Key facts
- South Dakota GOP gubernatorial primary will go to a July runoff.
- No candidate secured the necessary 35% of the vote to win outright.
- Toby Doeden led the primary field with 30.6% of the vote.
- Incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden narrowly secured the second runoff spot.
- U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson and House Speaker Jon Hansen were also contenders for the second spot.
South Dakota's crowded Republican primary for governor will proceed to a July runoff, as no candidate secured the necessary 35 percent of the vote to win outright. Businessman Toby Doeden emerged as the frontrunner, securing 30.6 percent of the vote. Incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden narrowly clinched the second runoff position, narrowly edging out U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson and House Speaker Jon Hansen. Doeden campaigned on a platform as a political outsider and populist, largely self-funding his campaign. Rhoden, who previously served as lieutenant governor under former Governor Kristi Noem, has pledged to continue Noem's policies focused on affordability and business-friendliness. His platform also includes opposition to abortion and support for Second Amendment rights, and he has engaged with federal agencies on immigration enforcement. The absence of an endorsement from President Donald Trump in the competitive primary was noted. Johnson, the state's sole congressman, was considered to possess a stronger statewide profile compared to the other candidates.