Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
27.1%
28.6%
18.4%
13.1%
South Dakota Republican Governor nominee?
$1.0M
JUL 29, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleGovernor
PartyRepublican
Political ideologyConservative Republican
Age67 years old (Feb 5, 1959)
GenderMale
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LocationSouth Dakota
BackgroundPolitician
EducationSunshine Bible Academy (graduated 1977)
Notable personal detailsLarry Robert Rhoden is an American politician, rancher, and business owner who has served as the 34th governor of South Dakota since 2025, after previously serving as the state’s 39th lieutenant governor (2019–2025). He also served in the South Dakota House of Representatives (2001–2009) and South Dakota Senate (2009–2015; 2017–2019). He is from western South Dakota and has operated a cow-calf ranching operation and a custom welding business.
SourcesShowHide
en.wikipedia.orgsdgoed.comtrailofgovernors.comsdsos.govpierrereview.comgoverning.comapnews.comes.wikipedia.orgsdlegislature.govsodakgovs.comru.ruwiki.ruamesfreelibrary.orgnews.sd.govmprnews.orgstanfordvotes.orgdata.ballotpedia.orgk12irc.orgbgrdc.comsdpb.orgdakotanewsnow.comdakotabroadcasting.comnewscenter1.tvsouthdakotasearchlight.comkitv.comkotatv.comkotaradio.combiofuelscentral.comnraila.orgfacebook.comsdnewswatch.orgnbcnews.comargusleader.comdakotafreepress.comkeloland.comcbsnews.comthedakotascout.comaberdeeninsider.commykxlg.comx.compredictionedge.comwikidata.orgjustfacts.votesmart.orgvotesmart.orgpt.wikipedia.orgit.wikipedia.orgcdn.ballotpedia.orgnga.orgballotready.orgwhitehouse.govthune.senate.govcongress.govepw.senate.govgovernor.sd.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Larry Rhoden has supported tax relief measures focused on reducing property taxes, proposed a county option to raise sales tax to offset residential property tax burdens, and emphasizes fiscal conservatism and balanced budgets while opposing large tax increases. His actions include signing property-tax-limiting legislation and advancing budgets described as fiscally conservative.
Healthcare
Focuses on strengthening rural healthcare access and the healthcare workforce through state programs and federal Rural Health Transformation funding, and supports integrating behavioral health into primary care; has sought legislation to restrict abortion medication. Public statements emphasize investments and programmatic changes rather than broad federal expansions or explicit market-based reforms.
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Immigration & Border
Larry Rhoden has enacted and supported measures that strengthen immigration enforcement: he signed a statewide ban on sanctuary cities, has sent South Dakota National Guard troops to the southern border, and requested a Memorandum of Agreement for the South Dakota Highway Patrol to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His public statements emphasize removing criminal undocumented immigrants and supporting federal enforcement efforts to secure the border.
Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports strict limits on abortion, seeks legislation to block abortion pills from entering the state, and has directed state officials to investigate abortion pill advertising. Abortion in South Dakota is treated as illegal except to save the life of the pregnant person, and the candidate has advocated enforcing and expanding those restrictions.
Climate & Energy
Larry Rhoden supports an all-of-the-above energy approach that emphasizes reliable, affordable energy and consumer choice while backing higher renewable fuel (ethanol/biomass diesel) volumes for rural producers. He signed legislation prohibiting the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, citing property-rights and permitting concerns, and joined a governors’ coalition that seeks to limit regulatory mandates and prioritize affordability and reliability. These positions combine support for renewable fuels with a preference for market-driven energy policy and limits on regulatory im
Public Safety & Guns
Larry Rhoden has taken pro-Second Amendment actions as governor, signing multiple bills that expand concealed-carry rights (including on public college campuses and in certain workplaces and bars) and enacting laws that limit restrictions on firearm transactions and covenants that restrict firearm possession. He frames these actions as protecting Second Amendment freedoms and has signed legislation to reduce limits on where firearms may be carried or stored.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJul 4, 2026
Larry Rhoden is in the news because he advanced to a Republican gubernatorial runoff in South Dakota after no candidate cleared the 35% threshold in the June 2 primary. He will face Toby Doeden in the runoff, which will decide the party’s nominee for governor. Rhoden has also been pushing a property tax relief plan tied to a possible county sales tax, and he recently signed a bill requiring new voters to prove U.S. citizenship.
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Articles
FNFox News1 month ago
South Dakota governor survives crowded primary -- for now
Neutral
TNThe New York Times1 month ago
Polls in South Dakota Show Competitive Race in GOP Primary for Governor
Neutral
SFSioux Falls Argus Leader1 month ago
What South Dakota governor candidates say about education policy
Neutral
ANAberdeen News2 months ago
Dusty Johnson widens lead in South Dakota governor race
Negative
Polls
South Dakota Republican Governor nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Endorsements
South Dakota Republican Governor nominee?
Endorsers of Larry Rhoden for South Dakota Republican Governor nominee?
Veterans for America First
Elected official
Veterans for America First formally endorsed Larry Rhoden for governor of South Dakota.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Fundraising