Tim Begalka
# Tim Begalka

Timothy 'Tim' P. Begalka (born February 19, 1960 in Clear Lake, South Dakota) is an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate representing District 4 since January 11, 2011. Begalka served non-consecutively in the South Dakota Legislature from January 2001 until January 2005 in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 4 seat.

## Education

Begalka earned his BS degree from South Dakota State University.

## Elections

* 2012 Begalka was challenged in the June 5, 2012 Republican Primary by Representative Speaker of the House Valentine Rausch, but won with 1,106 votes (66.83%). Begalka won the November 6, 2012 General election with 6,603 votes (60.97%) against Democratic Representative Steve Street.
* 2000 When House District 4 incumbent Republican Representatives Larry Diedrich and Robert Weber both ran for South Dakota Senate, Begalka ran in the three-way 2000 Republican Primary and placed second with 971 votes (32.39%) ahead of third by 8 votes; in the four-way November 7, 2000 General election Democratic nominee James R. Peterson took the first seat and Begalka took the second seat with 4,322 votes (26.72%) ahead of fellow Republican nominee Valentine Rausch and Democratic nominee Ron Foster;
* 2002 Begalka and Craig Haugaard, who had placed third in the 2000 Republican Primary, were unopposed for the June 4, 2002 Republican Primary; in the five-way November 5, 2002 General election Begalka took the first seat with 5,651 votes (32.69%) and incumbent Democratic Representative Peterson took the second seat ahead of Republican nominee Haugaard, Democratic nominee Dawn Jaeger, and Independent candidate Larry Rudebusch.
* 2010 When Senate District 4 incumbent Democratic Senator Peterson left the Legislature and left the seat open, Begalka won the June 8, 2010 Republican Primary with 1,387 votes (61.78%) and won the November 2, 2010 General election with 5,346 votes (61%) against Democratic nominee Dick Schwandt.
