South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden fends off challenger in GOP primary runoff

Megan BrandWed, July 29, 2026 at 1:09 AM UTC

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South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden replaced Kristi Noem last year when she was confirmed as homeland security secretary.   (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has won his Republican primary, NBC News projects, after he was forced into a runoff in his bid for a full term in office.

He defeated businessman and political newcomer Toby Doeden in a one-on-one matchup Tuesday after no candidate won 35% of the vote in the initial June primary.

Rhoden will face off in the November general election against Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state senator, in the solidly red state. South Dakota has not had a Democratic governor since the 1970s, and its two U.S. senators and lone House member are all Republicans.

Rhoden previously was lieutenant governor and was elevated to the top job after President Donald Trump selected then-Gov. Kristi Noem to be homeland security secretary. (She was fired this year.) Now, Rhoden aims to secure his first full term as governor.

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Businessman Toby Doeden emerged from the initial June primary with the most support. (Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn)

Doeden won about 31% of the vote in the June primary, while Rhoden took about 25%. Rep. Dusty Johnson and state House Speaker Jon Hansen also sought the nomination, but neither received enough support to advance to the runoff.

Rhoden and Doeden positioned themselves as strong allies of Trump, who did not make an endorsement in the primary. Rhoden framed himself as a candidate with “the proven track record of uniting Republicans from all factions,” while Doeden argued that the state “needs bold conservative leadership, not career politicians.”

Rhoden campaigned on cutting property taxes and crime and touted the state’s unemployment rate, the lowest in the country. Doeden ran on reducing property taxes, as well as deporting migrants, supporting rural communities and opposing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the state.

Doeden, who poured his own money into his campaign, outspent Rhoden on the airwaves in the runoff. Rhoden also faced attack ads calling him a “career politician” from a super PAC tied to the conservative Club for Growth, which did not publicly endorse in the race.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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