South Dakota governor fends off challenger in primary runoff - The Hill

What the report says

The Hill reported that South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden has won Tuesday’s Republican primary runoff for governor, with Decision Desk HQ projecting his victory over businessman Toby Doeden. The result keeps Rhoden on track to seek a full term after taking over the governorship in January 2025, when former Gov. Kristi Noem left the office to serve as Homeland Security secretary in the Trump administration.

Rhoden’s next opponent will be Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state senator, in the November general election. The Hill noted that Rhoden is favored to retain the office because South Dakota has a strong Republican tilt, making the GOP nomination a decisive step in the race.

The runoff followed an initial June Republican primary in which no candidate met South Dakota’s 35 percent threshold needed to win outright. Doeden led that round with about 31 percent of the vote, while Rhoden placed second with 25 percent. Rep. Dusty Johnson and state House Speaker Jon Hansen were also in the first round but did not advance.

The Hill reported that Johnson did not publicly endorse either runoff candidate, though he told KELOLAND he was privately assisting one of them. Hansen had not publicly weighed in on the runoff after his primary loss. The outcome clarifies the general election matchup and positions Rhoden to defend a governorship long held by Republicans in a state where Democrats face a steep statewide climb.