On July 28, 2026, South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden won the Republican primary runoff against businessman Toby Doeden, who is a political newcomer and Bitcoin advocate.
Rhoden, who became governor in early 2025 after Kristi Noem left to join the Trump administration, faced Doeden after neither candidate secured the required 35% of the vote in the initial June primary. In that primary, Doeden received approximately 30.6% of the vote, while Rhoden garnered about 25.2%.
The runoff election marked the first gubernatorial primary runoff in South Dakota's history, as state law mandates a runoff when no candidate achieves the 35% threshold. Rhoden's victory was projected shortly after polls closed on July 28, 2026, allowing him to advance to the general election against Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state senator.
Rhoden's victory positions him for a competitive general election in November, as South Dakota has historically leaned Republican but has not had a Democratic governor since the 1970s.
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