Tuesday’s primary election ended without a winner in the hard-fought Republican nomination contest. A July 28 runoff now looms between Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, who finished in first with 41,712 votes or 30.6%, and Governor Larry Rhoden, who was in second with 34,321 votes (25.2%). Both fell short of the 35% necessary to avoid a runoff; Doeden missed the 35% threshold by 5,969 votes. Eliminated are the other candidates, Congressman Dusty Johnson, who had 31,856 votes (23.4%), and House Speaker Jon Hansen, who finished with 28,341 votes (20.8%).
It’s the first time in South Dakota history that a primary election for governor, or for any office, will go to a statewide runoff. The runoff law was passed in 1985, and the closest call came the following year, when George S. Mickelson won the Republican gubernatorial primary with just 35.3%.
Doeden seeks to become the first Republican gubernatorial nominee with no prior elected experience since John E. Olson, who lost to Governor Richard F. Kneip in 1974. Rhoden seeks be the first governor to have succeeded to the office and then subsequently win reelection; he is already the first to advance beyond the primary election.
The 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary is the first time that a gubernatorial primary, for either party, has failed to produce a nominee since 1942. That year, State Taxation Director Joseph H. Bottum finished first with 28.8%, followed by former Attorney General M. Q. Sharpe with 25.7%, Attorney General Leo A. Temmey with 24.5%, and State Rural Credits Director Millard G. Scott with 21.0%. Under the law at that time, the four candidates all advanced to the State Republican Convention, where Sharpe prevailed on the third ballot.
Sharpe, a Kennebec attorney, went on to win the fall election, and is the most recent West River resident to be elected Governor – a streak Rhoden hopes to end this year.
The other statewide primaries were not close. U.S. Senator Mike Rounds easily won the nomination for a third term, winning 76% against Justin McNeal; if he prevails in the fall, he will continue one of the longest and most successful political careers in state history. Attorney General Marty Jackley won the nod for U.S. House to succeed Congressman Johnson, winning 79% against James Bialota.
Updated to reflect the final canvas of the primary election.
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