South Dakota Gubernatorial Runoff Candidate Profiles

Learn Where the Candidates Stand Before You Vote on July 28

The Brookings Regional Growth Alliance created this nonpartisan voter guide to help residents quickly compare where each candidate stands on key issues affecting business, workforce, community growth, and regional competitiveness. The issues included were selected because they have a meaningful impact on the long-term prosperity and competitiveness of our communities, businesses, and residents.

Our goal is not to advocate for any candidate or position, but to provide clear, factual information that helps voters make informed decisions about the future of our region.

Governor Larry Rhoden

Republican

Campaign Website

Candidate Background

Governor Larry Rhoden is a lifelong South Dakotan from Union Center. He owns and operates a family ranch in western South Dakota and served more than five years in the South Dakota Army National Guard.

Rhoden represented District 29 in the South Dakota Legislature for nearly two decades, serving in both the House of Representatives and the State Senate. In 2019, he became lieutenant governor alongside Governor Kristi Noem and was sworn in as South Dakota's 34th Governor in January 2025 following Noem's appointment as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

He is seeking election to his first full term as governor.

Economic Development

Summary

Governor Rhoden says South Dakota's economic development strategy should focus on maintaining a business-friendly climate through limited regulation, strategic business investment, expanded international trade, and continued use of state economic development programs.

Key Positions

Supports a business-friendly regulatory environment, stating that government should minimize unnecessary regulations and create conditions that allow businesses to grow and succeed. Source: SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 9:21
Supports the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), the Future Fund, and existing economic development incentive programs. In 2026, he signed an executive order increasing transparency in how Future Fund grants are awarded and administered. Source: January 15^th, 2026 Press Release; South Dakota Searchlight article December 30, 2025.
Supports using state incentive programs to attract economic development projects, including data centers, while also signing Senate Bill 135 (2026) to address potential impacts on utility costs and electric grid reliability associated with large energy users. – Source: Keloland News Republican Debate; timestamp: 37:45
Supports expanding international trade and value-added agriculture, highlighting trade missions to Mexico and investments aimed at growing export opportunities and agricultural processing. – Source: SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 12:25

Education

Summary

Governor Rhoden supports policies aimed at improving student achievement while continuing to invest in K–12 education and views education as an investment in South Dakota's future.

Key Positions

Supports implementing the Science of Reading and expanded phonics instruction to improve student literacy outcomes. SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 46:35
Replaced Common Core math standards with updated South Dakota academic standards. SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 46:50
Supports maintaining rigorous academic expectations for students. SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 46:45
Signed legislation providing a 1.4% increase in K-12 education funding during the 2026 legislative session. Keloland News Republican Debate; timestamp: 32:40

Property Taxes

Summary

Governor Rhoden has identified property tax relief as a top priority of his administration, supporting legislation intended to reduce the property tax burden while maintaining funding for local government services.

Key Positions

Signed two property tax relief bills during the 2026 legislative session aimed at reducing the tax burden on owner-occupied homes. SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 39:22

- Senate Bill 96 authorizes counties to adopt a ½-cent county sales tax to provide property tax relief for owner-occupied properties.
- Senate Bill 245 redirects the scheduled 0.3% state sales tax increase beginning in 2027 into a dedicated Property Tax Relief Fund for owner-occupied homes and provides a $56 million one-time appropriation to establish the fund.

Highlights his legislative record of supporting tax reductions, including his role in repealing the state's trucker tax. SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 40:15

Tourism

Summary

Governor Rhoden says South Dakota's tourism strategy should focus on continued partnership between state government and the tourism industry, industry-led marketing, strategic investment in tourism promotion, and limited regulation.

Key Positions

Supports continued investment in statewide tourism promotion and identifies tourism as one of South Dakota's leading industries. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 7:30
Supports allowing Travel South Dakota and tourism professionals to guide statewide tourism marketing efforts. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 5:28
Reinstated the Tourism Advertising Promotion Grant Fund in 2026, awarding $200,000 to 40 tourism projects across South Dakota. Source: May 4, 2026, press release.
Supports continued collaboration between the Governor's Office and the tourism industry when setting priorities. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 32:32
Supports a limited regulatory approach for tourism-related businesses unless a clear need for regulation exists. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 28:59
Did not take a definitive position on increasing the Business Improvement District (BID) tax, stating he would continue working with the tourism industry and values local control. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 25:30

Workforce

Summary

Governor Rhoden's workforce priorities focus on expanding labor force participation, supporting workforce development programs, strengthening career pathways, and addressing workforce shortages through targeted policy initiatives.

Key Positions

Supports continuing immigration-related workforce programs to help employers meet workforce needs across South Dakota. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 21:10
Established a statewide Recidivism Reduction Task Force to develop strategies that improve rehabilitation, reduce repeat offenses, and strengthen successful reentry into the workforce. Sources: SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 16:58; October 7, 2025 Press Release.
Expanded Apprenticeships opportunities by signing Senate Bill 63 to establish State Apprenticeship Agency within the Department of Labor. Source: February 25, 2026 Press Release
Supported rural healthcare workforce recruitment and retention by signing House Bill 1043 and House Bill 1044, which provide additional incentives and support for healthcare professionals serving rural communities.

Upcoming Visit to Brookings:

Monday, June 20 at 5:00 PM at Research Park at SDSU

Event Information

Toby Doeden

Republican

Campaign Website

Candidate Background

Toby Doeden is an entrepreneur and business owner from Aberdeen, South Dakota. Raised in northeastern South Dakota, he has described himself as having grown up in a working-class family and has spoken publicly about building multiple businesses during his career.

Doeden has not previously held elected office and is running for governor as a political outsider, emphasizing his private-sector experience and business background.

He is seeking his first elected office as Governor of South Dakota.

Economic Development

Summary

Toby Doeden says South Dakota's economic development strategy should focus on reducing regulations, supporting small businesses, evaluating projects based on their benefit to South Dakota residents, and limiting the use of taxpayer funding for certain private development projects.

Key Positions

Proposes creating a Small Business Task Force to help small businesses by reducing regulations and identifying easier pathways to capital. Source: Keloland News Republican Debate; timestamp: 16:00
Supports attracting new businesses to South Dakota while evaluating economic development projects based on their benefits to South Dakota residents. Source: Keloland News Republican Debate; timestamp: 16:38
Opposes using taxpayer funds to subsidize large out-of-state private development projects. Source: Keloland News Republican Debate; timestamp: 41:00
Supports local control when considering economic development projects. Source: SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 6:43

Education

Summary

Toby Doeden supports continued investment in education while emphasizing improved accountability for education funding and higher teacher pay.

Key Positions

Supports increasing teacher compensation. Source: SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 48:50
States that South Dakota invests significant funding in education and believes those resources should be directed more effectively to improve student outcomes. Source: Keloland News Republican Debate; timestamp: 36:13
Did not outline specific proposals related to curriculum, academic standards, or reading instruction during the candidate forums and public events reviewed.

Property Taxes

Summary

Toby Doeden supports reducing and ultimately phasing out property taxes. He has stated that his approach would include reducing state spending, identifying new revenue sources, and restructuring state tax policy.

Key Positions

Supports phasing out property taxes statewide. Source: Keloland News Republican Debate; timestamp: 23:25

Supports reducing discretionary state spending and identifying government inefficiencies and fraud as part of funding property tax relief. Source: SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 37:06
Has discussed exploring new revenue sources, including visitor-related consumption taxes, as part of property tax reform but has not released a detailed proposal outlining how those changes would be implemented. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 12:35 & Source: SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 37:17

Supports eliminating the state sales tax on groceries, diapers, and infant formula. Source: Keloland News Republican Debate; timestamp: 23:51

Tourism

Summary

Toby Doeden says South Dakota's tourism strategy should focus on continued investment in tourism promotion, partnerships with the tourism industry, use of South Dakota businesses, and limited government regulation.

Key Positions

Supports increasing investment in tourism marketing if the industry can demonstrate a return on investment. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 19:00
Supports expanding the use of South Dakota-based businesses for state tourism marketing contracts and vendor services. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 21:00
Supports continued collaboration with the tourism industry and says he would rely on industry stakeholders to help identify priorities and funding needs. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 18:08
Supports a limited regulatory approach for tourism-related businesses unless a demonstrated need for additional regulation exists. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 30:15
Expressed concerns about previous Business Improvement District (BID) tax proposals, citing transparency and public notification during the decision-making process. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 43:30
Discussed exploring visitor-based revenue sources as part of broader property tax reform but has not proposed a specific tourism tax or implementation plan. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 12:35

Workforce

Summary

Toby Doeden has discussed workforce-related issues in the context of healthcare and employer workforce needs but has provided limited detail on specific workforce development policies.

Key Positions

Identified rural healthcare access as a workforce issue and stated he would work with South Dakota's major healthcare systems to expand healthcare services in rural communities. Source: SDPB Republican Debate; timestamp: 29:45
Did not outline specific workforce development proposals during the Tourism Coalition of South Dakota Candidate Q&A but stated he would consider and utilize programs that help address South Dakota's workforce needs. Source: Tourism Coalition of SD Q&A; timestamp: 24:30

Upcoming Visit to Brookings:

Monday, June 13th at 6:00 PM at Cubby's Sports Bar & Grill

Campaign Website

Election Information

Election Day: Tuesday, July 28
Polling location lookup: South Dakota Secretary of State Voter Information Portal
Registration deadline: Monday, July 13

Disclaimer: The Brookings Regional Growth Alliance does not endorse any candidate in this resource. The candidate profiles on this page are provided for voter education and are based on publicly available candidate statements, campaign materials, debates, candidate forums, interviews, public statements, and official records available as of July 2, 2026. If a candidate has not publicly addressed a topic in detail within the sources reviewed, that is noted accordingly.