Aaron Aylward (born August 13, 1986) is an American politician serving as a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from the 6th district. Elected in November 2020, he assumed office on January 12, 2021. He is the former Chairman and current member of the South Dakota Freedom Caucus.
Education Aylaward earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in exercise science from Dakota State University and a Master of Arts in kinesiology from the University of South Dakota. While at Dakota State University, he was a member of the Dakota State Trojans football team. Following the 2008 season he was named to the DAC All-Conference team.
Career In 2012 and 2013, Aylward worked as a personal trainer. From 2013 to 2019, Aylward worked as a search consultant for Growing People and Companies (GPAC). In 2019, he became a sales representative for Cintas, a business services firm. In 2018, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the South Dakota House as a Libertarian. Aylward successfully ran for the South Dakota House of Representatives District 6 in 2020 and assumed office on January 12, 2021. He decided not to run for re-election in 2026.
Committee assignments 2021–2022 House Health and Human Services Committee House Judiciary Committee 2023–2024 House Local Government Committee House Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee House Taxation Committee 2025–2026 House Commerce and Energy Committee House Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee House Taxation Committee
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Electoral history
+South Dakota House of Representatives District 6 General Election, 2024PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanHerman Otten7,21641.7RepublicanAaron Aylward6,53437.8DemocratGarret Campbell3,54620.5 +South Dakota House of Representatives District 6 Primary Election, 2024PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanAaron Aylward68740.0RepublicanHerman Otten56633.0RepublicanWendi Hogan46327.0 +South Dakota House of Representatives District 6 General Election, 2022PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanErnie Otten Jr.5,55959.9RepublicanAaron Aylward3,71540.1 +South Dakota House of Representatives District 6 General Election, 2020PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanErnie Otten Jr.9,50445.1RepublicanAaron Aylward6,50430.8DemocratCody Ingle5,08424.1 +South Dakota House of Representatives District 6 Primary Election, 2020PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanErnie Otten Jr.1,55137.9RepublicanAaron Aylward1,09826.8RepublicanNathan Block1,06426.0RepublicanThomas Werner3849.4 +South Dakota House of Representatives District 6 General Election, 2018PartyCandidateVotes%RepublicanHerman Otten5,91131.0RepublicanIsaac Latterell5,49028.8DemocratNancy Kirstein3,39917.8DemocratKyle Boese3,35717.6LibertarianAaron Aylward9304.9
Football career statistics Legend Bold Career high
College Year Team 2006 Dakota State 11 60 18 42 1.0 1 1 1 2007 Dakota State 9 46 17 29 1.0 0 0 0 2008 Dakota State 9 48 31 17 4.5 0 0 0
References