Primary
Primary held June 2, 2026.
Republican Primary
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toby Doeden | 41,712 | 30.6% | |
| Larry Rhoden | 34,321 | 25.2% | |
| Dusty Johnson | 31,856 | 23.4% | |
| Jon Hansen | 28,341 | 20.8% |
Runoff: Tuesday, July 28, 2026 in 7 days
Full calendar and every race: South Dakota primary guide
Race Overview
Candidates
Average reflects all polls from the last 90 days; table shows the most recent 30 days or the newest 3 polls, whichever is more. How accurate is each pollster? →
No polls in the last 90 days.
Questions About This Race
Is the 2026 South Dakota governor's race competitive?
No — the expert consensus rates it Safe R for Republicans.
When is the 2026 South Dakota governor's race decided?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
How is the PollingSource average calculated?
The PollingSource average is the unweighted mean of every scientific public poll of the race from the last 90 days — we do not exclude pollsters. Each race page lists the individual polls behind the average with pollster, field dates, sample size, and margin of error. Full details: pollingsource.com/methodology.
Race Notes
NOMINEE PENDING: no Republican candidate reached the 35% threshold in the June 2 primary. A runoff between Casey Doeden and Larry Rhoden — the first in state history — is set for July 28, 2026. Became governor when Noem left for DHS; seeking a full term