Dakota
Voter
Senate & House – District 28
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 | |||
| Sam Marty | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on life (4/4) HB1274 – 2026, HB1313 -2026, HB1257 – 2026, HB1044 – 2025 | |
| Ryan M Maher | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on life: (2023 -2024 Life Score Card 100%) | |
| House 28A | ||
| Jana Hunt | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on life (5/5) HB1182 – 2026, HB1274 – 2026, HB1313 -2026, HB1257 – 2026, HB1044 – 2025 |
| Carl J Peterson | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| House 28B | ||
| Lawrence (Larry) Schmaltz | R | Candidate indicated support for bills protecting life and commented: As a strong traditional Catholic I am adamantly opposed to all forms of abortion. |
| Travis Ismay | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on life (5/5) HB1182 – 2026, HB1274 – 2026, HB1313 -2026, HB1257 – 2026, HB1044 – 2025 |
| 2) EDUCATION OPTIONS – Do the candidates support expanded options for education? (Ex: Private school opportunities, homeschooling, etc.) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Sam Marty | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on education choice (6/6) SB84 – 2026, SB72 – 2024, SB71- 2022, SB177 – 2021, HB1204 – 2020, SB94 – 2018, SB159 -2016 | |
| Ryan M Maher | R | Candidate has a weak voting record on education choice (2/4) SB72 – 2024, SB71- 2022, SB177 – 2021, SB94 – 2018 | |
| House 28A | ||
| Jana Hunt | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on education choice (1/1) SB84 – 2026 |
| Carl J Peterson | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| House 28B | ||
| Lawrence (Larry) Schmaltz | R | Candidate indicated support for bills that provide greater educational options and commented: I support parental rights in raising their children. |
| Travis Ismay | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on education choice (2/2) SB84 – 2026, HB1020 – 2025 |
| 3) PARENTAL RIGHTS – Do the candidates support clear protections for parental rights? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Sam Marty | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on parental rights (6/6) SB190 – 2026, HB1061 – 2025, SB113 – 2025, HB1246 – 2022, HB1223 – 2022, HB1167 – 2020 | |
| Ryan M Maher | R | Candidate has a weak voting record on parental rights (0/1) HB1223 – 2022 | |
| House 28A | ||
| Jana Hunt | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on parental rights (3/3) SB190 – 2026, HB1061 – 2025, SB113 – 2025 |
| Carl J Peterson | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| House 28B | ||
| Lawrence (Larry) Schmaltz | R | Candidate indicated support for bills that protect parental rights |
| Travis Ismay | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on parental rights (3/3) SB190 – 2026, HB1061 – 2025, SB113 – 2025 |
| 4) MARIJUANA REGULATIONS – Do the candidates support reasonable regulations on marijuana? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Sam Marty | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on marijuana regulations (100%, PSDK Score) | |
| Ryan M Maher | R | Candidate has a weak voting record on marijuana regulations (45%, PSDK Score) | |
| House 28A | ||
| Jana Hunt | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on marijuana regulations (100%, PSDK Score) |
| Carl J Peterson | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| House 28B | ||
| Lawrence (Larry) Schmaltz | R | Candidate indicated support for bills that provide reasonable marijuana regulations and commented: I support closely monitoring of the use and prescription of medical marijuana. |
| Travis Ismay | R | Candidate has a strong voting record on marijuana regulations (100%, PSDK Score) |
| 5) GAMBLING – Do the candidates support additional expansions of gambling? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | |||
| Sam Marty | R | Candidate has a mixed or moderate voting record on gambling expansion (2/3) SJR504 – 2026, SB205 – 2025, SJR2 – 2019 | |
| Ryan M Maher | R | Candidate has a weak voting record resisting gambling expansion (1/6) SB117 – 2023, SB183 – 2022, SJR502 – 2022, SJR2 – 2019, SJR5 – 2019, SJR9 – 2018 | |
| House 28A | ||
| Jana Hunt | R | Candidate has not responded yet |
| Carl J Peterson | D | Candidate has not responded yet |
| House 28B | ||
| Lawrence (Larry) Schmaltz | R | Candidate indicated opposition to bills that would expand gambling and commented: I oppose expanded gambling. I also recognize that if it were expanded, it could serve as another potential funding source and possibly used for property (word limit) |
| Travis Ismay | R | Candidate has not responded yet |