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 will be held on June 2, 2026, and in races where no candidate receives over 50% in a primary, runoff elections will take place on July 28. 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. In November 2025, Rhoden announced he would run for a full term. Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in South Dakota since 1974.
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Republican primary
Candidates
Declared
- Toby Doeden, retail and real estate executive
- Jon Hansen, Speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives (2025–present) from the 25th district (2011–2013, 2019–present)
- Running mate: Karla Lems, state representative from the 16th district (2023–present)
- Dusty Johnson, U.S. representative from South Dakota's at-large congressional district (2019–present)
- Larry Rhoden, incumbent governor (2025–present)
- Running mate: Tony Venhuizen, incumbent lieutenant governor (2025–present)
Declined
- Marty Jackley, Attorney General of South Dakota (2009–2019, 2023–present) (running for U.S. House)
- Mike Rounds, U.S. Senator (2015–present) and former governor (2003–2011)
- Paul TenHaken, mayor of Sioux Falls (2018–present)
Endorsements
- State legislators
- Phil Jensen, state representative from the 33rd district (2021–present)
- Statewide officials
- Dennis Daugaard, former governor of South Dakota (2011–2019)
- State legislators
- 36 state senators and representatives
- 77 former state senators and representatives
- State legislators
- Mike Derby, state representative from the 34th district (2021–present)
Polling
- Toby Doeden vs. Jon Hansen vs. Dusty Johnson vs. Larry Rhoden
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Toby Doeden | Jon Hansen | Dusty Johnson | Larry Rhoden | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy | October 16–20, 2025 | 502 (RV) | ± 4.5% | 15% | 10% | 28% | 27% | 21% |
- Toby Doeden vs. Jon Hansen vs. Marty Jackley vs. Dusty Johnson vs. Larry Rhoden
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Toby Doeden | Jon Hansen | Marty Jackley | Dusty Johnson | Larry Rhoden | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy | 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 | Margin of error | Mike Rounds | Dusty Johnson | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaplan Strategies | June 12, 2023 | – | – | 25% | 25% | 50% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Robert Arnold, college student
Independents
Candidates
Declared
- Terry Gleason, web developer and convicted sex offender
- Allison Renville, political organizer and Democratic candidate for South Dakota's 1st legislative district in 2018
Publicly expressed interest
- Rick Knobe, former mayor of Sioux Falls (1974–1984) and candidate for state senate in 2020
General election
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report | Solid R | September 11, 2025 |
| Inside Elections | Solid R | August 28, 2025 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | September 4, 2025 |
| Race to the WH | Likely R | December 3, 2025 |
See also
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