Governor Larry Rhoden wins South Dakota GOP primary runoff

Governor Larry Rhoden (R-SD) won the South Dakota gubernatorial Republican primary runoff, defeating his challenger Toby Doeden with 72.1% of the vote compared to Doeden's 27.9%, with 77% of the votes counted. Rhoden, who became governor in January 2025 after serving as lieutenant governor, faced Doeden after neither candidate secured the required 35% in the initial four-way primary on June 2. In that primary, Doeden had received 30.6% of the vote, while Rhoden garnered 25.2%. The runoff was framed as a contest between an experienced politician and an outsider, with Rhoden emphasizing his long tenure in public office since 2001 and Doeden positioning himself as a conservative alternative. The campaign focused on state-level issues, including Rhoden's stance on eminent domain for carbon pipelines and plans for a new prison facility. Ultimately, Rhoden's support grew as the majority of voters from eliminated candidates shifted to him, leading to Doeden's defeat.