Full Breakdown
Larry Rhoden Secures Republican Nomination in South Dakota’s First Gubernatorial Runoff
7/29/2026, 10:42:22 PM
Core Event
On July 28, 2026, South Dakota voters chose between incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden (R) and businessman Toby Doeden (R) in the state’s first-ever gubernatorial primary runoff. The Associated Press called the race for Rhoden after partial returns showed him with roughly 70 % of the vote and Doeden with about 30 %. The final certified count recorded 83,582 votes for Rhoden and 34,430 for Doeden, a 71 %–29 % margin that secures Rhoden’s place on the November ballot against Democrat Dan Ahlers.
Background & Context
South Dakota law enacted in 1985 requires a runoff when no primary candidate reaches a 35 % threshold. The June 2, 2026 Republican primary produced four contenders—Rhoden, Doeden, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, and State House Speaker Jon Hansen—none of whom cleared that mark. Rhoden, who became governor in January 2025 after former Gov. Kristi Noem resigned, entered the runoff as the second-place finisher (? 25 %). Doeden, a first-time candidate and self-described “Bitcoin evangelist,” led the primary with ? 31 %.
Timeline
- April 24 2025 – House Speaker Jon Hansen announces a gubernatorial bid.
- May 28 2025 – Toby Doeden launches his campaign, pledging to eliminate property taxes.
- June 2 2026 – Primary election; Doeden 31 %, Rhoden 25 %, Johnson 23 %, Hansen 21 %.
- July 13 2026 – Voter-registration deadline; > 7,300 new Republicans register.
- July 15 2026 – KELO poll shows 62 % of likely runoff voters favor Rhoden.
- July 28 2026 – Runoff election; Rhoden wins 71 %–29 % statewide.
Data & Statistics
- Vote share: AP reported Rhoden ? 70 % (70.5 % in Fox reporting), Doeden ? 30 % (29.5 % in Fox).
- County results: Rhoden carried 64 of 66 counties; Doeden won only Fall River and Todd.
- Turnout: 118,123 Republicans voted in the runoff, down from 136,230 in the June primary.
- Registration shift: More than 7,300 voters switched to the Republican Party between the primary and runoff.
- Campaign finance: Doeden self-funded ? $4 million; Rhoden raised just over $1 million for the runoff.
Official Statements & Responses
Doeden pledged to be the “fiercest ally to President Trump” and promised to “unite our amazing Republican Party.” President Donald Trump thanked Rhoden by name at a July 3 Mount Rushmore event but did not endorse either candidate. The Republican Governors Association posted congratulations to Rhoden on X.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Vote-share figures vary slightly across outlets: AP and NBC cite ~70 % for Rhoden, Fox reports 70.5 %, while the Washington Examiner notes 72.1 % with 77 % of votes counted. No source provides a final certified percentage beyond the 71 % figure reported by KELO after all votes were tallied.
What’s Next
Rhoden will face Democrat Dan Ahlers in the upcoming November general election. Both candidates are expected to campaign on property-tax policy, the new prison project, and broader economic development issues as the state prepares for the 2026 midterm elections.
