Businessman Toby Doeden has secured a spot in the Republican runoff for South Dakota governor after a contentious primary featuring the incumbent governor, a U.S. congressman, and the state House speaker.
What happened
In the June 2 GOP primary, no candidate received the 35% threshold required for an outright nomination, triggering a runoff election scheduled for July 28. Doeden is projected to advance as the top vote-getter. He will face off against one of three candidates competing for the second runoff slot: Gov. Larry Rhoden, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson, or South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen.
Rhoden became governor last year after former Gov. Kristi Noem was appointed secretary of Homeland Security under President Biden. The other contenders include Johnson, known for his congressional service, and Hansen, who leads the state House of Representatives. Doeden, a self-described outsider and owner of car dealerships and rental properties, has personally contributed nearly $4 million to his campaign.
The primary campaign was marked by sharp criticisms and political attacks. Doeden and Johnson criticized Rhoden and Hansen for endorsing increases in state and county sales taxes aimed at funding property tax cuts. A political action committee named Rushmore Principles spent over $1 million on ads opposing Rhoden, accusing him of supporting tax hikes. Hansen and Rhoden defended the tax measures and accused Johnson of distortion, while Rhoden alleged Johnson orchestrated the PAC’s attacks, a claim Johnson denies.
Doeden and a supporting PAC targeted Johnson for insufficient loyalty to former President Donald Trump, whom Johnson served in Congress. Johnson countered that Doeden’s plan to phase out property taxes is impractical. Notably, Trump has not endorsed any candidate in the race, despite winning South Dakota by a wide margin in 2024.
The Republican nominee will face Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state senator who ran uncontested for the Democratic nomination. Democrats have not held the governor’s office in South Dakota since the 1970s, and the seat is widely expected to remain in Republican hands.
Why it matters
The GOP nomination in South Dakota remains a critical prize, as the state has been a Republican stronghold for decades. With a highly competitive and divisive primary, the runoff outcome will shape the direction of state government, especially regarding tax policy and economic management. The race also reflects broader intraparty tensions between establishment figures and political outsiders endorsed indirectly by Trump-aligned supporters.
The July runoff will decide who faces the lone Democratic candidate in the general election, setting the stage for the state’s political leadership through the next term.
Background
South Dakota’s gubernatorial race gained prominence after former Gov. Kristi Noem accepted a federal appointment, thrusting Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden into the governor’s office. The GOP primary attracted multiple established politicians and newcomers, with heated debates over tax policies, especially sales and property taxes. This election cycle reflects continuing debates over conservative fiscal priorities in a reliably Republican state.
Sources
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