South Dakota Gov.Larry Rhoden fended off a primary challenge from businessman and Bitcoin evangelist Toby Doeden on Tuesday, winning the first gubernatorial primary runoff in state history and advancing to the November general election.The Associated Press called the race for Rhoden shortly after 9:00 p.m.
Eastern. The election marked the first time South Dakota voters were asked to settle a gubernatorial nomination through a primary runoff.State law requires a runoff between the two leading candidates when no contender for governor, U.S.
Senate or U.S.House receives at least 35% of the primary vote.TRUMP-BACKED FIREBRAND WINS ARIZONA GOP GOVERNOR PRIMARY, SETTING UP HIGH-STAKES SHOWDOWNSouth Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden (left) and primary challenger Republican candidate for governor Toby Doeden (right) (Toby Doeden for South Dakota/Getty Images)The head-to-head contest followed a four-way June primary in which Doeden finished first with 30.6% of the vote and Rhoden placed second with 25.2%, leaving both short of the 35% needed to secure the nomination outright.
Rhoden became governor in early 2025 after Kristi Noem left to join the Trump administration, while Doeden entered the race as a businessman and political newcomer.Tuesday’s winner advances to face former Democratic state Sen.Dan Ahlers in November.
South Dakota has not had a Democratic governor since Harvey Wollman left office in 1979, and no Democrat has been elected to the office there since Richard Kneip won re-election in 1974.Wollman became governor automatically as lieutenant governor when Kneip resigned.TRUMP FLEXES GOP MUSCLE IN ARIZONA PRIMARIES AS DEMS DODGE FAR-LEFT UPSETIn the run-up to Tuesday's primary runoff, property taxes were among the defining issues of the campaign.
Doeden campaigned on eliminating property taxes, while Rhoden’s campaign portrayed Doeden’s proposal as fiscally reckless, arguing it could leave local governments and schools with a major funding shortfall.Meanwh...