about
Nikki is a small business owner and a rural Dell Rapids resident. She led USDA Rural Development in South Dakota from 2022 to 2025, overseeing millions of dollars in investments supporting rural housing, broadband, infrastructure, and community facilities. With nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, communications, and leadership, she has built a career on bringing people together to solve tough challenges.
Nikki has served her community and South Dakota in numerous leadership roles, including as a member of Dakota State University's Cyber Security Industry Advisory Board, as President of the Department of Defense STARBASE board, and appointee to the Minnehaha County Housing and Redevelopment Commission board, among many others over the years. Known for her energy and effectiveness, she consistently steps up to guide the organizations she serves.
Nikki and her husband, Brian, are proud parents and grandparents. Nikki is running for Congress to advocate for rural South Dakota and an economy that works for everyone.
the issues
This campaign is about restoring trust, listening to people in their communities, and bringing common-sense South Dakota solutions to Washington. Our best days are ahead, but only if we have leaders with the courage to advocate for South Dakota's people and values.
Nikki has toured the state, hosting town halls and listening sessions to hear directly from the people she hopes to serve. The best solutions don't come from Washington; they come from conversations with farmers and ranchers, small business owners, and working families in our towns, both big and small. The issues in Groton or Eagle Butte might be unique from those in Sioux Falls or Rapid City, but at the heart of it, we all just want a chance to succeed in the places we call home. Nikki will continue to travel to communities, elevating local concerns and working with individuals to find real solutions. Doing the right thing for South Dakota should never be about party, and she welcomes all to bring their ideas.
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economy
working FAMILIES
South Dakota families are struggling under the weight of higher grocery bills, and they are starting to feel the impacts of across-the-board tariffs and the inflation that comes with it. Even coffee turns into a luxury purchase when it goes from $9.99 to $19.99 for the same product in a matter of a week at the local grocery store.
When families across the nation are also feeling the pinch, it impacts South Dakota in other ways, too. Our number two economy, tourism, is down in both visits and visitor spending. Tourism businesses on both ends of the state are reporting sales down anywhere from 9% to as much as 40%. The loss of international travelers, combined with families having less money to spend, is hurting South Dakota tourism.
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South Dakota businesses are also seeing declining profits and/or tariff-induced supply issues.
One manufacturer joined the conversation in Aberdeen and explained how a product he uses only comes from China. And his end product is used for building homes. The housing market has long had an affordability issue, and these policies make it worse.
These are self-inflicted wounds. Taxation is the responsibility of Congress, but they haven't stepped in to stop these policies that harm our economy and families.
The economy should be a top priority for any elected leader. Nikki believes in setting policies that strengthen the working and middle class. They are what makes the economy strong. No member of Congress should abdicate their duty to set fair tax policy—yes, tariffs are a tax.
HEALTH CARE
A HUMAN RIGHT
In South Dakota, many small businesses can't afford to provide health insurance to their employees, leaving families vulnerable to one bad accident or illness. Farmers and ranchers have few affordable health coverage options.
We are a stronger, more financially secure state when people have access to the healthcare they need. When people can access preventative care, it reduces healthcare costs for everyone. We are truly in this together.
In the small towns across South Dakota, the rural hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes are the major employers. When rural healthcare providers go away, families leave, schools see further declines in enrollment, and those left behind have to drive further to receive care.
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Nikki is ready to fight for affordable coverage for working families, small business owners, senior citizens, and our farmers and ranchers.
Agriculture
Too much uncertainty
Farming and ranching aren’t just occupations; they are a way of life. It's part of what makes our state an amazing place to raise a family. We are continuing to lose family farms as consolidation becomes more and more prevalent.
The uncertainty of tariffs, vanishing markets, frozen grants, and drastic program changes present further challenges. The damages are already taking effect with low commodity prices and a lack of trade partners that may leave soybeans stored in piles on the ground.
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Farmers and Ranchers shouldn't have to work a second job to make ends meet. Farmers need more flexible operation financing to keep more money in their pockets. Farming or ranching should be enough.
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Disasters are more prevalent. We need better programs to respond and recover.
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The safety nets are not equivalent. Small and mid-sized farms and specialty producers don't have a level playing field with large producers.
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Consolidation only happens if some farmers are going out of business. This leads to a lower rural population and all of the issues that come with it, such as loss of schools, rural health care, businesses, and all of the economic drivers that allow us to have basic infrastructure.
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Let's choose a wiser way forward. Our number one industry deserves leadership in Washington that brings new ideas, cuts through needless bureaucracy, and makes the case for why a strong rural America benefits us all. With her knowledge and proven experience, Nikki is ready to deliver the leadership this moment demands.​
EDUCATION
invest for every child
Every child deserves a quality education from one of our over 700 public schools, rural and urban. Parents and educators alike are concerned about staff shortages, shrinking budgets, and the quality of education available to their students.
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We know what works. Children do better when they have the nutrition to fuel their minds and bodies. They thrive when they have access to preschool, giving them a strong start that lasts a lifetime.
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Nikki believes there is a profound difference between spending and investing. Investing in our public schools, trade schools, and universities isn’t just about today’s classrooms—it’s about preparing tomorrow’s workforce for a rapidly changing economy. It’s about ensuring opportunity for every child, in every community.
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Nikki will work across the aisle to champion innovative solutions to strengthen our schools. In the wealthiest country in the world, every child deserves the chance to succeed—listening to South Dakota voices, we can make it happen together.