Governor
Primary election·2026-06-02·Contested
Republican Primary
4 candidates
Current Governor of South Dakota, assumed office in 2025 after Kristi Noem resigned to lead DHS. Running for first full term.
Votes
34,316
Percentage
25.2%
Aberdeen businessman and conservative PAC leader. Pledges to eliminate property taxes and reject governor salary.
Votes
41,705
Percentage
30.6%
Speaker of the SD House of Representatives. Fifth-generation South Dakotan from Dell Rapids. Led opposition to carbon pipelines and co-founded the Life Defense Fund.
Legislative Record
Full profile →Party Loyalty
87%
Bills Sponsored
19
Votes
28,336
Percentage
20.8%
U.S. Representative for South Dakota (2019-present). Former Public Utilities Commissioner. Running on conservative reform platform.
Votes
31,854
Percentage
23.4%
Democratic
1 candidateno primary — advances to general
Executive director of the SD Democratic Party and former three-term state lawmaker from Dell Rapids.
Campaign Finance
Individual
PAC
Self-funded
Other
In the news
- Hultman named senior advisor to RhodenKELOLAND News· Sep 1
Governor Rhoden announced a significant staff reorganization by appointing his Department of Labor secretary to a senior advisor role, demonstrating his executive decision-making.
- After primary and runoff, Trump endorses Republican nominee for South Dakota governorSioux Falls Live· Aug 28
Ahlers is directly quoted responding to Trump's endorsement of his rival, showing his reaction to a significant development in the governor's race.
- After primary and runoff, Trump endorses Republican nominee for South Dakota governorSouth Dakota Searchlight· Aug 27
Trump endorsed Rhoden as the Republican gubernatorial nominee after the primary and runoff process concluded.
South Dakota Searchlight stories are republished-linkable under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (States Newsroom).
Governor's Record
Governor's Record
Larry Rhoden — 2025–2026 sessions
451
Bills Signed
4
Bills Vetoed
Vetoed Bills
HB1138
require the licensure of non-medical home care agencies, and to provide a penalty therefor.
2026-03-30
HB1077
consider a cultivated-protein food product to be adulterated food.
2026-02-10
HB1169
Modify the signature requirement for a petition to initiate a constitutional amendment.
2025-03-31
HB1132
Establish provisions for eligibility in the child care assistance program for certain child care employees.
2025-03-13