It’s time District 12’s Elected leaders reflect our incredible community

My name is Erin Royer and I’m running to represent District 12 in the South Dakota House of Representatives. Since moving to Sioux Falls to work in healthcare, I’ve learned how kind and practical the people of South Dakota truly are. When I ran in 2020 and 2022, I was lucky to meet voters across district 12 who shared their concerns about the direction our state is heading. We deserve a government that reflects our values and safeguards our future. I promise to work hard for you, and with you, to create a thriving economy and a successful society where people are safe, welcome, and valued. 

I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, a place with conservative Christian values. As I have grown and gone out to explore the world, I have held on to those values of kindness, compassion, hard work, common sense, and community. I see these values everyday in South Dakota, but I don’t see them represented in District 12’s elected leaders. 

I came to South Dakota straight from school to be a genetic counselor at Sanford Health, and quickly fell in love with our community. I was struck by how much I enjoyed living in South Dakota and how often people from other states underestimate this wonderful place. 

For the past several years in South Dakota, bills have been introduced that do not reflect the values of this great state. Bills trying to stifle autonomy, bills pushing hate disguised as concern, and bills that fly in the face of our fundamental rights. These bills waste the limited time our legislature has each year, and many wind up wasting taxpayer money in legal challenges. They bring attention to SD for all the wrong reasons and make us look different than we really are. 

In 2020, a call went out for new leaders willing to run in my district. That was the nudge I needed to realize that “someone” could be me, and realize I was just as qualified to do this job as anyone currently representing District 12 or running. I spent my summer and fall speaking with District 12’s voters and hearing their concerns. 

People I met with want better funding for teachers and education, protections for the environment we depend on to live, access to healthcare to keep us healthy, a thriving economy, and to be able to live a dignified existence. They want our leaders to be accountable, transparent, and respect the will of the voters. These are not the issues or the values that our current legislators hold dear. South Dakota deserves better and we need new legislators to lead us into the future, rather than continuing to allow our legislature to be a testing ground for extremist policies pushed by special interest groups. 

I’m running right now to make my state’s government as kind and as practical as its people. I look forward to meeting you on the campaign trail. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or ideas you have. I would greatly appreciate your vote on November 5th — thank you!