Ray Ring
Ray Ring (Democratic Party) was a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives, representing District 17. He assumed office in 2013. He left office on January 11, 2021.
Ring (Democratic Party) ran for election to the South Dakota House of Representatives to represent District 17. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Ring completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Ray Ring was born in Marysville, Kansas. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971. He earned a bachelor's degree from St. Benedict's College in 1967 and a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1980. His career experience includes working as a professor and for the Illinois Bureau of Budget and U.S. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation. He has been affiliated with Services & Support for People with Disabilities, Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties, South Dakotans for an Alternative to the Death Penalty, and St. Agnes Parish.[1]
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Ring was assigned to the following committees:
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| South Dakota committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Taxation |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Ring served on the following committees:
| South Dakota committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Joint Appropriations |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Ring served on the following committees:
| South Dakota committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Transportation |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: South Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 (2 seats)
Incumbent Chris Kassin and incumbent William Shorma defeated Ray Ring in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Chris Kassin (R) | 40.7 | 6,680 | |
| ✔ | William Shorma (R) | 33.4 | 5,479 | |
| Ray Ring (D) | 25.9 | 4,240 | ||
| Total votes: 16,399 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Ray Ring advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 (2 seats)
Incumbent Chris Kassin and incumbent William Shorma defeated Robin Schiro in the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 on June 4, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Chris Kassin | 50.0 | 1,590 | |
| ✔ | William Shorma | 42.2 | 1,342 | |
 | Robin Schiro | 7.7 | 246 | |
| Total votes: 3,178 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Carson Merkwan (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Ring in this election.
2020
Ray Ring was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2018
General election
General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 (2 seats)
Incumbent Nancy Rasmussen and incumbent Ray Ring defeated John Gors and Gregory Baldwin in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Nancy Rasmussen (R) | 33.2 | 4,374 | |
| ✔ | Ray Ring (D) | 33.1 | 4,352 | |
| John Gors (D) | 27.4 | 3,607 | |
| Gregory Baldwin (L) | 6.3 | 829 | ||
| Total votes: 13,162 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 (2 seats)
Incumbent Ray Ring and John Gors advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 on June 5, 2018.
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 (2 seats)
Incumbent Nancy Rasmussen advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Nancy Rasmussen | |
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2016
Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 29, 2016.
Incumbent Nancy Rasmussen and incumbent Ray Ring defeated Debbie Pease and Mark Winegar in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 general election.[2][3]
| South Dakota House of Representatives, District 17 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Nancy Rasmussen Incumbent |
29.28% | 4,668 | |
| Democratic | Ray Ring Incumbent |
26.24% | 4,183 | |
| Republican | Debbie Pease | 23.43% | 3,736 | |
| Democratic | Mark Winegar | 21.05% | 3,357 | |
| Total Votes | 15,944 | |||
| Source: South Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Ray Ring and Mark Winegar were unopposed in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 Democratic primary.[4][5]
| South Dakota House of Representatives, District 17 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Ray Ring Incumbent | |
| Democratic | Mark Winegar | |
Incumbent Nancy Rasmussen and Debbie Pease were unopposed in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 Republican primary.[4][5]
| South Dakota House of Representatives, District 17 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Nancy Rasmussen Incumbent | |
| Republican | Debbie Pease | |
2014
Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 3, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014. Incumbent Ray Ring and Marion Sorlien were unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbent Nancy Rasmussen and Jamie Boomgarden were unopposed in the Republican primary. Boomgarden withdrew before the general election, and was replaced by Sheri Kaufman on the general election ballot. Rasmussen and Ring defeated Kaufman and Sorlien in the general election.[6][7][8]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Ray Ring Incumbent |
28.5% | 3,283 | |
| Republican | Nancy Rasmussen Incumbent |
28.4% | 3,279 | |
| Democratic | Marion Sorlien | 24.1% | 2,784 | |
| Republican | Sheri Kaufman | 18.9% | 2,183 | |
| Total Votes | 11,529 | |||
| Source: South Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
2012
Ring won election in the 2012 election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 17. Ring ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on June 5 and won election in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Nancy Rasmussen |
35.4% | 4,512 | |
| Democratic | Ray Ring |
33% | 4,212 | |
| Democratic | Marion Sorlien | 31.6% | 4,027 | |
| Total Votes | 12,751 | |||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Ray Ring completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ring's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I came to Vermillion 46 years ago to teach economics in the USD School of Business, where I taught for 33 years. Since I taught Economics of State and Local Governments for many years and consulted multiple times with all three branches of state government, I believe I can make a unique contribution to my state.
Mary and I have been married for 48 years and raised four children here. They attended St. Agnes School and the schools in the Vermillion School District.
I am active in St. Agnes Parish, especially with St. Agnes Charities, helping low-income people with rent, utilities, and other needs. I serve on the Boards of Directors of Sesdac (Community Service Provider located in Vermillion), Habitat for Humanity of Clay and Yankton Counties, and South Dakotans for an Alternative to the Death Penalty.
I served four terms (eight years) on the Transportation, Education, Taxation, and Joint Appropriations Committees. For me, the most important issues I worked on were expanding Medicaid, exempting food from the sales tax, and raising teacher salaries. I will continue to work on those issues after I am elected. As a tax economist, I will also continue to work for a fairer state and local tax structure.
- From the first time I ran for the State Legislature, school funding at all levels has been one of my major issues. I strongly supported the bill that raised the state sales tax rate in 2016 to support education and provide property tax relief. We must protect civics education, arts and sciences courses, and other ways of ensuring that young people receive a well-rounded education, not just training. We must recognize the value of liberal arts and sciences in this time of near obsession with “practical” courses. Education has value beyond getting a job. At the same time, workforce development depends critically on education to make workers more productive, benefiting workers and employers—and the state as a whole.
- I supported Medicaid expansion during all eight years I was in the Legislature. Everyone has the right to health care under any conditions. In 2022, the voters voted 56% to 44%--a margin of more than 40,000 votes: they want Medicaid expansion without unnecessary restrictions like work requirements. Imposing work requirements created great difficulty in other states. Eligible recipients are disqualified because they fail to meet complicated and confusing paperwork requirements—even though they qualify—leaving them without insurance when they need it. Medicaid expansion (including for the unemployed) is pro-life. So am I.
- Throughout my eight years in the Legislature, I either sponsored a bill to exempt food purchased for home consumption from the sales tax, or testified for someone else’s bill. My bills would have raised the sales tax rate just enough to make up for lost revenue. They would not have changed the base on municipal sales taxes, so city sales tax revenue would not be affected. South Dakota puts a heavier tax burden on low-income families than do most other states, but a lower burden on the rest of South Dakota families. In other words, we put higher rates on poor people. Exempting tax on food at home would ease that burden. It’s time for a longer-term, more comprehensive look at our tax structure and how it’s affecting the economy.
Education at all levels; expanding Medicaid without work requirements; repealing the death penalty; welcoming immigrants and refugees; exempting food from the sales tax; caring for "the least of these".
The entire spectrum of Catholic social teaching informs all my decisions. That includes a broad range of issues, including health care access for all, repealing the death penalty, fair taxation, and providing for "the least of these." I am pro-life, not just anti-abortion.
Honesty. Objectivity and willingness to consider all sides of an issue. Willingness to consider experience and openness to new evidence. For example, Medicaid work requirements have been unsuccessful wherever they have been tried, so why try them again? Most important principle is concern for the common good and special concern for the marginalized.
I'm willing to consider others' views and opinions, but I'm also willing to stand up for my own opinions and principles, even if they aren't popular. I put a lot of weight on experience and empirical evidence. I think it's important to defend those are less able to defend themselves.
Represent the interests of your constituents, in your district and statewide. Keep constituents informed.
I worked for the common good and especially for people at the margin.
Probably election of Dwight Eisenhower. I was six years old. Not exactly an historical event, but I remember when we got electricity on the farm. I was about four.
Driving a tractor for my dad. First paying job was helping neighbors haul hay. First "real" job was working for a carpenter doing maintencance.
They need to be on an equal basis. With South Dakota's citizen legislature meeting for 40 days, we need a strong, capable staff that can keep us informed on issues that the governor's staff has the whole year to work on and understand. That means in particular an Appropriations Committee and legislature willing to make major changes to the governor's budget. Appropriators should be making policy, taking a broader view. Others already do the auditing.
We need a major study of our tax system. We have low taxes that are supposed to encourage investment and economic development, yet wages are also relatively low, even accounting for living costs. Why? Perhaps our tax structure isn't as investment-friendly as we think.
It's important that legislators have a wide mix of experience and expertise. That should include some with experience in various aspects of state and local government , business, education, and other fields.
Absolutely. Generally, legislators may disagree but they still need to get along well and be willing to seek compromise. Evening social events contribute greatly to that in the South Dakota Legislature.
Several from both sides of the aisle have given me good examples to follow. I prefer not to name names.
Any good pun.
Not sure what that means.
Fix IM 28 so we can exempt food at home from the sales tax.
Education and taxation.
Both are obviously very important. South Dakota needs to improve both.
I think the initiative process has worked well in the past, enacting policies when the legislature refuses to act. We'll see whether I feel the same way after this year's votes.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of South Dakota scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 30.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 8 through March 29.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 26.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 27. The legislature held a special session on June 12.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 91st South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 29.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 90th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 30.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 89th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 31.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 88th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 25.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 29, 2024
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 21, 2016
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Official Results State Canvas," accessed May 2, 2017
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 South Dakota Secretary of State, "State primary results," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Current Candidates for Primary Election," May 2, 2014
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Primary Election - Official Results," accessed June 4, 2014
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results - November 4, 2014," accessed November 12, 2014
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "Official election results for 2012," accessed March 11, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tom Jones (D) |
South Dakota House of Representatives District 17 2013–2021 |
Succeeded by Sydney Davis (R) |
