Dakota
Voter
Senate & House – District 18
VOTER GUIDE LEGEND
Green: Strong voting record or survey response
Grey: Mixed voting record or inconclusive survey response
Red: Weak voting record or survey response
“S” inside the circle: Survey results from a new candidate (no voting record)
Blank: No voting record or survey answer
For full details on scoring, click here.
| 1) LIFE – Do the candidates support the sanctity of life? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Lauren Nelson | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on life (4/4) HB1274 – 2026, HB1313 -2026, HB1257 – 2026, HB1044 – 2025 | |
| Jean Hunhoff | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on life: 100% 2023-2024 Life Score Card | |
| Kay Swihart | D | Candidate has not responded yet | |
| House | ||
| Mike Stevens | R | Candidate has a mixed or moderate voting record on life (3/5) HB1182 – 2026, HB1274 – 2026, HB1313 -2026, HB1257 – 2026, HB1044 – 2025 |
| Michael Nutley | R | Candidate indicated support for bills protecting life |
| John R Marquardt | R | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Jarod Holcomb | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Karen Springer | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| 2) EDUCATION OPTIONS – Do the candidates support expanded options for education? (Ex: Private school opportunities, homeschooling, etc.) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Lauren Nelson | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on education choice (1/1) SB84 – 2026 | |
| Jean Hunhoff | R | Candidate has a weak voting record on education choice (0/5) SB72 – 2024, SB77 -2022, SB177 – 2021, SB94 – 2018, SB159 -2016 | |
| Kay Swihart | D | Candidate has not responded yet | |
| House | ||
| Mike Stevens | R | Candidate has a weak voting record on education choice (3/10) SB84 – 2026, HB1020 – 2025, SB72 – 2024, HB1250 – 2024, HB1233 – 2023, SB71 – 2022, SB177 – 2021, SB94 – 2018, HB1125 – 2017, SB159 – 2016 |
| Michael Nutley | R | Candidate commented: I support SB177 (2021) I oppose SB72 (2024) I oppose HB1020 (2025) |
| John R Marquardt | R | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Jarod Holcomb | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Karen Springer | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| 3) PARENTAL RIGHTS – Do the candidates support clear protections for parental rights? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Lauren Nelson | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on parental rights (3/3) SB190 – 2026, HB1061 – 2025, SB113 – 2025 | |
| Jean Hunhoff | R | Candidate has a weak voting record on parental rights (0/2) HB1223 – 2022, HB1167 – 2020 | |
| Kay Swihart | D | Candidate has not responded yet | |
| House | ||
| Mike Stevens | R | Candidate has a mixed or moderate voting record on parental rights (3/5) SB190 – 2026, HB1061 – 2025, SB113 – 2025, HB1246 – 2022, HB1223 – 2022 |
| Michael Nutley | R | Candidate indicated support for bills that protect parental rights |
| John R Marquardt | R | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Jarod Holcomb | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Karen Springer | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| 4) MARIJUANA REGULATIONS – Do the candidates support reasonable regulations on marijuana? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Lauren Nelson | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on marijuana regulations (100%, PSDK Score) | |
| Jean Hunhoff | R | Candidate has a mixed or moderate voting record on marijuana regulations (64%, PSDK Score) | |
| Kay Swihart | D | Candidate has not responded yet | |
| House | ||
| Mike Stevens | R | Candidate has a weak voting record on marijuana regulations (25%, PSDK Score) |
| Michael Nutley | R | Candidate indicated support for bills that provide reasonable marijuana regulations |
| John R Marquardt | R | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Jarod Holcomb | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Karen Springer | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| 5) GAMBLING – Do the candidates support additional expansions of gambling? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Lauren Nelson | R | Candidate has a strong voting record resisting gambling expansion (2/2) SJR504 – 2026, SB205 – 2025 | |
| Jean Hunhoff | R | Candidate has a strong voting record resisting gambling expansion (3/4) SB117 – 2023, SJR502 – 2022, SB183 – 2022, SJR2 – 2019 | |
| Kay Swihart | D | Candidate has not responded yet | |
| House | ||
| Mike Stevens | R | Candidate has a strong voting record resisting gambling expansion (1/1) HJR5006 – 2023 |
| Michael Nutley | R | Candidate indicated opposition to bills that would expand gambling |
| John R Marquardt | R | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Jarod Holcomb | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Karen Springer | D | Candidate has not responded yet |