2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election
November 3, 2026
 
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent Governor

Larry Rhoden
Republican



The 2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of South Dakota. The primary elections will be held on June 2, 2026, and if no candidate receives over 35% in a primary, a runoff election will take place on July 28.[1]

Incumbent Republican Larry Rhoden, who ascended to the office of governor in 2025 after Kristi Noem resigned to become secretary of homeland security, is running for his first full term in office.[2] Rhoden had previously been serving as lieutenant governor under Noem since the two took office in 2019.[2] Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in South Dakota since 1974.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Toby Doeden
State legislators
Dusty Johnson
Statewide officials
State legislators
Larry Rhoden
State legislators

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Toby
Doeden 		Jon
Hansen 		Dusty
Johnson 		Larry
Rhoden 		Undecided
Emerson College[22][A] March 7–9, 2026 413 (LV) ± 4.8% 18% 14% 28% 17% 23%
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[23][B] March 2–5, 2026 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 16% 10% 33% 28% 12%
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[24][C] October 16–20, 2025 502 (RV) ± 4.5% 15% 10% 28% 27% 21%
Hypothetical polling
Larry Rhoden vs. Dusty Johnson
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Larry
Rhoden 		Dusty
Johnson 		Undecided
Public Opinion Strategies (R)[23][B] March 2–5, 2026 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 48% 39% 13%
Toby Doeden vs. Jon Hansen vs. Marty Jackley vs. Dusty Johnson vs. Larry Rhoden
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Toby
Doeden 		Jon
Hansen 		Marty
Jackley 		Dusty
Johnson 		Larry
Rhoden 		Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[25][C] April 9–14, 2025 500 (RV) ± 4.5% 4% 2% 18% 28% 27% 20%
Mike Rounds vs. Dusty Johnson
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Mike
Rounds 		Dusty
Johnson 		Undecided
Kaplan Strategies[26] June 12, 2023 – – 25% 25% 50%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

Independents

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[32] Solid R September 11, 2025
Inside Elections[33] Solid R August 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[34] Safe R September 4, 2025
Race to the WH[35] Likely R December 3, 2025

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients
  1. ^ Poll sponsored by KELO-TV and Nexstar Media
  2. ^ a b Poll sponsored by Rhoden's campaign
  3. ^ a b Poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch

See also

References

  1. ^ "South Dakota 2026 General Election". The Green Papers. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Raza, Sara (November 18, 2025). "South Dakota governor announces he will run for a full term next year". Associated Press. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  3. ^ Haiar, Joshua (May 28, 2025). "Doeden joins race for governor with pledge to eliminate property taxes". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
  4. ^ a b Huber, Makenzie (April 25, 2025). "First candidate for governor focuses on property rights, spending and halting 'corporate welfare'". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
  5. ^ "Congressman Dusty Johnson announces he will run for Governor job". KNBN. June 30, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  6. ^ C.J. Keene (November 18, 2025). "Gov. Larry Rhoden officially announces reelection campaign". SDPB. Retrieved November 18, 2025. Rhoden will once again run with his current Lt. Governor; Sioux Falls Republican Tony Venhuizen.
  7. ^ Tupper, Seth; Haiar, Joshua (November 12, 2024). "Trump picks South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to run Homeland Security". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  8. ^ Dircks, Jackson (June 30, 2025). "Marty Jackley seeks South Dakota's sole US House seat". Brookings Register. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  9. ^ Santella, Dan (April 23, 2025). "Sen. Rounds looks at '25 dynamics, says no gubernatorial run in '26". KELO-TV. Retrieved April 23, 2025.
  10. ^ "Mike Rounds formally announces campaign for reelection to the U.S. Senate". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  11. ^ Mitchell, Trevor J. (June 3, 2025). "Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken says he does not intend to run for another office". Argus Leader. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  12. ^ "Legislator Taffy Howard, who once skipped 14% of what taxpayers sent her to Pierre to do, endorsing Toby Doeden for Governor". South Dakota War College. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  13. ^ "Toby Doeden proudly announces he's endorsed by State Representative Phil Jensen who tried to defund Huron School District". South Dakota War College. June 9, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  14. ^ "Looks like the landlord endorsement is in from Toby's Tenant; Rep. Schaefbauer officially endorses Doeden for Gov". South Dakota War College/.
  15. ^ "More legislators diving into the Doeden Dumpster. As some have a vested interest in his success". South Dakota War College. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  16. ^ "Looks like State Rep. Bobbi Andera jumped ship from 2% Hansen campaign to 4% Doeden campaign". South Dakota War College. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  17. ^ "In announcing gubernatorial bid, Doeden channels Trump; blasts career politicians, lobbyists". Aberdeen Insider. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  18. ^ Haiar, Joshua (July 30, 2025). "Former governor makes an endorsement, but not for the ticket that could include his son-in-law". South Dakota Searchlight. Retrieved July 2, 2025.
  19. ^ a b "Dusty Johnson for Governor campaign launches massive endorsement from 36 current, 77 former South Dakota lawmakers". South Dakota War College. September 25, 2025. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  20. ^ Troli, Blake (August 7, 2025). "PAC formed backing Rhoden in upcoming election". KOTA-TV. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  21. ^ "Release: Strong Safe & Free PAC Launches to Support Gov. Larry Rhoden". Dakota War College. August 5, 2025.
  22. ^ "South Dakota 2026 Poll: Dusty Johnson Leads Incumbent Larry Rhoden in Governor Election". Emerson College Polling. March 11, 2026. Retrieved March 11, 2026.
  23. ^ a b "Rhoden for Governor campaign polling memo released. Read it here". Dakota War College. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  24. ^ Killough, Kevin (October 27, 2025). "Governor poll: Rhoden, Johnson lead but Doeden, Hansen surge". South Dakota News Watch. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  25. ^ Whitney, Stu (April 28, 2025). "Poll: Johnson, Rhoden set pace in South Dakota governor's race". South Dakota News Watch. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  26. ^ Ebenhack, Phelan M. (June 12, 2023). "SD Republican voters share preferences for potential 2026 primary matchups". Dakota News Now. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  27. ^ "Leader of South Dakota Democratic Party announces his campaign for governor". South Dakota Searchlight. February 9, 2026. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
  28. ^ Nelson, Zach (June 7, 2025). "Pierre College Student Announced Democratic Bid For South Dakota Governor". KCCR. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  29. ^ Santella, Dan (August 5, 2025). "Sex offender, Chamberlain man running for SD governor". KELO-TV. Archived from the original on September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  30. ^ Dausch, Dominik (October 19, 2025). "Lakota activist says she will run for SD governor as an independent". Argus Leader. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  31. ^ Cory Allen Heidelberger (December 9, 2025). "Knobe Will Decide on Run for Governor by Christmas". Dakota Free Press. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  32. ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  33. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  34. ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  35. ^ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.

Official campaign websites

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