Tim Reed wants you to believe he’s a moderate. He’s polite, well-spoken, and known locally as a former mayor of Brookings. But in Pierre, he’s something else entirely: a loyal foot soldier for the most extreme Republican policies in South Dakota — even when they strip away healthcare from LGBTQ+ youth, ban nearly all abortion access, and divert public money from neighborhood schools to private voucher schemes.
Reed’s district is anchored by South Dakota State University, thousands of students and faculty, and a large bloc of independent and Democratic voters — people he no longer represents. His voting record isn’t moderate. It’s methodical far-right extremism dressed in a blazer.
Tim Reed is vulnerable, out of step, & one of the most flippable Republicans in the state.
His campaign for re-election will start this year, and so does Agenda PAC’s!
Key Vulnerabilities
Anti-LGBTQ+ Votes, Despite Community Opposition
Reed voted for HB 1080, banning gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors, even after South Dakota’s own doctors and university leaders opposed it.
He originally tried to amend the bill, acknowledging its extremism, but when that failed, he caved and voted yes anyway — showing he knew it was wrong and did it anyway.
He also voted to override Governor Noem’s 2022 veto of the trans sports ban, a decision that directly targeted trans girls in schools.
• Total Abortion Ban With No Rape or Incest Exceptions
Reed supported South Dakota’s abortion trigger law, which banned all abortion after Roe fell, with no exceptions for rape or incest.
When proposals came forward in 2023 to add basic protections for victims of assault, Reed sided with party leaders to block them — keeping the total ban intact.
• Silent Partner in Education Privatization
Reed voted for the school voucher legislation that gave modest teacher raises in exchange for creating a publicly funded private school voucher system — even though public school groups strongly opposed it.
He remained silent as South Dakota’s legislature passed curriculum bans, book restrictions, and attacks on university inclusion efforts.
As the state’s largest university sits in his own district, Reed has failed to stand up for higher education — and that silence has consequences.
• Voter Suppression & Anti-Democracy Behavior
Reed voted to put Amendment C on the ballot, a failed attempt to raise the threshold for citizen-led ballot initiatives, part of a broader push to undermine democracy in SD.
He voted to repeal or restrict previously passed voter initiatives — including marijuana legalization and Medicaid expansion.
• Electoral Vulnerability
Reed represents District 7, centered in Brookings — home to SDSU, a rising student population, and an electorate that’s increasingly moderate and competitive.
Democrats have come close in this district in recent years, and Reed hasn’t faced a real challenge in a decade.
With student turnout rising and a clear contrast in values, 2026 is the year Brookings can elect someone who reflects the community — not Pierre’s priorities.
Tim Reed is South Dakota’s most beatable bigot.
He claims to be a centrist — but in Pierre, he’s voted to ban abortion without exceptions, attack LGBTQ+ kids, and funnel money away from public schools.
He has:
A voting record that betrays his constituents’ values
A reputation for following party orders — even when he knows they’re wrong
A history of silence when his community needed leadership
