The current governor of South Dakota is Larry Rhoden, a Republican rancher from Meade County who became the state’s 34th governor on January 25, 2025. He is now running for a full term and has advanced to a July 28, 2026, Republican primary runoff against Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden.1Trail of Governors. Governor Larry Rhoden2KOTA TV. Early Voting Begins in South Dakota Governor Runoff
How Rhoden Took Office
Rhoden was serving his second term as lieutenant governor when Kristi Noem was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security on January 25, 2025, and resigned the governorship the same day.3NPR. Kristi Noem Homeland Security Fired Article IV of the South Dakota Constitution puts the lieutenant governor in the top job when the office becomes permanently vacant, so Rhoden was sworn in that day.4South Dakota Legislature. South Dakota Constitution, Article IV
He and Noem had run together twice, winning in 2018 with roughly 51% of the vote against Democrat Billie Sutton and Libertarian Kurt Evans, and again in 2022.5South Dakota Secretary of State. 2018 General Election Results – Governor and Lieutenant Governor6Office of the Governor. About the Governor
Background Before the Governorship
Rhoden was born February 5, 1959, in Sturgis and grew up on the family ranch near Union Center. The operation is now a purebred Angus cattle ranch, and he has worked as a welder for roughly 50 years, turning out around 700 custom branding irons a year.7Mitchell Republic. Ranching and Branding Are Close to South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden’s Heart He served in the South Dakota Army National Guard from 1979 to 1985 and married Sandy Murphy in 1981; they have four sons.1Trail of Governors. Governor Larry Rhoden
He spent 16 years in the state legislature beginning in 2001, first in the House (where he was Majority Leader for four years) and later in the Senate, chairing the State Affairs Committee in both chambers.8Western Governors’ Association. Larry Rhoden9National Governors Association. Larry Rhoden His bills focused on agriculture, the State Brand Board, veterinary education loan repayment, wind energy easements, and firearms policy, and he earned the American Conservative Union’s highest ranking in 2017.10South Dakota Legislature. Senator Larry Rhoden – Bills He was elected lieutenant governor in 2018 and served in that role for six years, working closely with Noem on the state’s decision not to impose lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.11Governor Larry Rhoden. About
What He Has Done as Governor
Property Tax Package
The centerpiece of Rhoden’s first year in office is a property tax law he signed on March 12, 2026, which his office called the largest property tax cut in state history.12South Dakota News. Governor Signs Property Tax Bills One bill, from House Speaker Jon Hansen, raises the state sales tax from 4.2% to 4.5% to generate an estimated $114 million a year for the school funding formula, which the administration projects will cut homeowner property taxes by 14 to 22%, or an average of $548 on a home valued at $325,000. A second bill, Rhoden’s own, lets counties add a half-percent sales tax to offset the county portion of homeowner property taxes, potentially saving another $660 per homeowner in participating counties. The state is using $56 million in reserves to begin relief before the sales tax increase takes effect.13News From the States. Governor Signs Bills to Reduce Homeowner Property Taxes, Higher Sales Taxes
The sales tax component has become central to the primary campaign. Opponent Dusty Johnson called it the largest sales tax increase in state history; Rhoden called that claim “unquestionably false.”14Aberdeen News. Gov. Larry Rhoden Slams Malicious Attacks in GOP Primary Race
Budget and the Future Fund
Rhoden’s fiscal year 2026 budget totaled $7.44 billion, including $2.51 billion in general funds, and reflected what he called a lean outlook driven by falling farm prices and softer sales tax receipts. It included no pay raises for the state’s roughly 14,200 employees, no increase in K-12 aid, and no boost to Medicaid reimbursement.15SD News Watch. Gov. Rhoden Budget Legislature Spending Education SD
On January 15, 2026, he issued Executive Order 2026-03, setting new rules for the state’s Future Fund business-attraction grants: reimbursement-only disbursement with itemized invoices, matching commitments where feasible, and public posting of every agreement on the OpenSD portal.16South Dakota News. Executive Order 2026-03 – Future Fund He later authorized $4 million from the fund for a gunsmithing program at Western Dakota Tech in Rapid City.17SDPB. Gov. Larry Rhoden Outlines Policy Priorities as Early Voting Approaches in South Dakota
Public Safety, Agriculture, and Defense
The budget also put $13.2 million toward staffing a new women’s prison opening in Rapid City in 2026, $5 million toward a Highway Patrol aircraft, and $2.4 million to expand the National Guard Readiness Center in Sturgis.15SD News Watch. Gov. Rhoden Budget Legislature Spending Education SD Rhoden signed HB 1084 and HB 1298, anti-doxxing measures that make it a crime to publish personal information about law enforcement officers and judges online with malicious intent, effective July 1, 2026.18South Dakota News. Anti-Doxxing Legislation In March 2026 he signed a package of five agriculture and rural bills, including broadband infrastructure funding.19Office of the Governor. Governor of South Dakota – Homepage He has also pointed to national defense as a growth sector, citing Ellsworth Air Force Base and the B-21 program, and announced a “South Dakota Defense Institute” to coordinate that work.17SDPB. Gov. Larry Rhoden Outlines Policy Priorities as Early Voting Approaches in South Dakota
The 2026 Race
Rhoden is running for a full term. The June 2, 2026, Republican primary was a four-way contest with Rhoden, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson, House Speaker Jon Hansen, and businessman Toby Doeden. South Dakota law requires at least 35% of the vote to win a nomination outright, and no candidate cleared that bar: Doeden finished first at about 31%, Rhoden second at about 25%, Johnson third at 23%, and Hansen fourth at 21%.20The Hill. South Dakota GOP Governor Race Doeden Rhoden Runoff21News From the States. Doeden and Rhoden Advance to Runoff in Republican Governor Primary; Johnson Falls Third
The runoff between Rhoden and Doeden is set for July 28, 2026, with early voting having opened June 12. Rhoden is campaigning on his record and what he calls “civility-driven conservative results,” while Doeden is running as an anti-establishment outsider.2KOTA TV. Early Voting Begins in South Dakota Governor Runoff22South Dakota Searchlight. Where Backers of Losing Campaigns Are Shifting Support Ahead of South Dakota’s Governor Runoff Rhoden declined a one-on-one debate invitation, citing what he called false claims by Doeden, which Doeden publicly criticized.23Aberdeen Insider. Rhoden Declines Debate Invitations Citing False Claims; Draws Doeden’s Criticism
Support from the eliminated candidates is splitting. Several prominent Johnson donors and allies, including entrepreneur Matt Paulson and Representative Taylor Rehfeldt, have moved to Rhoden, while some Hansen supporters have leaned toward Doeden over concerns about eminent domain for carbon pipelines and establishment politics.22South Dakota Searchlight. Where Backers of Losing Campaigns Are Shifting Support Ahead of South Dakota’s Governor Runoff If Doeden wins, Rhoden would become the first sitting governor to lose a primary since Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer in 2018.20The Hill. South Dakota GOP Governor Race Doeden Rhoden Runoff
Whoever wins the runoff will face Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state senator and businessman from Dell Rapids, on November 3, 2026. Ahlers ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and has built his campaign around economic stewardship and challenging five decades of Republican control of the office, though the Republican nominee is expected to be favored given the state’s partisan lean.24Dan Ahlers for Governor. Dan Ahlers for Governor20The Hill. South Dakota GOP Governor Race Doeden Rhoden Runoff