Incumbent Larry Rhoden and Toby Doeden are running in the Republican primary runoff for governor of South Dakota on July 28. The gubernatorial primary runoff is the first since South Dakota passed a 1985 law requiring a candidate to receive 35% of the vote to avoid a runoff. In the June 2, primary, Doeden received 31% of the vote, Rhoden 25%, Dusty Johnson 23%, and Jon Hansen 21%.
South Dakota journalist Kevin Woster and Searchlight Report podcast host Meghan O’Brien frame the runoff between Rhoden and Doeden as one between a "traditional South Dakota conservative" with governing experience and a political outsider with business experience and an anti-establishment message. Affordability and property taxes are central issues in the election. Rhoden advocated for and signed a bill that allows counties to decide on replacing property taxes with a half-cent sales tax increase. Doeden says he will work toward eliminating property taxes.
Heading into the runoff, South Dakota Searchlight's Joshua Haiar and Makenzie Huber speculate that Hansen's supporters could split their votes between Rhoden and Doeden, while most of Johnson's supporters could likely vote for Rhoden. Both Hansen and Doeden oppose using eminent domain for carbon pipelines, which could influence Hansen supporters to vote for Doeden. Meanwhile, Hansen supporter and House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach (R) says he would likely vote for Rhoden and that Doeden's supporters "'divided and destroyed conservatives' in the Legislature ... as a way to undermine Hansen’s campaign." State Rep. Taylor Rae Rehfeldt (R), a Johnson supporter, says, "I can’t speak for anybody else, but what I can say is that Dusty supporters believe in practical, commonsense leadership. I can tell you with certainty, they will lean toward Larry Rhoden because he has the ability to govern."
Rhoden was formerly lieutenant governor and replaced former Gov. Kristi Noem (R) on January 25, 2025, when Noem became the secretary of homeland security under Donald Trump (R). He says, "I want to keep South Dakota strong – strong families, strong businesses, and strong institutions. I want to keep South Dakota safe – with low crime and respect for law enforcement. And I want to keep South Dakota free – freedom will continue to be our calling card as long as I am governor."
Doeden is a car dealership and rental property owner. He says, "As governor, I will stop the reckless spending and fight back against crushing property taxes so everyone can own a home, and work with President Trump to round up illegal immigrants and get deadly drugs off our streets."
