South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden secured victory in the state's inaugural primary runoff election on Tuesday, defeating political newcomer Toby Doeden, who had heavily self-funded his campaign. Rhoden, who inherited the governorship in January 2025 after Kristi Noem departed to lead President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security, reversed the outcome of the initial June 2 primary, where Doeden had emerged as the top vote-getter.
No candidate in the initial primary secured the necessary 35 percent threshold to avoid a runoff. The race marked a historic first for South Dakota's primary system. Throughout the runoff campaign, former President Trump remained neutral, opting not to endorse either Rhoden or Doeden.
Rhoden, a veteran of South Dakota politics with a background as a rancher and welder, has served extensively in the state legislature and as state agriculture secretary. He also served in the South Dakota National Guard and was Noem's deputy from 2019. Doeden, who campaigned as an outsider and criticized the political establishment, built his wealth through car dealerships, real estate, and investments in bitcoin.
Financial disclosures indicated Doeden's involvement in 24 companies. Rhoden's campaign reported raising approximately $1.88 million for the runoff, though this figure is not independently verifiable due to South Dakota's campaign finance laws not requiring runoff filings. Rhoden's primary campaign fundraising stood at just under $600,000.
Rhoden is now set to face Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state legislator, in the general election on November 3. South Dakota, a state that voted for Trump with over 63 percent in the 2024 presidential election, heavily favors the Republican incumbent in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
The non-endorsement by Trump in this race follows other recent statewide contests where Trump's endorsements did not guarantee victory. Earlier in the summer, two Trump-backed candidates lost their statewide bids: Congressman Randy Feenstra in the Iowa gubernatorial primary and Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, who was defeated in a Republican primary upset. In contrast, in a South Carolina runoff last month, Trump issued a last-minute dual endorsement for Alan Wilson and Pamela Evette after polls indicated Wilson was close to winning.