Heather Baxter

CandidateRepublican Party

About

Heather Baxter is a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives (District 34), serving since January 2025. A lifelong South Dakotan and small-business owner in Rapid City and Custer, she has served on the Pennington County GOP Executive Board. Her late grandfather, Korczak Ziolkowski, began the Crazy Horse mountain carving. She won the 2026 Republican nomination for South Dakota Secretary of State.

Where does Heather Baxter stand on the issues?

Heather Baxter has a recorded position on four issues. Each is Civoren's summary of the campaign's own public material, with the source linked.

Campaign Finance Reform
Supports
Baxter pledges to work with legislators on meaningful reform of campaign contributions and expenditures, fostering trust through clear, open reporting.
“I'll work with legislators on meaningful reform in campaign contributions and expenditures, fostering trust through clear, open reporting.”
baxterforsos.comAs of August 2026
Election Integrity & Administration
Supports
Baxter's central campaign theme is 'election integrity.' She pledges to ensure every vote is counted accurately via paper ballots and hand counting, to support robust post-election audits, to equip all 66 counties to audit elections via Cast Vote Records, and to enforce South Dakota's proof-of-citizenship voter registration laws.
“I am a strong proponent for election integrity and accountability. … I fully support robust post-election audits, improved hand counting methods, and thorough disaster recovery plans. … My Secretary of State's office will implement robust and secure practices to ensure every vote is counted accurately via paper ballots.”
southdakotasearchlight.comAs of August 2026
Government Transparency & Accountability
Supports
Baxter pledges to improve public access to government records with modern, user-friendly tools, and to lead the Secretary of State's office with truth and trust to build accountability.
“I plan to further improve public access to records with modern, user-friendly tools, making government more transparent and responsive to South Dakotans.”
baxterforsos.comAs of August 2026
Small Business & Local Business Support
Supports
Baxter pledges to simplify regulations and streamline processes to remove barriers for small businesses, advocating for an 'SD DOGE' and drawing on her own experience as a small-business owner.
“My office will lead the way with advocacy for an SD DOGE. I will simplify regulations and streamline processes to remove barriers, leveraging my experience as a small business owner to support entrepreneurs and drive natural and organic economic growth.”
baxterforsos.comAs of August 2026

Education

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Past Elections

Past campaign