South Dakota Governor 2026

Election day is November 3, 2026. A statewide contest in South Dakota.

Who is favoured in South Dakota Governor?

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About this race

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

Latest coverage of the South Dakota Governor race

SD governor candidate calls unfavorable poll ‘fake’ after touting earlier results from same groupSouth Dakota Searchlight · 15 Jul 20267 things to know ahead of the SD gubernatorial runoffSouth Dakota News Watch · 22 Jul 2026South Dakota Governor Republican Primary Runoff Election ResultsThe New York Times · 28 Jul 2026The Republican gubernatorial primary runoff is two weeks away: What you need to knowKOTA Territory News · 14 Jul 2026South Dakota 2026 Poll: Larry Rhoden Leads Toby Doeden for Runoff Electionemersoncollegepolling.com · 15 Jul 2026South Dakota polls open at 7 a.m.Tuesday for its first governor runoffaberdeennews.com · 27 Jul 2026South Dakota runoff election spawns another reluctant ‘RINO’South Dakota Searchlight · 26 Jul 2026Live updates: South Dakota’s GOP governor defeats businessman in primary runoffThe Washington Post · 28 Jul 2026

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