No.
Gubernatorial running mates in South Dakota are not always chosen after the nominee is selected.
Republican nominee Jon Hansen chose Karla Lems as his running mate on April 24, 2025, over a year before the primary on June 2.
Gov. Larry Rhoden announced that Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen would stay on as his running mate when he announced his re-election campaign on Nov. 18.
In 1994, former Gov. Bill Janklow tapped Carole Hillard prior to the primary. Janklow went on to beat Walter Miller in the primary, and Hillard became the first woman to serve as lieutenant governor of South Dakota.
In May 2025, Rhoden signed into law a bill that requires governor candidates to nominate a candidate for lieutenant governor by 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of August on election years. In 2026, Aug. 11 is the deadline for governor hopefuls to choose running mates.
This fact brief responds to claims such as this one.
Sources:
South Dakota Legislature, House Bill 1164
SDPB, Gov. Larry Rhoden officially announces campaign
South Dakota Secretary of State
Keloland News, A look back at 40 years of South Dakota governor elections
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