Governor

General election·2026-11-03·Polls close 7 p.m. local time (Central/Mountain)·Contested

Republican

1 candidate

RepublicanIncumbent

Current Governor of South Dakota, assumed office in 2025 after Kristi Noem resigned to lead DHS. Running for first full term.

1 candidate

Democrat

Executive director of the SD Democratic Party and former three-term state lawmaker from Dell Rapids.

Local and legislative elections to watch this November
Sioux Falls Live· Oct 16
The story directly references the November 3 general election where gubernatorial candidates will appear on ballots statewide.
Democrat lawmakers call for special session on diesel
KELOLAND News· Oct 13
Democrats are publicly calling on Governor Rhoden to take specific action on diesel fuel prices, directly engaging his official capacity and policy decisions.
Advocates again ask South Dakota governor to endorse summer food program operating in 39 states
South Dakota Searchlight· Oct 13
Governor Rhoden is being directly petitioned by advocacy groups to endorse a summer food assistance program, making his response a matter of his official record and policy decisions.

South Dakota Searchlight stories are republished-linkable under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (States Newsroom).

Governor's Record

Larry Rhoden — 2025–2026 sessions

451

Bills Signed

Bills Vetoed

require the licensure of non-medical home care agencies, and to provide a penalty therefor.

2026-03-30

consider a cultivated-protein food product to be adulterated food.

2026-02-10

Modify the signature requirement for a petition to initiate a constitutional amendment.

2025-03-31

Establish provisions for eligibility in the child care assistance program for certain child care employees.

2025-03-13