South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden won the Republican Party’s nomination for governor Tuesday in a runoff election, earning the chance to seek his own four years in office after filling out the remainder of former Gov. Kristi Noem’s last term. The Associated Press called the race at 8:08 p.m. Central. Complete returns several hours later showed Rhoden with 71% of the votes and a 42-point win over Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, with 29%. Rhoden won in 64 of the state’s 66 counties, with only Fall River and Todd counties going for Doeden. Rhoden spoke to his supporters at a results watch party in Sioux Falls at about 9 p.m. He reflected on the early days of the campaign when he trailed in multiple public polls . “There were times when I really felt like the good Lord was trying to teach me something,” Rhoden said. “And there were times when all I had to rely on was the Scripture: You walk by faith, not by sight. And that’s what we do. You keep moving forward.” Doeden spoke to his supporters in Aberdeen at about the same time and said he had called Rhoden to congratulate him and to pledge support for him in the general election. “I have said since day one on this long, crazy journey that my singular goal was to unite our amazing Republican Party and move this state forward, and that journey has not ended here, my friends,” Doeden said. Doeden and Rhoden made it into the runoff by finishing first and second in a four-way June 2 primary election. Nobody in that race reached 35%, which triggered the first use of a 1985 state law requiring a runoff when no candidate meets that threshold in a statewide primary. Republican turnout for the runoff was 36%, after 43% of Republican voters turned out for the primary. Only registered Republicans were allowed to vote in the runoff. Rhoden will face Democratic nominee Dan Ahlers, a former state legislator, in the Nov. 3 general election. The last time South Dakota elected a Democratic governor was 52 years ago in 1974. Gov. Kristi Noem kickstarted the Republican primary race when she resigned in January 2025 to accept a job in President Donald Trump’s administration. Rhoden was Noem’s lieutenant governor and was automatically promoted to serve the last two years of her second term. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-South Dakota, entered the race as the presumptive frontrunner and led in several early polls. He had the most campaign money at his disposal and the highest statewide profile due to his four terms in the U.S. House, his previous service on the state Public Utilities Commission, and his 20-plus years of involvement in politics. On primary election night, Doeden — who had never previously sought elected office — stunned the political establishment by finishing first at 31%, followed by Rhoden at 25%, Johnson at 23% and state House Speaker Jon Hansen at 21%. Johnson and Hansen not only failed to make the runoff but will leave office when their respective terms in the U.S. and state House end in January. From the June 2 primary through the July 13 registration deadline for Tuesday’s runoff, the number of registered Republicans in the state grew by more than 7,300. One of those new Republicans was Alfred Slaathaug, of rural Brandon, who said in a polling-place interview that he had switched his registration from the Democratic Party. “I changed my party just to vote for Rhoden,” Slaathaug said. “I don’t trust Doeden at all.” Doeden ran on shifting anti-property tax pledges Doeden spent at least $4 million of his own money in the race, according to campaign finance reports. The 51-year-old built his fortune by owning vehicle dealerships and diversifying into other businesses and real estate. He has also described himself as an investor in bitcoin, a type of digital money secured with encryption technology. Doeden tried to position himself early in the campaign as the most pro-Trump candidate, often mentioning Trump in advertisements and appearances — although not as much in recent months as Trump’s national approval rating fell below 40% . Toby Doeden speaks to reporters at his election night watch party in Aberdeen on July 28, 2026, after losing the runoff for the South Dakota Republican nomination for governor. With Doeden is his wife, Liz. (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) Doeden also ran on an anti-property tax platform, pledging at times to eliminate property taxes, at other times to phase them out, and saying earlier this month that his pledge applied only to homeowners. Homeowner property taxes rose sharply in parts of South Dakota as homebuyers flocked to the state and drove up prices during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic, when Noem invited people to relocate for the state’s freedom from mask mandates, business restrictions and other pandemic precautions. South Dakotans paid more than $1.8 billion in property taxes last year, including $815 million by homeowners, but none of that money goes to state government, which is primarily funded by sales tax revenue. Property taxes go to schools, counties, cities and other local governments. Searchlight asked Doeden in a May podcast interview how he would replace lost property tax revenue for local governments. “Once the economy starts growing, and it will; once I start collecting external revenue, which we will; and once I cut all the fat and pork out of our state budget, you are going to see, very quickly, within a matter of a couple years, a significant amount of annual budget surpluses,” Doeden said. “And yes, I will use that money to target the phase-out of things like property tax.” A Sioux Falls voter, Mandy Berkhof, said Tuesday at her polling place that she voted for Doeden in the primary and the runoff. “I just feel like he is going to bring a lot to South Dakota communities, things that we need and want, a little bit more than the other person,” Berkhof said. Rhoden criticized Doeden, touted own record Rhoden said eliminating local property tax revenue would require the state to replace it, and he said that would blow a $1.8 billion hole in the state budget. The Rhoden campaign launched a “Reckless Toby Doeden” website featuring those assertions during the runoff campaign. Those criticisms resonated with 55-year-old Scott Isburg, who said Tuesday at his polling place in Pierre that he voted for Rhoden in the primary and the runoff. Isburg said he trusted Rhoden to “run government in a way that’ll actually work.” “I was a little bit concerned with some of the potential policies from Toby, if they would work or not,” Isburg said. SD runoff voters talk decision-making, party switching, ‘the lesser of two evils’ Rhoden also aired advertisements during the runoff campaign about Doeden’s lack of past involvement in Republican politics, including an audio recording of Doeden saying “I think I may have even voted for Barack Obama.” Doeden has since denied voting for Obama. Aside from those criticisms of his opponent, Rhoden ran on his record from nearly 18 months as governor, which has included working with legislators to sign several major bills into law. Those include laws capturing revenue from sales tax increases to reduce homeowner property taxes, a law banning the use of a legal procedure known as eminent domain to gain land access for carbon capture pipelines, and a law funding construction of a $650 million replacement for the oldest parts of the state’s 145-year-old penitentiary. “Good policy makes good politics,” Rhoden said while launching his campaign in November . Sioux Falls voter Susan DeSautel said Tuesday at her polling place that Rhoden’s experience was an important factor in her support for him. “I know there are a lot of people who like Doeden.
I think they want somebody totally from left field, who’s not a politician,” DeSautel said. “And I understand that, but you’ve got to have some experience as a politician. We need that in a governor.” Before Rhoden served as lieutenant governor and governor, he was a rancher, custom welder and legislator. He lives on a ranch near Union Center in the western part of the state. If he wins in November, the 67-year-old Rhoden could potentially choose to run again four years later for what would amount to a third term. The state constitution includes term limits, saying “no person shall be elected to more than two consecutive terms as governor,” but Rhoden is serving his current stint as governor through the line of succession rather than direct election to the job. South Dakota Searchlight’s John Hult, Joshua Haiar, Makenzie Huber and Meghan O’Brien contributed to this report. Department of Game, Fish and Parks Secretary Kevin Robling, right, and other supporters and staff members cheer on Gov. Larry Rhoden as he gives a victory speech at his election night watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor after a runoff election with political newcomer Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden greets supporters at his election night watch party in Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor after a runoff election with political newcomer Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Gov. Larry Rhoden embraces first lady Sandy Rhoden during a victory speech at his election night watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor after a runoff election with political newcomer Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) First lady Sandy Rhoden speaks with supporters at a results watch party for her husband, Gov. Larry Rhoden, on July 28, 2026, in Sioux Falls. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Birkin Rhoden sports a "Grandpa for Governor" dress on stage surrounded by other members of Gov. Larry Rhoden's family at his election night watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor after a runoff election with political newcomer Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Gov. Larry Rhoden gives a victory speech while surrounded by family members at his election night watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor after a runoff election with political newcomer Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen stands on stage with his family as he introduces Gov. Larry Rhoden for a victory speech at Rhoden's election night watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor after a runoff election with political newcomer Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen speaks to KELO-TV's Dan Santella during Gov. Larry Rhoden's election night watch party on July 28, 2026, in Sioux Falls. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor in a runoff with Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Rhoden supporter Wendy McDonald high-fives another attendee at Gov. Larry Rhoden's watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026, as a screen shows Toby Doeden giving his concession speech. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor in a runoff with Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A screen shows Toby Doeden's concession speech at Gov. Larry Rhoden's watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor in a runoff with Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden shakes hands with a supporter on July 28, 2026, at a results watch party in Sioux Falls after The Associated Press declared him the winner in the runoff for the Republican nomination for governor. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Corbin Beastrom, a Rhoden team member, sports a "Make Rhoden Governor Again" hat at Gov. Larry Rhoden's election night watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Sioux Falls Mayor Christine Erickson attends a results watch party for Gov. Larry Rhoden on July 28, 2026, in Sioux Falls. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Former South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard attends a results watch party for Gov. Larry Rhoden on July 28, 2026, in Sioux Falls. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Jon Lauck, left, an adviser to U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, speaks to journalist Jonathan Ellis of The Dakota Scout on July 28, 2026, at a results watch party in Sioux Falls for Gov. Larry Rhoden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) From left, state Rep. Lana Greenfield, R-Doland; former lawmaker Fred Deutsch, R-Florence; and Rep. Mike Stevens, R-Yankton, attend Gov. Larry Rhoden's election night watch party in downtown Sioux Falls on July 28, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) State Rep. Lana Greenfield, R-Doland, wears a "Rhoden ranger" campaign badge at Gov. Larry Rhoden's election night watch party on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor in a runoff with Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Former state lawmaker Fred Deutsch wears a Rhoden campaign shirt with "Built to last" on the back at Gov. Larry Rhoden's election night watch party on July 28, 2026. Rhoden won the Republican nomination for governor in a runoff with Toby Doeden. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Toby Doeden greets supporters following his defeat in a Republican runoff election on July 28, 2026, at Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Aberdeen, South Dakota. (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) Supporters of Toby Doeden including state Rep. Logan Manhart, R-Aberdeen, center, gather to hear Doeden's remarks on July 28, 2026, at Mulligan's Bar and Grill in Aberdeen, South Dakota, following Doeden's defeat in the runoff election for the Republican nomination for governor. (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) Republican governor candidate Toby Doeden, center, speaks with family members and supporters outside Mulligan's Bar and Grill on July 28, 2026, during his election night results watch party in Aberdeen, South Dakota. (Photo by John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight) A voter fills out a ballot at a Brandon polling place during the runoff election for the South Dakota Republican nomination for governor on July 28, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A voter drops a ballot in the ballot box at a Brandon polling place during the runoff election for the South Dakota Republican nomination for governor on July 28, 2026. A sign taped to the ballot box warns voters that their ballots won't be counted if they aren't stamped by an election worker. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) "I voted" election stickers are on display at a polling place during the runoff for the South Dakota Republican nomination for governor on July 28, 2026. (Photo by Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) July 29, 2026 12:01 am Updated with complete returns and turnout. July 28, 2026 11:33 pm Updated with further returns and turnout data. July 28, 2026 9:51 pm Updated with comments from Gov. Larry Rhoden. July 28, 2026 9:16 pm Updated with comments from candidate Toby Doeden.