SIOUX FALLS — A farmer who formerly served in the Legislature emerged Wednesday as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of South Dakota.

Steven McCleerey, 73, of rural Sisseton, served six years in the state House of Representatives from 2015 to 2020. He said his approach as lieutenant governor would be focused on cooperation rather than partisan conflict.

“We’re here to help solve problems, not cause problems,” McCleerey said.

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He will be the running mate of another former legislator, Dan Ahlers, of Dell Rapids, who is the Democratic nominee for governor. 

Ahlers said McCleerey’s legislative experience, including serving as assistant House minority leader, taught McCleerey how to earn support from Republicans, given that Democrats do not have the numbers in Pierre to pass a bill on their own. 

McCleerey raises crops and cattle and said he has served about 20 years on his local hospital board, along with serving on a nursing home board. Ahlers said those experiences make McCleerey a useful adviser on agricultural, rural health and long-term care issues.

Ahlers is challenging Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, who is seeking his own full term after being elevated from lieutenant governor when Gov. Kristi Noem resigned last year to accept a job in President Donald Trump’s administration. Rhoden’s running mate is Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen.

Ahlers and Rhoden have accepted invitations to participate in two September debates. Venhuizen preemptively challenged Ahlers’ running mate to a debate, before Ahlers announced his pick.

McCleerey said he is open to facing Venhuizen, but would prefer a “roundtable discussion” or an open forum where the audience asks the questions. 

The general election is Nov. 3.