Deutsch lost a bid for the South Dakota Senate in the 2024 Republican Primary; his term as State Representative ends in January of 2025.
Deutsch lives in rural Florence, which is near Watertown, South Dakota and in Codington County in the northeast portion of the state.
[8] In 2020, Deutsch introduced a bill that would make it a felony for pediatricians to provide sex change operations or opposite-sex hormones to youth ages 15 and under, punishing doctors with up to ten years in prison.
[11] The bill was developed by Deutsch in coalition with a secretive network of anti-transgender activists involved with conservative groups such as Alliance Defending Freedom, the American College of Pediatricians, Eagle Forum, Liberty Counsel, and the Christian Medical and Dental Associations.
[13] Fred Deutsch faced off against fellow District 4 State Representative Stephanie Sauder of Byrant, South Dakota.
[15] Stu Whitney, writing for South Dakota News Watch, said, "Nowhere is the trend of establishment vs. far right more pronounced than in this district of rural counties surrounding Watertown, where longtime state Rep. Fred Deu[s]tch is running for Senate.