The Ballot Brief
Deuel County, South Dakota

South Dakota House District 4

See where Enquist, Froehlke, Kohl and Deutsch stand on schools, health care and housing. Names follow official Deuel County election filings.

About this race

Emelia Enquist (Democratic), Samuel Froehlke (Independent), Ryan Kohl (Republican), Fred Deutsch (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for South Dakota House District 4. Voters choose two. The Legislature's 2026 session roster shows no sitting member among these candidates. Party nominees were chosen at the June 2, 2026 primary, per the South Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Voters choose 2; the top 2 finishers win seats. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

South Dakota › Deuel County › South Dakota House District 4

Emelia Enquist

Democratic

Top priorities

From the campaign site

  • Prioritizes funding for education and bringing down costs for housing, healthcare and childcare.
  • Supports robust guidelines for data center regulation, including environmental protections, and opposes special tax breaks for corporations.
Biography

Emelia Enquist is a Lutheran minister serving three rural churches across Grant and Deuel counties and a fifth generation Grant County resident, per Enquist's campaign site. Enquist holds a bachelor's degree in advertising and public relations from Drury University and is pursuing a master's degree in systematic theology from Luther Seminary, per the campaign site. Enquist previously wrote for the Grant County Review and received the South Dakota NewsMedia Association's 2023 Outstanding Young Journalist award, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Samuel Froehlke

Independent

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Names affordability, particularly healthcare costs, property taxes, EMS funding and school funding reform as top priorities., per South Dakota Public Broadcasting
  • Favors ending subsidies and special tax deals for ethanol projects and carbon pipelines., per South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Biography

Samuel Froehlke, of Toronto, South Dakota, is running as an Independent for South Dakota House District 4, per the South Dakota War College. He describes his approach as conservative and independent, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Ryan Kohl

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Wants to address state budget gaps caused by inflation without cutting education funding, and supports rural housing solutions built through grassroots partnerships., per South Dakota Public Broadcasting
  • Cites aging water systems, bridges and culverts, along with gaps in childcare, healthcare and volunteer fire department support, as district priorities., per South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Biography

Ryan Kohl is a farmer and educator who has served nearly 25 years in the National Guard and Air Force, per South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Kohl is a father of three and has also worked as a church confirmation and Sunday school teacher, per South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Fred Deutsch

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

  • Prioritizes property tax relief, school funding and teacher compensation, and support for technical colleges such as Lake Area Technical College., per South Dakota Public Broadcasting
  • Wants investment in rural healthcare and protection of family farm and property rights, including local landowner input on development projects., per South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Biography

Fred Deutsch is a retired chiropractor who practiced for 40 years and served eight years on the Watertown School Board, per South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Deutsch previously served eight years in the South Dakota House, most recently in the 2024 session, and had 19 sponsored bills signed into law, per South Dakota Public Broadcasting.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
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Questions about this race

Who is running for South Dakota House District 4 in 2026?

4 candidates are tracked for South Dakota House District 4 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Emelia Enquist, Samuel Froehlke, Ryan Kohl and Fred Deutsch. Candidate information follows official Deuel County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on schools, health care and housing.

When is the South Dakota House District 4 election in South Dakota?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for South Dakota are on the South Dakota election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Deuel County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Deuel County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official South Dakota election office, or see the full Deuel County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Deuel County ballot

2 tracked races in Deuel County, South Dakota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

See all 2 Deuel County races
Candidate profiles
Emelia Enquist, full profileSamuel Froehlke, full profileRyan Kohl, full profileFred Deutsch, full profileOfficial South Dakota election office