Karen Springer

Background

Springer served in the United States Air Force for 22 years and is retired; she works as a substitute teacher. A September 2026 local profile says she first visited Yankton in November 2017.

Sources: SDPB, Meet the Candidates: Karen Springer, Springer for South Dakota, Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce, Coffee With The Candidates

What the candidate has said

Statements are attributed to the linked sources.

• Public education

  Supports increased public-education funding, including pay for certified and support staff, and programs to feed schoolchildren.

  Springer for South Dakota

• Childcare

  Supports state funding incentives for daycare centers and grants for in-home daycares to expand affordable childcare.

  Springer for South Dakota

• Data centers

  Says limiting what is allowed for large-scale data centers is a priority, and that rural hospitals need to be kept running.

  SDPB, Meet the Candidates: Karen Springer

• Background

  Springer is retired from the Air Force and works as a substitute teacher. Her campaign site says she served in the Air Force for 22 years; a 2026 local profile says she first visited Yankton in November 2017.

  SDPB, Meet the Candidates: Karen Springer