{"id":2636963,"date":"2026-07-28T23:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T03:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-larry-rhoden-wins-south-dakota-gubernatorial-gop-primary-runoff\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T23:44:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T03:44:42","slug":"gov-larry-rhoden-wins-south-dakota-gubernatorial-gop-primary-runoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-larry-rhoden-wins-south-dakota-gubernatorial-gop-primary-runoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Gov. Larry Rhoden wins South Dakota gubernatorial GOP primary runoff"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fgov-larry-rhoden-wins-south-dakota-gubernatorial-gop-primary-runoff%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2636963&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Governor Larry Rhoden of South Dakota successfully secured his position by winning the state&#8217;s first-ever <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kemp-aligns-with-trump-to-back-burt-jones-in-georgia-gubernatorial-race\/\" title=\"Kemp aligns with Trump to back Burt Jones in Georgia ...\">gubernatorial primary runoff<\/a>. Rhoden, who became governor in January 2025 after being promoted from lieutenant governor, defeated businessman Toby Doeden with 72.1% of the vote, considerably improving on his previous primary performance. The race featured a matchup between an experienced politician, Rhoden, and an outsider candidate, Doeden, with debates centered around state issues like eminent domain and prison funding. Despite doeden\u2019s efforts to expand his support, Rhoden\u2019s broad base of conservative voters led to his decisive victory. Kristi Noem,a prominent figure in south Dakota politics,opted not to participate in the gubernatorial race this cycle.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. Larry Rhoden (R-SD) decisively fended off his primary challenger in the state\u2019s first-ever gubernatorial primary runoff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rhoden became governor in January 2025 after he was promoted from lieutenant governor following former Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kristi-noem\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3710\">Kristi Noem<\/a>\u2018s appointment as President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s homeland security secretary. The four-way June 2 Republican primary ended with no candidate reaching the 35% threshold, triggering a runoff between Rhoden and businessman Toby Doeden.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4666965\/larry-rhoden-south-dakota-governor-primary-runoff\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Gov. Larry Rhoden wins South Dakota gubernatorial GOP primary runoff<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4665479\/james-fishback-stay-florida-ballot-judge-dismiss-lawsuit\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>James Fishback allowed to stay on Florida ballot after judge dismisses opponent\u2019s lawsuit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4664580\/kristi-noem-sits-out-south-dakota-governor-race\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Once-dominant Kristi Noem sits out South Dakota GOP governor showdown<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Tuesday, Rhoden won 72.1% of the vote compared to Doeden\u2019s 27.9%, with 77% of the vote counted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rhoden\u2019s triumph was made all the more remarkable due to the fact that Doeden beat him by a significant margin last month, taking 30.6% of the vote compared to Rhoden\u2019s 25.2%. That primary was also an upset, after Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) failed to advance despite beginning the race as the presumptive front-runner.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Rhoden vs. Doeden faceoff was characterized by the narrative of an experienced politician versus an outsider, an image both candidates embraced. Rhoden has been in public office since 2001 and touted this experience as the best pragmatic pick. He argued he had \u201cthe proven track record of uniting Republicans from all factions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Doeden, in contrast, contrasted himself as a bold outsider conservative, who was seeking to oust a career politician without the constituents\u2019 best interests at heart.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4664580\/kristi-noem-sits-out-south-dakota-governor-race\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4664580\">ONCE-DOMINANT KRISTI NOEM SITS OUT SOUTH DAKOTA GOP GOVERNOR SHOWDOWN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race was also characterized by decidedly state-level issues. Doeden claimed he was compelled to run over Rhoden\u2019s ambiguity around opposing eminent domain for carbon pipelines and his plan to build a $650 million prison to replace the state\u2019s main penitentiary that was nearing 150 years old. Doeden derided the project as too luxurious for prisoners, dubbing it the \u201cRitz-Carlton prison.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ultimately, Doeden wasn\u2019t able to expand his base beyond his original enthusiastic supporters. The candidates who failed to advance to the runoff saw the vast majority of their supporters flock to Rhoden, ultimately dooming the political outsider.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rhoden wins SD GOP runoff, defeating outsider Doeden decisively<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2636964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26185107795265.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32773,40275,83361,36959,40710],"class_list":["post-2636963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gop-primary","tag-gubernatorial-race","tag-larry-rhoden","tag-political-victory","tag-south-dakota"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26185107795265.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2636963"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2636967,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2636963\/revisions\/2636967"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2636964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2636963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2636963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2636963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}