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 were held on June 2, 2026, and since no candidate received over 35% in the Republican primary, a runoff election was held on July 28.
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. Rhoden had previously been serving as lieutenant governor under Noem since the two took office in 2019. Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in South Dakota since 1974.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Larry Rhoden, incumbent governor (2025–present) Running mate: Tony Venhuizen, incumbent lieutenant governor (2025–present)
Eliminated in runoff Toby Doeden, retail and real estate executive
Eliminated in primary Jon Hansen, Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives (2025–present) from the 25th district (2011–2013, 2019–present) Running mate: Karla Lems, Speaker Pro Tempore of the South Dakota House of Representatives (2025-present) from the 16th district (2023–present) Dusty Johnson, U.S. representative from (2019–present)
Declined Marty Jackley, Attorney General of South Dakota (2009–2019, 2023–present) (running for U.S. House) Mike Rounds, U.S. Senator (2015–present) and former governor (2003–2011) (running for re-election) Paul TenHaken, mayor of Sioux Falls (2018–2026)
First round Endorsements
Debates + 2026 South Dakota Republican gubernatorial primary debates Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican RepublicanKey: Participant Invited Withdrawn Absent Not invited Johnson Doeden Rhoden Hansen 1 Mar. 31,2026 KelolandNexstar Media Dan SantellaLauren Soulek KELOLAND 2 Apr. 13,2026 South Dakota Public BroadcastingSouth Dakota News Watch Jackie HendryAlexander Rifaat Youtube 3 Apr. 27,2026 Dakota ScoutForum Communications Jonatahan EllisPatrick Lalley Youtube
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TobyDoeden JonHansen DustyJohnson LarryRhoden UndecidedThe Public Sentiment InstituteMay 26–27 2026400 (LV)± 4.9%24%13%27%32%3%Meeting Street Insights (R)May 18–20, 2026450 (LV)± 4.6%22%21%19%23%15%Emerson CollegeMay 18–19, 2026432 (LV)± 4.7%26%16%23%19%16%Mason-Dixon Polling & StrategyApril 7–11, 2026500 (RV)± 4.5%17%18%34%17%14%Emerson CollegeMarch 7–9, 2026413 (LV)± 4.8%18%14%28%17%23%Public Opinion Strategies (R)March 2–5, 2026400 (LV)± 4.9%16%10%33%28%12%Mason-Dixon Polling & StrategyOctober 16–20, 2025502 (RV)± 4.5%15%10%28%27%21%
Larry Rhoden vs. Dusty Johnson Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error LarryRhoden DustyJohnson UndecidedPublic Opinion Strategies (R)March 2–5, 2026400 (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 Samplesize Marginof error TobyDoeden JonHansen MartyJackley DustyJohnson LarryRhoden UndecidedMason-Dixon Polling & StrategyApril 9–14, 2025500 (RV)± 4.5%4%2%18%28%27%20%
Mike Rounds vs. Dusty Johnson Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error MikeRounds DustyJohnson UndecidedKaplan StrategiesJune 12, 2023500 (RV)± 4.7%25%25%50%
Results
As no candidate received 35% of the primary vote, a primary runoff was held between the top two candidates on July 28th, 2026. This was the first runoff ever held in the state since the adoption of a 1985 law that established runoffs for gubernatorial and Congressional primaries.
Runoff Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error TobyDoeden LarryRhoden UndecidedEmerson CollegeJuly 12–13 2026500 (LV)± 4.3%32%62%7%
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Dan Ahlers, executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party, former state senator (2008–2010), and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 Running mate: Steven McCleerey, former state representative from the 1st district (2015–2021)
Failed to qualify Robert Arnold, college student
Endorsements
Independents Candidates Withdrawn Allison Renville, political organizer and Democratic candidate for South Dakota's 1st legislative district in 2018 Terry Gleason, web developer and convicted sex offender Scott Morris, retired Air Force veteran Anthony Sitter, HVAC installer
Declined Rick Knobe, former mayor of Sioux Falls (1974–1984) and candidate for state senate in 2020
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportSeptember 11, 2025Decision Desk HQSeptember 23, 2026Fox NewsJuly 23, 2026Inside ElectionsAugust 28, 2025RealClearPoliticsJune 5, 2026Sabato's Crystal BallSeptember 4, 2025Silver Bulletin August 25, 2026
Notes
Partisan clients
See also 2026 United States gubernatorial elections
References
External links Official campaign websites Dan Ahlers (D) Larry Rhoden (R)