South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden fends off GOP challenger in primary runoff
Rhoden won the runoff after no candidate reached 35%, and the Republican nominee will face Democrat Dan Ahlers in November.
- On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, Governor Larry Rhoden defeated challenger Toby Doeden in South Dakota's first gubernatorial runoff, securing the Republican nomination and advancing to face Democrat Dan Ahlers on November 3.
- Because no candidate reached the 35% threshold in the June 12, 2026, primary, the state's first-ever gubernatorial runoff was triggered, extending the campaign timeline and forcing Doeden and Rhoden to compete again.
- Despite Doeden's $4 million in self-funding compared to Rhoden's $1 million, a July 23 KELO poll showed 62% of likely voters supporting the incumbent versus 32% for Doeden.
- Governor Rhoden refused to debate his opponent ahead of the runoff, citing "outrageous, false claims," prompting both candidates to shift strategies to negative advertising and media sparring instead.
- The Republican Party gained more than 7,300 new registered voters between the June primary and the July runoff, providing Rhoden a consolidated base as he heads toward the November general election against Ahlers.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Incumbent Rhoden Wins South Dakota Republican Primary for Governor
South Dakota Republicans on Tuesday opted to nominate incumbent Gov. Larry Rhoden over challenger Toby Doeden, a businessman, in the gubernatorial runoff. The Associated Press declared Rhoden the winner shortly after polls closed; the candidate leads by double digits. As of 10:30 p.m. ET, Rhoden had over 71 percent of the vote. The race between the two candidates represents the first time South Dakota has ever held a gubernatorial primary runoff…
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South Dakota governor fends off challenger in primary runoff
Gov. Larry Rhoden (R) is projected to defeat businessman Toby Doeden in Tuesday's GOP primary runoff for South Dakota governor, according to Decision Desk HQ. Rhoden will now take on Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state senator, in November. He is expected to hang on to the seat given the state’s reliably Republican leanings.
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