James Bialota Jr
Republican | South Dakota
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
James Bialota Jr
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
U.S. Representative, At Large
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
NAU, Rapid City, bachelors of science, -2008
CCAF, Ellsworth AFB, Associates of Science, -2006
WORK & MILITARY
USAF, SSgt, 2002-2006
Dead On Surplus (retail Sporting Goods), Owner, 2014-2026
Bialota Carpentry & Homes, (contractor, including Govt), Owner, 2007-2014
Teaching,, Substitute Teacher, 1998-2001
Fitzgerald Law, paralegal, pro-bono, 2022-2024
AFFILIATIONS
Disabled American Veterans, life member, 2007-2026
Veterans of Foreign Wars, life member, 2007-2026
ABATE, (motorcyclist Rights, member, 2026-2026
American Legion, member prior and current year, 2026-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
West Dakota Water Development District, 2018-2020
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
South Dakota Freedom Caucus
OTHER INFORMATION
James Bialota completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection Survey in 2025.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
I am pro-life, and fought to protect sign waivers for right to life, from overzealous county auditors and election staff, demanding they be farther away from polling places then legally required.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Neutral
I need more information on this subject, under what conditions. How the embryos are made, with human interaction to assist in the ability to have children or completely lab made without human participation.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
never.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
Comstock does not prohibit the mailing or delivery of abortion medications unless the sender intends that the drugs will be used unlawfully. In South Dakota Abortion is unlawful. An exception is included to "preserve the life of the pregnant female," given appropriate and reasonable medical judgment. Meaning anyone shipping these drugs would be possibly eligible for prosecution under the act as it known to be illegal in South Dakota without a medical judgement.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
I fought against Green new deal private property seizure of land under Immanent domain for a private corporation. I Personally under citizens arrest, arrested a Chief of Police in Scotland South Dakota for ilegally locking a woman out of her own building; without a court order, warrant or crime. The sheriff agreed that the Chief violated the Constitution on the City Attorneys (also a state legislators order to do so). The Sheriff allowed me & the woman to cut the locks, restoring her rights
People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.
Strongly Disagree
We have a spending problem, not a tax problem. The US Government needs to cut spending on non-government programs.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
Absolutely, the interest on the debt next year is almost equal to every dollar the IRS will take in. The US Government is about to enter a downward spiral of borrowing just to pay the interest on the debt.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Drastically reduce or eliminate foreign spending. No, spending on political party ideals, ie. LQBTG programs, DEI. No spending on organizations that contribute to political campaigns. USAID, planned parenthood, (THIS IS TAXPAYER FUNDED CAMPAIGNS). Prosecute fraud waste & Abuse. When arrests happen, it reduces crime. With No prosecution, it incentives abuse. No forever wars. Taxpayers should not pay twice, once to blow up a foreign war target and then pay to rebuild it.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
The Right to refuse service in a private company has been a traditional standard. Forcing someone to violate their religious beliefs for anyone is insane. The US military does not even violate this principal under Conscientious objector standards.
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
That the Government cannot dictate to the Church. It does not mean that the church cannot use its membership and influence to influence Elected officials and Government to promote its values, ideas, & beliefs. This nation was founded on the Religious freedom and on a Christian faith.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
c) under tight provisions, for those Americans who are disabled, not able to work from a medical disease, illness, injury. Never for non-citizens, not for able bodied individuals refusing to work. With Strict income Guidelines. Anytime the Government is involved in private business; Cost go up, it expends government.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
I am against a national database of tracking US Citizens. When applied for Care in one state; the application should show the needs and illnesses and request a previous states notes history on the same individual if any exist. This would provide notes of potential fraud, It would also assist if the injury or illness is for life, to verify any prolonged use of such programs. ie. Deaf & Blind, Cancer, disabilities that require a Guardian.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
c) As an Iraq war veteran, I witnessed and busted fraud waste and abuse. No more forever wars. If Americans are threatened or have been harmed, then it is time to act. We should not be an international police force.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The Chinese Government is playing the long game. They have stolen copyrights, smuggled banned products. imported banned products & opposed US Policy repeatedly. China has been allowed to by US real estate, buy US Companies, and it appears targeted for help and cyber US elected members and candidates. China has been allowed to buy serious areas of US food production and processing, which poses a threat to food safety.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
In the Bible, it States to protect the Land of Israel. I have no problem with the US Government selling defense capabilities to Israel. On the Budget side, we need to let charitable aid fall on Charitable organizations, not the US Government, with exception of acute national disaster aid. The attack in October in Israel was also an attack on American Citizens. Any US response to retrieve those citizens is valid for those reasons.
Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.
Strongly Agree
Unfortunately the Islamic faith demands fighting of non-believers. Quran 9:29 (Surah At-Tawbah). This is not consistent with the Freedom we live by in the United States. This is a direct threat of Christian and Jewish faith's religious freedom in the United States.
IMMIGRATION
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those willing to acclimate to the United States. I personally, am only a 3rd Generation naturally born American. All of my family came to America to be Americans, live in American Freedom, promote American Freedom and live on the values in America. They integrated learned English, worked and gave back to America. They fought as US Soldiers, paid Taxes, farmed, owned stores, raised American Children, and waived American flags.
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
I do not support anyone violating the law.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
I also support a Parents Bill of Rights; to know what your child learns, to have a say in such education, & the freedom to homeschool when desired,
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
I personally visited DC in October and November in 2025. I did a partial Tour of Georgetown University, the oldest Jesuit School in the United States. The school Asia House prominently displayed the Communist Chinees flag. They did not have US Ally Flags from Asia displayed, including Japan, Taiwan, & South Korea. They are not only funding but influencing through education Communist ideology, which must end.
VALUES
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
If a Child cannot not make a legal decision, sign up for the military, by a firearm; what law allows this kind of permanent disfiguration of the body. Children cannot get a tattoo or an earing without consent. Is it Child abuse if allowed? I believe so. If a parent was to cut part of their child off, it is abuse. No rational person would agree that this is not permanent or disfiguring.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I have often spoke and maintained this fact. That Marriage is a part of religion. Marriage is Not Part of Government. Nowhere in the Constitution does it say, the Government is in Charge of Marriage. It states religious freedom.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
In my Youth I was raised Catholic, went to a Baptist Private school for a year, went through Catholic Catechism & Confirmed. Married by a Military priest, immediately after being tricked by Government employee forcing a Early Government wedding. (Funny story ask sometime) I Currently attend Landmark Church, a turning point faith Church in Rapid Valley South Dakota. God has helped & challenged me several times in my life. Including in my decision to run for Congress. I was working pro-bono as a paralegal to help people. The attorney suggested I become a lawyer at age 45, with 2 degrees prior, it would not have taken long. I had a dream that said I could own every law firm & not help everyone. I pondered on what could, its Congress.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I am for the Save America Act. I believe if it is required to show an ID to by a firearm, a alcoholic beverage or tobacco, why shouldn't it be used to secure our elections.
EQUALITY
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
I have no rational of why this was ever allowed. It makes no common sense,
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
I firmly believe in American 1st, we have many American Energy sources here in America already. Resources such as coal, oil, gas, Nuclear are throughout our country. Instead we sold them to adversaries to use elsewhere.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
no
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
no
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
I have been endorsed by the Leaders of the South Dakota Freedom Caucus. I have personally busted fraud waste and abuse. I have reported election fraud dating back to 2018. I believe in America 1st.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
I also believe Private Companies have a duty to report criminal activity and to the best of their ability prevent it.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
-Dangerous felons and the mentally ill should be prevented from Firearm ownership. Time and time again, we see the same individuals commit repeated crimes or mentally ill commit mass shootings. this must end. I believe in restoration of rights to our 2nd class citizens. (Americans aged 18-20). These citizens are prevented from firearm and ammunition purchases unconstitutionally. They can die for our country and be issued a firearm, but cannot purchase one. This does not make common sense.
