, maintaining safe communities through strong law enforcement, and strengthening families must remain central priorities as our state continues to grow.

• Brown: The most important issues facing District 8 are affordability, property taxes, strong schools, responsible growth, and support for the agriculture and energy sectors that drive our local economy. The legislature should help communities keep up with housing, infrastructure, and workforce needs while protecting the fiscal discipline and local values that make South Dakota strong. I believe state government should focus on transparent, accountable decisions that strengthen families, support opportunities for young people, and ensure rural communities have a strong voice in Pierre.

How do you envision the legislature’s role in economic development?

• Brown: The Legislature should help create the conditions for growth by keeping South Dakota affordable, investing in infrastructure, supporting agriculture and energy, and maintaining a fair, predictable regulatory environment. Economic development is not about government picking winners and losers; it is about encouraging private investment, supporting local businesses and workforce needs, and making sure rural communities have the tools to compete and grow. My experience with development projects, public-private partnerships, and regulatory issues has shown me that when government is transparent, practical, and fiscally responsible, businesses and communities can thrive.

• Krueger: The role of government is to provide essential functions that individuals and private organizations cannot effectively provide on their own. The private sector is the primary driver of economic growth, and government should focus on creating a stable foundation where businesses and communities can succeed.

That means investing taxpayer dollars transparently and responsibly in infrastructure, workforce development, and opportunities that allow local businesses and communities to grow from the ground up.

Government should not pick winners and losers or impose development without respect for landowners and local communities. South Dakota’s economy should be built on strong local businesses, responsible stewardship, and a long-term commitment to the people who call this state home.

• Nelson: The egislature should encourage responsible economic development that strengthens local communities while respecting private property rights and local input. Economic growth is important, especially for creating jobs and opportunities in rural South Dakota, but it must be balanced with the interests of landowners, families, and communities. I believe the state should focus on policies that help small businesses, agriculture, infrastructure, workforce development, and long-term affordability.

• Sapp: While others talk about giving state money to businesses, I want to see the legislature reduce taxes on businesses (especially small businesses) to better allow them to grow and be productive. Let them and our citizens keep their own money rather than taking it and giving it back to some people. And we should have more tax break incentives in our small, dying communities to encourage growth outside of big cities like Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

• Wilkinson: I believe the Legislature should focus on creating an environment where businesses, workers, farmers, and communities can succeed.

That starts with responsible budgeting, competitive taxes, strong infrastructure, reliable energy, quality schools, workforce development, and policies that encourage investment while respecting local communities and property rights.

Government cannot create every job, but it can either help or hinder growth. Our role should be to support conditions that allow businesses and communities to thrive.

Economic development also looks different across South Dakota. What works in Brookings may look different than what works in De Smet or Arlington. Local communities should continue to have a strong voice in shaping growth and development decisions.

South Dakota’s success has always come from hardworking people, strong communities, and a willingness to plan for the future while staying grounded in our values.

— Contact Doug Kott at [email protected].