2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of South Dakota. The incumbent is Republican Larry Rhoden, who was elevated to the governorship in 2025 after his predecessor, Kristi Noem (who was already ineligible to run in the 2026 election due to term-limits), resigned to become U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. Rhoden had previously been serving as lieutenant governor under Noem since the two took office in 2019. Rhoden has yet to announce whether he intends to run for re-election though has publicly expressed interest in doing so.

2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election

← 2022 November 3, 2026 2030 →

Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden Republican

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Toby Doeden, retail and real estate executive^[1]
• Jon Hansen, Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives (2025–present) from the 25th district (2011–2013, 2019–present)^[2]
  • Running mate: Karla Lems, state representative from the 16th district (2023–present)^[2]
• Dusty Johnson, U.S. representative from South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2019–present)^[3]

Publicly expressed interest

• Larry Rhoden, incumbent governor (2025–present)^[4][5]

Potential

• Tony Venhuizen, Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota (2025–present) and son-in-law of former governor Dennis Daugaard^[6]

Declined

• Marty Jackley, Attorney General of South Dakota (2009–2019, 2023–present)^[7] (running for U.S. House)^[8]
• Mike Rounds, U.S. Senator (2015–present) and former governor (2003–2011)^[9]
• Paul TenHaken, mayor of Sioux Falls (2018–present)^[10]

Endorsements

Dusty Johnson

Statewide officials

• Dennis Daugaard, former governor of South Dakota (2011–2019)^[11]

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Toby Doeden vs. Jon Hansen vs. Marty Jackley vs. Dusty Johnson vs. Larry Rhoden

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Toby Doeden	Jon Hansen	Marty Jackley	Dusty Johnson	Larry Rhoden	Undecided
Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy[12][A]	April 9–14, 2025	500 (RV)	± 4.5%	4%	2%	18%	28%	27%	20%

Mike Rounds vs. Dusty Johnson

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Mike Rounds	Dusty Johnson	Undecided
Kaplan Strategies[13]	June 12, 2023	–	–	25%	25%	50%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Robert Arnold, college student^[14]

Independents

Declared

• Terry Gleason, web developer^[15]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[16]	Solid R	January 23, 2025
Inside Elections[17]	Solid R	February 6, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[18]	Safe R	May 1, 2025
Race to the WH[19]	Safe R	June 30, 2025

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch

See also

• 2026 United States gubernatorial elections