State House Speaker Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, listens to a committee hearing at the South Dakota Capitol in Pierre on Jan. 23, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

Searchlight Report is a podcast from South Dakota Searchlight. Reporter and host Meghan O’Brien works with other Searchlight journalists to take listeners inside politics and policy in The Mount Rushmore State.

 

In this special edition of the Searchlight Report podcast, host Meghan O’Brien interviews Jon Hansen, speaker of the state House and one of four people running for the Republican nomination for governor of South Dakota.

In a series of four episodes, O’Brien asked all four candidates the same set of questions on topics including abortion, relationships with tribal nations, climate change, taxes and Medicaid. She also asked each candidate to share a “big idea” for South Dakota.

South Dakota’s primary election is June 2.

Click here to access a transcript for this episode.