Nicole Gronli

Gronli graduated from Brookings High School in 1991, according to a 2025 news report, and says she considers Brookings and Aurora jointly her home; she now lives in Dell Rapids.[1][2] She describes herself as a small-business owner with nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, communications and leadership, and news coverage identifies her as president of the marketing company Flatlander Strategies.[1][2]

Gronli served as vice chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party, according to news coverage of her 2025 campaign announcement.[2] From 2022 to 2025 she led USDA Rural Development in South Dakota as state director under the Biden administration, overseeing investments in rural housing, broadband, infrastructure and community facilities.[1][2]

She has served on Dakota State University's Cyber Security Industry Advisory Board, as president of the Department of Defense STARBASE board, and as an appointee to the Minnehaha County Housing and Redevelopment Commission board.[1] She announced her candidacy in September 2025.[2] According to her campaign website, she and her husband, Brian, are parents and grandparents.[1] During the campaign, she said she was running to advocate for South Dakota and an economy that works for everyone.[1][2] She received 36.0% of the vote to Marty Jackley's 64.0%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]