Gov. Larry Rhoden participates in a Republican gubernatorial primary debate on April 13, 2026, at the South Dakota Public Broadcasting studio in Sioux Falls. (Photo by Joshua Haiar/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 Gov. Larry Rhoden, 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.