Larry Rhoden wins South Dakota GOP nod for governor
What's next: Rhoden advances to face Democrat Dan Ahlers in November in a state that has not elected a Democratic governor since the 1970s.
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden won the Republican nomination for a full term Tuesday, emerging from a primary runoff after no candidate cleared the party's 35% threshold in the June 2 primary. Rhoden, who became governor in early 2025 when Kristi Noem left to join President Donald Trump's Cabinet, defeated businessman Toby Doeden for the spot on the November ballot. The race followed a fragmented first round in which Doeden led with about 31% and Rhoden took about 25%, ahead of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and state House Speaker Jon Hansen. Rhoden now moves to the general election against former state Sen. Dan Ahlers in heavily Republican South Dakota.