District 9 House

Called. Caring. Committed.

Hello Friends!

I’m incredibly honored to be serving as your District 9 Representative in the South Dakota House representing Northwest Sioux Falls, Hartford and Wall Lake.

During my first year, I’ve enjoyed connecting with the people of our district and those across the state. I’ve learned the challenges are more urgent, the problems more complex, and the stakes higher than ever before. There’s still important work to be done and I humbly ask for your support as I seek a second term.

Called by faith, caring for families, and committed to freedom.

I stand on the conservative principles that have long guided our state and our nation. I believe in safe communities, educational freedom, personal responsibility, and the dignity of hard work. Guided by these values, I am focused on serving with integrity, protecting the freedoms we cherish, and ensuring that every family has the foundation to pursue a hopeful and prosperous future.

Join me.

Let’s send a clear message: South Dakota’s grassroots patriots will continue to stand strong, stay grounded, defend what is right, and protect our conservative values.

—Tesa Schwans

South Dakota House Representative—District 9

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“Tesa understands the cosmetology industry and the challenges small businesses face. She does her homework, listens with integrity, and responds with clarity and empathy. Tesa works hard, makes practical decisions, and is a trusted voice for our community and our industry.”

–Karma Sanner
SOUTH DAKOTA COSMETOLOGY COMMISSION SECRETARY

“Tesa is a legislator who does her homework before she makes a decision. She takes her work seriously, making use of available resources to procure best outcomes.”

–Rhonda Milstead
FORMER LEGISLATOR–DISTRICT 9

“Tesa Schwans is a diligent, thoughtful, and conscientious lawmaker, a person you can depend on to know all sides of an issue, to listen, and to act with honesty and integrity.”

–Representative John Hughes
SOUTH DAKOTA HOUSE-DISTRICT 13

“I’ve spent time with Tesa Schwans and have seen her passion for District 9—both at home and in Pierre. She’s the real deal: a thoughtful listener, tireless worker, and fierce protector of our rights. I’m proud to support her. We need more leaders like Tesa—steady, down-to-earth, and dedicated.”

–Commissioner Cole Heisey
MINNEHAHA COUNTY

Called by Faith.

I’m not a career politician. I’m a concerned citizen—community-minded and deeply invested in the future of our state. I’ve always paid close attention to what happens at the national level, because those decisions affect my family, my business, my community, and all of South Dakota.

Good Plan

As a mother and a proud grandmother of nine, family is at the center of my life—especially as I approach my retirement years. After nearly 30 years of hard work, my greatest joy has been spending time with the people I love most. That was the plan.

New Plan

But as I looked at the world my grandchildren will inherit, I felt a growing weight on my heart. The concerns I hear from neighbors and friends—and shared every day in my chair—became impossible to ignore. When I felt the good Lord calling, I knew I had to answer. That’s when my plan changed.

God's Plan

That’s how this journey began. Serving as your representative, I’ve learned the challenges are more urgent, the problems more complex, and the stakes higher and time is never enough. There is still much work to be done. It’s not my plan. It’s God’s plan.

Caring for Families.

Families are the foundation of a thriving society. Everything strong and lasting is built from the home outward. As a wife, daughter, sister, mother, and grandmother, my own family inspired me to step forward into public service—to lead by example and make a meaningful difference.

FAMILIES ARE THE FOUNDATION

At the heart of this vision are pro-life, pro-family values and respect for the God-given worth of every life. Supporting mothers and babies, adoption, marriage, and responsible parenting builds the stability communities rely on. By nurturing children, honoring elders, and empowering parents, we strengthen the foundation of our communities. Rooted in faith and responsibility, I believe that when families flourish, communities flourish.

WHEN FAMILIES FLOURISH, COMMUNITIES FLOURISH

Caring for families also means building safe, healthy communities by promoting spiritual, physical, and psychological well-being. Supporting mental wellness requires addressing the root causes of crime, homelessness, and substance abuse—through awareness, accountability, and clear paths to restoration that help individuals and families regain stability.

NURTURING SAFETY & WELLNESS FOR ALL

Opportunity is essential to family well-being. Families thrive when they are free to earn a living, shape their future, and access pathways to success. Free enterprise, job training, entrepreneurship, and educational choice open doors. Education should inspire purpose in the next generation, equipping young people to become capable leaders, innovators, and citizens—supported by dedicated educators committed to every child.

EMPOWERING CITIZENS TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURE

When we care for families, communities are safer, healthier, and more prosperous. I believe that when we lift up families, we lift up every generation that follows.

Committed to Freedom.

Grounded in faith, inspired by my family, and driven by a deep love of freedom, I believe public service means standing up for what is right–even when the path is difficult–defending civil liberties, and ensuring every voice is heard and valued. Every decision should prioritize the rights, voices, and freedoms of individuals over centralized control or political agendas.

FREEDOM OVER CONTROL

My leadership is rooted in loyalty to the Constitution—not to parties, personalities, or special interests, but to the enduring American principles of liberty, justice, and equality under the law. I am steadfast in protecting and preserving a strong republic.

PRINCIPLES OVER POLITICS

I take pride in our nation’s history, its values, and its people. I champion transparent, accountable government, and state authority—where power belongs to the people and decisions are made openly and honestly.

PEOPLE OVER POWER

Above all, I believe in active, engaged citizenship: listening to constituents, respecting diverse viewpoints, and building common ground rooted in shared values. For me, patriotism is not about division—it is about devotion to country, care for community, and the courage to lead with conviction.