South Dakota GOP Governor Primary Heads To July 28 Runoff After Doeden Advances
Businessman Toby Doeden is projected to advance to the Republican runoff for South Dakota governor after the June 2 primary, forcing a July 28 runoff because no candidate reached the 35% threshold.[1]
The four-way Republican field included Gov. Larry Rhoden, Rep. Dusty Johnson, House Speaker Jon Hansen and Doeden; former state Sen. Dan Ahlers was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.[1] Doeden has lent roughly $4 million to his campaign, and the Rushmore Principles PAC spent upward of $1 million on ads attacking Rhoden.[1]
Rhoden and Hansen faced criticism in the primary for supporting sales-tax increases to fund property-tax cuts, and both defended the legislation during the campaign.[1] Those intra-party fights helped split the GOP vote enough that no candidate reached the 35 percent threshold, forcing the July 28 runoff.[1]
Democrats have not held the South Dakota governor's office since the 1970s, and most analysts still see the general election leaning toward the GOP nominee.[1] Former President Donald Trump, who won South Dakota by about 29 points in 2024, has not endorsed any candidate in the primary, leaving the contest largely free of his influence.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Businessman Toby Doeden is projected by CBS News to advance to the Republican gubernatorial runoff after the June 2, 2026 primary.
- The GOP runoff is scheduled for July 28, 2026 because no candidate was on track to reach the 35% threshold in the primary.
- The four-way Republican field includes Gov. Larry Rhoden, Rep. Dusty Johnson, House Speaker Jon Hansen and businessman Toby Doeden, while former state Sen. Dan Ahlers is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
- CBS reports that Democrats have not held the South Dakota governor's office since the 1970s and that the 2026 general election is still expected to favor the GOP nominee.
- Doeden has lent his campaign roughly $4 million, and the Rushmore Principles PAC spent upward of $1 million on anti‑Rhoden ads, according to CBS.
- The primary has featured intra‑party disputes over tax policy, with critics targeting Rhoden and Hansen for backing sales‑tax increases to fund property‑tax cuts and both defending that legislation.
- Former President Donald Trump, who won South Dakota by 29 points in 2024, has not endorsed any candidate in the 2026 GOP gubernatorial primary.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- CBS News projects that businessman Toby Doeden will advance to the Republican gubernatorial runoff after the June 2, 2026 primary.
- The article specifies that the GOP runoff election will be held on July 28, 2026, because no candidate is on track to win 35% of the vote in the primary.
- CBS confirms the four-way GOP field: Gov. Larry Rhoden, Rep. Dusty Johnson, House Speaker Jon Hansen and businessman Toby Doeden, with former state Sen. Dan Ahlers unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
- The piece details that Democrats have not held the South Dakota governor's office since the 1970s and that 2026 is still expected to favor the GOP nominee.
- CBS adds dollar figures on campaign financing and outside spending, noting Doeden has lent his campaign roughly $4 million and that the Rushmore Principles PAC spent upward of $1 million on anti-Rhoden ads.
- The story elaborates on intra-party disputes over tax policy, including criticism of Rhoden and Hansen for backing sales-tax increases to fund property-tax cuts and their defense of that legislation.
- The article notes that former President Donald Trump, who won South Dakota by 29 points in 2024, has not endorsed any candidate in the 2026 GOP gubernatorial primary.