South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden fends off GOP challenger in primary runoff

2026 ElectionSouth Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden fends off GOP challenger in primary runoffNBC News projects that Rhoden, who replaced Kristi Noem last year, defeated businessman Toby Doeden to win the Republican nomination for governor.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden replaced Kristi Noem last year when she was confirmed as Homeland Security Secretary.  Chip Somodevilla / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 28, 2026, 9:09 PM EDTBy Megan BrandSouth Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has won his Republican primary, NBC News projects, after he was forced into a runoff in his bid for a full term in office.He defeated businessman and political newcomer Toby Doeden in a one-on-one matchup Tuesday after no candidate won 35% of the vote in the initial June primary. Rhoden will face off in the November general election against Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state senator, in the solidly red state. South Dakota has not had a Democratic governor since the 1970s, and the state’s two U.S. senators and lone House member are all Republicans. Rhoden previously served as lieutenant governor and was elevated to the top job in the state after President Donald Trump selected then-Gov. Kristi Noem to serve as homeland security secretary. (She was fired earlier this year.) Now, Rhoden aims to secure his first full term as governor. Businessman Toby Doeden emerged from the initial June gubernatorial primary with the most support. Samantha Laurey / Argus Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK via ImagnDoeden had won about 31% of the vote in the June primary, while Rhoden took about 25%. Rep. Dusty Johnson and state House speaker Jon Hansen also sought the GOP nomination for governor, but neither received enough support to advance to the runoff. Rhoden and Doeden both positioned themselves as strong allies of Trump, who did not make an endorsement in the primary. Rhoden framed himself as a candidate with “the proven track record of uniting Republicans from all...