Rep. Erik Muckey for SD Senate

09/04/2026

I wouldn't be able to be a legislator or a candidate without my wife, Sadie.

Sadie has been my biggest supporter as an elected official for the past two years. She's always got my back when it comes to putting in the work to connect with our neighbors. And above all, she is an ever-present reminder of why we're in public service to help others and build better future for South Dakota.

Last night, she joined me for the first time this cycle door-knocking.

I can say with certainty: District 15 really enjoys talking with Sadie. I think probably more than talking with me. 😂 She's the better half for a reason!

You'll see both of us on the doors for much of the two months ahead before Election Day, and most likely with some form of matching shirts.

Thanks, Sadie, for all your support, encouragement, and love. I'm glad I get to do this with you.

09/03/2026

Hey District 15! 👋

In case we haven't met: I'm Erik Muckey. I've served as one of your two State Representatives for the past two years.

Now, I'm running to become your next State Senator.

Thanks to South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB), I was able to share a little bit more about why I'm running, what I see as priorities, how I work with others, and above all, why I'm the best candidate in the race.

You can read all of that here: https://www.sdpb.org/2026-08-31/meet-the-candidates-erik-muckey

Here's what didn't make it into the interview:

Long before I ever ran for the Legislature, I joined a few of my friends after high school to build a youth mental health organization here in South Dakota. After nearly 12 years of leading the organization and creating impact alongside an amazing team, I led a joint effort to secure $2 million in state funding for su***de prevention.

That experience taught me something I haven't been able to unlearn: that the distance between a good idea and a family actually getting help they need is almost always some process nobody outside the State Capitol understands.

Two years after that funding bill passed, I earned a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

I've spent the past two years on the Joint Committee on Appropriations, the only House Democrat on it, chairing its Medicaid Workgroup, while playing a vital role in the Legislature's Interim Rules Review Committee. Appropriations and rules are two of the hardest-working committee assignments in Pierre, but it's where the rubber meets the road.

It's where you keep Falls Community Health open, keep all 31 critical access hospitals funded, and put $854,000 back for the poorest families in our state. It's where you keep SDPB, the State Library, and Veteran Service Officers (VSOs) protected as vital services for government transparency and outreach. It's how to work to advocate for state employees, K-12 education, and Medicaid services that cover hundreds of thousands of South Dakotans.

And while it may feel like watching paint dry for the average person, you can't blink or sleepwalk through those committee meetings. You have to be vigilant, prepared, and ready to engage using the tools, the rules, and the skills at your disposal.

Judging by the responses of my colleagues and the successes we've had for the past two years, you can rest assured on two things: I do my homework, and I work well with others.

The work isn't over, and that's why I'm running to be your next State Senator. You deserve a strong, experienced voice in Pierre who will help the many, not just a few.

Last time I ran, my race for the South Dakota House came down to 9 votes and a recount that lasted two days. I'm asking for your vote, because it absolutely counts.

I'm ready to work harder, work smarter, and work together for you for two more years.

Read more from SDPB here: https://www.sdpb.org/2026-08-31/meet-the-candidates-erik-muckey

08/31/2026

"Why would you go knock on someone's door in 100-degree heat?"

Because too much is on the line if I don't. Whether it's fighting for your access to healthcare, finding ways to make life more affordable for everyone, or just giving someone a reason to believe in their state and country again, those things matter more than the heat.

I'm proud of my track record of results for District 15 in Pierre. And I'm even prouder that we found results that help everyone in South Dakota.

But right now, I need your help. If 100 people step forward to contribute to this campaign before October 1, I know we can win this race.

It doesn't matter if it's $1 or $1,000. Every single supporter counts, because we're working for the many, not just a chosen few.

Will you support this campaign and send me back to Pierre?

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/erik-muckey-1

08/29/2026

I fully support the efforts of new Democratic candidates pushing forward on the Data Center Accountability Pledge (D-CAP).

Their work is paying off, and people from all over the political spectrum are paying attention to their advocacy on behalf of their constituents.

I'm excited to work with them to expand the number of candidates and elected officials listening to their constituents and finding reasonable policies to protect communities from negative impacts of hyperscale data center development.

More to come!

More than a dozen South Dakota legislature candidates so far have signed a pledge to regulate data center development if elected.

08/25/2026

"What are you hearing on the doors?"

Now that friends, family, and neighbors know I'm back on the campaign trail, I get asked this question a lot.

Some of the answers fall where you might expect: concerns about affordability and high prices, tax breaks getting passed to places that don't help the average person, worries about childcare and economic opportunity, and general concern about the state of the country.

What are the two areas I've heard about the most?

One probably won't surprise you: data centers and their regulation.

I've heard from quite a variety of folks who are concerned about the proposed Gemini hyperscale data center project on the edge of Sioux Falls. People in District 15 don't tend to be opposed to big projects, but this one hits differently.

The main issues? Transparency, environmental protections, and a firm belief that we shouldn't be handing over tax breaks to out-of-state corporations when we can't seem to solve teacher pay, Medicaid access, or find appropriate tax breaks (e.g., removing sales tax on groceries or improving property tax relief for fixed income residents) first.

The other may surprise you, if you're not familiar with District 15.

The issue? Ensuring our state workforce is compensated competitively.

There are many more state employees in District 15 than anyone might realize, but with the State Penitentiary in the heart of our district and the newly-constructed One Stop just down the road, it should come as no surprise to anyone.

I've reached the doorsteps of employees from Departments of Social Services, Corrections, and Public Safety (among others) and heard a similar theme across the board.

"We provide an essential service that South Dakotans rely on, but we're treated as expendable."

It's not really a shock to me that I'm hearing this. For the past two years, state employees wages have increased by 1.25% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026, while inflation has hovered between 3-5% across the region over that same time.

I want to be clear: this past year's budget situation looked bleak well into session. Getting to 1.4% seemed like an impossible task at the start of session. But when the numbers arrived, I pushed for raises for our state workforce to 2%.

Why?

Because I've been an executive. I've led organizations and managed teams. I've had to compete for talent against employers infinitely larger than the organization I was leading.

I know why it's important to take care of working people and families.

Our state government is wildly lean in many parts, so much so that it costs taxpayers even more because of high turnover and a lack of investment in training or employee resources and safety. It's hard to fill positions, like child protective services, because they are some of the hardest jobs not just in state government but in our entire economy.

When I talk about enhancing economic opportunity, I'm talking about supporting workers and small business owners that make our economy strong.

We're not doing enough to retain talent in vital roles across state government, whether helping you obtain your vital records or delivering Medicaid services or offering rehabilitative services in our prisons.

It's why I'll continue fighting for economic opportunity that includes support for a competitive state workforce.

Our state's future depends on it.

08/23/2026

This team is working hard for you, District 15.

I'm proud to be on the ballot with Representative Kadyn Wittman and June for District 15 this election cycle because they embody the values District 15 looks for in its leaders.

District 15 values leaders who work for the many, not just a chosen few. They value leaders who represent everyone, regardless of their party. And they expect us to put the work in, every day, because the people in our district work hard for their families and livelihoods every day.

Signs just like these are available right now to go to your yard or business! Let us know if you'd like a yard sign to show your support, and our hard working team will get it to you.

Sign up here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/request-a-yard-sign-30/

08/21/2026

This is an embarrassment to South Dakota.

Despite the acknowledgement that there are solutions still to be had after a botched rollout of new software for childcare assistance for South Dakota, we're watching Department of Social Services leadership double-down on actions that go against calls from community members and the Governor's Office to reverse childcare assistance benefit cuts.

Staff, childcare providers, and South Dakotans deserve better leadership from DSS. Without significant changes, this pattern of behavior will continue to harm everyday South Dakotans.

Despite a mandate from Governor Rhoden for the Department of Social Services (DSS) to respond to public outcry, the reversal of the cuts was only partial. Meanwhile, South Dakota parents and daycare providers say they are still struggling to make ends meet.

Story below⬇️

08/18/2026

In this week's Muckey Minutes, I'm reflecting on something I've been wrong about for more than two years.

Turns out I'm not a sixth-generation South Dakotan, as I've shared on my past campaign material. For someone who earned their minor in Mathematics in college, apparently I didn't count very well on this!

I'm a seventh-generation South Dakotan.

In a quiet cemetery in Harrison, South Dakota, you'll find a wealth of history about Dutch migration to Dakota Territory. That includes a gravesite for my great-great-great-great-grandmother, Willempje Groeneveld Beukelman.

She came her with her children and some grandchildren, based upon the timeline of their arrival in Dakota Territory around 1882.

I wrote about that this week, along with the significance of what it means to govern for seven generations, something deeply valued across every culture that calls these lands home.

That type of thoughtfulness is something we need more of from our elected leaders. And I hope, this year, you hold us to that in the midst of campaigns and the opportunity to decide what kind of government we want in Pierre and Washington.

More in this week's Muckey Minutes: https://open.substack.com/pub/erikmuckey/p/the-muckey-minutes-08172026

08/17/2026

Access to quality healthcare shouldn't be a privilege, but a right.

I'm proud of the work we've done to deliver for District 15 and South Dakota to lower the cost of healthcare.

And it's not over yet. I'm ready to continue that work in the South Dakota Senate.