Public Utilities Commissioner of South Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota public utilities commissioner race?
No candidate in the South Dakota public utilities commissioner race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Don Haggar (6 of 15 criteria) and Frank Kloucek (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Don Haggar
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Frank Kloucek
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 83
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Don Haggar
- On the record2026-09-01
Called his opponent's proposed one-year data center moratorium reckless and pandering and said cases deserve a fair hearing on their merits.
- On the record2017-06-27
Resigned from the state House mid-term in 2017 to become state director of Americans for Prosperity.
Source: Ballotpedia, Don Haggar
Frank Kloucek
- On the record2026-09-01
Proposed a one-year moratorium on new AI data centers in South Dakota to protect ratepayers.
- Credit1991 to 2012
Served about 22 years in the state House and Senate for District 19.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Don Haggar. Served in the state House from 2013 to 2017, including as majority whip, then as Americans for Prosperity state director, with no formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Don Haggar
Frank Kloucek. Served 22 years in the Legislature with no formal conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Don Haggar. Took the oath as a state representative. No official finding of misuse of office and no recorded action to reject certified election results found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Don Haggar
Frank Kloucek. Took the oath as a state representative and senator. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Frank Kloucek
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Don Haggar. State representative for District 10 from 2013 to 2017 (elected three times), including majority whip, then state director of Americans for Prosperity.
Source: Ballotpedia, Don Haggar
Frank Kloucek. Served about 22 years in the state House and Senate for District 19.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Don Haggar. Says new state data center laws are the right foundation and that each case before the commission deserves a fair hearing on its merits; no detailed plan published.
Frank Kloucek. Proposed a specific measure within the commission's field: a one-year moratorium on new AI data centers to protect ratepayers, citing the lack of penalties in the new state laws.
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Don Haggar. Lives in Sioux Falls, which he represented in the House.
Sources: SD Searchlight via Yahoo News, Sept. 1, 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Frank Kloucek. A farmer from rural Scotland, which he represented in the Legislature for 22 years.
Sources: SD Searchlight via Yahoo News, Sept. 1, 2026, South Dakota Secretary of State candidate list
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Don Haggar. Led the South Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity as state director from 2017.
Source: Ballotpedia, Don Haggar
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Don Haggar. No public record found.
Frank Kloucek. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the South Dakota public utilities commissioner race?
No candidate in the South Dakota public utilities commissioner race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Don Haggar (6 of 15 criteria) and Frank Kloucek (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the South Dakota public utilities commissioner race in 2026?
Don Haggar (Republican), Frank Kloucek (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Don Haggar a good candidate for Public Utilities Commissioner?
Don Haggar has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Frank Kloucek a good candidate for Public Utilities Commissioner?
Frank Kloucek has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every South Dakota race scored, and the South Dakota 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.