SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The four candidates vying for the Republican nomination for South Dakota governor met for a second time Monday in a relatively well-tempered debate in Sioux Falls.
The debate, co-moderated by South Dakota Public Broadcasting and South Dakota News Watch, saw little in terms of major clashes, with the candidates instead mostly focusing on staking out their policy positions and seeking to differentiate themselves in a crowded field.
Alexander Rifaat
Gov. Larry Rhoden, who replaced former Gov. Kristi Noem in January 2025 after her appointment as secretary for Homeland Security, argued recent legislative accomplishments showed he should be given his own mandate to keep his job while U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson, state House Speaker Jon Hansen and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden offered their own visions for running the Mount Rushmore state.
If no candidate receives at least 35% of the vote on the June 2 ballot, a runoff between the top two finishers will take place July 28. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election.
Key takeaways
Here are some key takeaways from the debate:
- Johnson announced a plan to appoint a state surgeon general that would, among other things, assist in the managing of the state's Medicaid program in an effort to combat rising maternal and infant mortality rates. "We don't do a very good job of managing the Medicaid program today," he said. "We're going to get our arms around this."
- Hansen pledged to break up the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "I believe the South Dakota Department of Agriculture deserves its own department away from the people in the Department of Natural Resources," Hansen said. The two departments merged as a result of an executive order Noem issued in 2021.
- Doeden reiterated his plan to phase out property taxes completely, saying he will fill the budget hole by implementing policies that boost economic development, bringing in "external revenue sources" and cutting discretionary spending. He didn't specify the sources of revenue. "We don't need new taxes, we don't need higher taxes, we need more tax revenue," Doeden said.
- Similar to the first debate, Johnson and Rhoden clashed over the recently enacted property tax bills, which Johnson said has led to the largest sales tax increase in state history. Rhoden pointed out that one of the bills, which takes the planned 0.3% increase in the state sales tax next year to create a property tax relief fund for homeowners, was similar to Johnson's own proposal. "This rhetoric about sales tax. That's baloney," Rhoden said. "Congressman Johnson was going to use the exact same dollars for his property tax plan."
- On education, Hansen reiterated his support for creating publicly funded education grants for students regardless if they go to public school, private school or are home schooled. "I want to put parents in the driver's seat. I think parents know best," Hansen said.
- Each candidate sought to solidify their anti-abortion credentials when asked about their thoughts on whether the pro-life movement had achieved its objectives in South Dakota. Hansen cited his efforts in defeating Amendment G, a 2024 proposal to establish the right to an abortion in South Dakota. Rhoden touted recent legislation that makes it a felony to advertise, distribute or sell abortion pills. Doeden said raising living standards would help deter abortions, while Johnson said greater investments in K-12 education would also be a deterrent.
Hansen beats expectations
Two political observers who talked to News Watch said that while the candidates appeared to only have minor policy differences, one candidate did outperform the rest on the night.
"In terms of a winner, in a political debate it is usually the candidate that exceeds expectations," said Emily Wanless of Augustana University in Sioux Falls. "Rep. Jon Hansen met and exceeded my expectations."
Hansen exuded a stronger leadership presence, while Rhoden appeared the weakest of the candidates on the debate stage, said Wanless, an associate professor of government and international affairs.
"A lot of his answers lacked specific substance," Wanless said of Rhoden. "As someone trying to distinguish themselves as an incumbent governor, Rhoden is really struggling to separate himself from former Gov. Noem."
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Robert Burns of South Dakota State University echoed Wanless' sentiments that Hansen came out the biggest beneficiary of the debate while Rhoden struggled.
"If you just paid attention to the optics of the debate, I really think Jon Hansen stood out," added Robert Burns of South Dakota State University. "On the other end, I think Gov. Rhoden stumbled more."
The debate made it clear which wing of the Republican party each candidate represents, with Rhoden leaning on his role as the incumbent, Doeden cementing his status as the outsider, Hansen leading the Christian conservative faction and Johnson solidifying his position as the moderate voice, said Burns, distinguished professor emeritus of political science.
Impact of 'insider vs. outsider' dynamic
Wanless said Johnson might need to tread carefully as he takes positions that appeal to a large swathe of the electorate but might not be to the core of GOP voters he needs to make it past the primary.
"We have to remember who the target audience is for this debate: the Republican primary voter," she said. "It will be interesting to see how the property tax discussion goes because I think for Rep. Johnson to claim this affects more South Dakotans when you raise the sales tax, you're speaking to a demographic of voters that aren't going to be able to participate in the Republican primary."
South Dakota's Republican Party operates a closed primary system, meaning only registered party members can vote in the June 2 primary.
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While she believes Hansen stood out in the debate, Wanless noted the emerging "insider vs. outsider" dynamic taking place in the gubernatorial race could potentially favor Johnson and Rhoden.
"I think Doeden is a true outsider. He doesn't have that political experience to date, but Rep. Johnson is also an outsider because he's outside of state politics so he gets to play the outsider card but still have that name recognition," Wanless said.
"On the insider front, I think Hansen is ultimately going to struggle because both he and Rhoden are seen as the insider candidates and the status quo in South Dakota politics, but Rhoden has the name recognition that Hansen does not."
Voter voices
South Dakota News Watch also spoke to a couple of Republicans to get their thoughts on the debate.
DeVries: Pro-life stances encouraging, with more work to be done
Heather DeVries is 42 years old, from Madison and describes herself as "active in both local and state politics."
She said that she was encouraged, and in some cases, pleasantly surprised by candidates' responses to whether continuing pro-life legislation would be a priority. DeVries said she hopes that the candidates can commit to specific plans that the entire party can agree on, without "infighting."
DeVries also said she hopes that the candidates consider working with non-governmental entities to support programming for maternal and infant health across the state. She called the debate "heated yet informative" and said that "while many claim to be pro-life on abortion, significant work still remains."
"It takes a village to heal society, and that healing cannot begin until every life is cherished and protected under the law," DeVries said. "I hope the future governor will take all of that into consideration."
Schomp: Some voters feel 'left behind' by candidates
Judd Schomp is a 49-year-old rancher from Martin. He is the chair of the Bennett County GOP and has served on the Bennett County Commission.
Schomp told News Watch that he is concerned about whether the candidates are truly listening to voters’ concerns about divides within the party, which are worse than ever.
In rural Bennett County and other areas across the state, some of the values they hold are starkly different to those of the candidates, and that they often feel “left behind” by the Republican Party, he said.
Schomp said that he was not satisfied with any of the candidates’ responses to a question about how they will unify the Republican Party. He said he had issues with the candidates’ focus on attempting to create unity in the state Legislature and federal government rather than with South Dakotan voters.
“Us voters remain small, divided and unheard,” Schomp said. “What I did not hear (during the debate) was, ‘South Dakota is the greatest state in the nation, and we’ve achieved that status because of the people here in South Dakota.’”
SDPB Staff and SDPB News Staff
South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org. Contact reporter/Report for America corps member Molly Wetsch: 605-531-7382/molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org.
