Democrat Ahlers to run for U.S. Senate seat

(AP) – A businessman and former Democratic state lawmaker is running for U.S. Senate in South Dakota.

Dan Ahlers, of Dell Rapids, has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to seek the seat. The 45-year-old Ahlers plans to formally announce his candidacy on Monday in Dell Rapids.

The Senate seat is currently held by former South Dakota governor, Republican Mike Rounds, who hasn’t yet announced whether he’ll seek re-election. State Republican Rep. Scyller Borglum, of Rapid City, is mounting a primary challenge for the post.

Ahlers says in a statement that politicians in Washington are more concerned about winning election than “getting the work of the people done.”

Ahlers served in the state House of Representatives in 2007-08 and 2017-18. He was a member of the state Senate in 2009-10.