Nikki Gronli speaks in downtown Sioux Falls on Sept. 10, 2025, during the formal launch of her campaign for South Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)
Nikki Gronli was a bureaucrat, but in a political atmosphere where that label can be an insult, she wants to benefit from it.
“There’s bureaucracy that gets in the way at times, but that bureaucracy is often put in place by Congress,” Gronli said in a speech officially announcing her campaign for Congress on Wednesday in downtown Sioux Falls. “What if someone who understands the roadblocks goes to D.C. to eliminate the bureaucracy?”
The Democratic former Biden administration U.S. Department of Agriculture appointee said that experience — helping rural communities address infrastructure, public safety, housing and broadband needs — prepared her with skills and knowledge to “cut the red tape” if she’s elected next year to South Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat.
That includes adjusting federal program requirements and processes to streamline projects or ensure a safety net for small communities relying on federal programs, Gronli told South Dakota Searchlight after the announcement, citing her history with the USDA.
She also worked with current congressional delegates in her role as well as state leaders, nonprofits, private businesses and other federal agencies to find solutions during her tenure as state director of USDA Rural Development for three years. Before that, she worked in marketing and advertising.
“Too often I think people don’t ask, ‘Can we do this? Can we change this? Can we find some people in Congress who are willing to work on this?’” Gronli said. “I would like to go there and do that.”
Gronli, who lives in rural Dell Rapids, promised the crowd that she’ll continue to host public town halls throughout the state, which she began leading this spring.
One of the Aurora native’s biggest issues to address, if elected, will be representing South Dakota farmers, she said. She blamed the Trump administration tariffs and trade policies for “damages already taking effect” on farmers because of stalled trade markets and low commodity prices.
“It’ll take around 60 new countries and deals to replace the Chinese soybean market that disappeared overnight and may never be the same again,” Gronli said.
China is boycotting U.S. soybean purchases this fall in response to President Trump’s tariffs. Farmers may get help from the federal government, Gronli said, but it could be too late for some.
Congress needs to “take back its responsibility” regarding tariff policy, she said, while working with the executive branch to compromise, rather than “give over their power” to the current administration.
“As I’ve traveled the state, never once have I been told by a farmer or a rancher that all they want is a bailout,” she said. “They want markets. They want a system that leaves some money in their pocket at the end of the season for all of their hard work, and that is not too much to ask.”
Trade policies have an impact in South Dakota beyond the agricultural economy, Gronli added, including tourism and small businesses.
“This is the place where I can say that trickle-down economics actually does work,” Gronli told the crowd. “If our top industries in South Dakota are financially damaged, that trickles down to Main Street. That impacts our businesses, it impacts our workers and it impacts our families. I cannot sit back and watch Washington fail South Dakota.”
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Gronli is the second Democrat to announce her candidacy for Congress. Bill Mawhiney, of Sioux Falls, announced his candidacy last month. Scott Schlagel of Dell Rapids filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission as well, setting the stage for the state’s first Democratic U.S. House primary since 2012.
State Senate Minority Leader Liz Larson introduced Gronli at the event, highlighting her dedication to the Democratic Party and her work to connect South Dakotans with federal decision makers during her time with the USDA.
Larson told South Dakota Searchlight that she supports Mawhiney and Gronli and is excited about the prospect of a Democratic primary.
Among Republicans, Gronli said, the primary race will be a “fight.”
U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, is running for governor next year. South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is the only Republican candidate so far to formally announce his campaign for the U.S. House seat. State Sen. Casey Crabtree, R-Madison, filed a statement of candidacy to potentially join the race.
“That fight is going to be about who more closely aligns with the very policies Washington is using to harm South Dakota — policies that harm our top industries, our workers and our people,” Gronli said. “On this side of the aisle you’re going to see issues elevated and, I guarantee, good conversations about how we best solve them.”
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