A timeline of how the state's first-ever gubernatorial runoff shaped up, from candidate announcements to underdog wins.
It has been a long and meandering road to July 28 for many South Dakota Republicans. Four candidates, three debates, constantly shifting polls and countless ads have certainly resulted in one of the busiest election seasons in recent memory.
Here is a timeline of the more than year-long saga to the state's first ever gubernatorial runoff.
April 24, 2025: More than a year before the primary election, Speaker of the South Dakota House Jon Hansen announces his Republican gubernatorial campaign, with Karla Lems joining him as his running mate. Hansen would be the only non-incumbent to announce a lieutenant governor selection before the primary.
April 28, 2025: An early South Dakota News Watch poll shows that voters would largely choose Congressman Dusty Johnson, Gov. Larry Rhoden and Attorney General Marty Jackley in a race for governor, though none of the men had yet announced candidacy. Jackley eventually declined to enter the governor's race, instead choosing to run for the state's sole U.S. House seat.
Get free, fact-based South Dakota news and information in a weekday email. No spam. Cancel any time.
May 28, 2025: Toby Doeden, a businessman from Aberdeen, announces his campaign for governor. He does not announce a running mate but pledges to eliminate property taxes – a stance that would later become a cornerstone of his campaign.
June 30, 2025: Johnson announces his gubernatorial campaign, a move that had long been anticipated by some South Dakota Republicans, saying the state is at a "sincere crossroads." He does not announce a running mate.
Oct. 27, 2025: A South Dakota News Watch poll indicates a strong lead for Johnson and Rhoden at 28% and 27%, respectively. Doeden and Hansen see increases in voter support from previous polling, at 15% and 10%.
Nov. 18, 2025: Rhoden announces that he will be running for governor. He seeks to be officially elected to the office after taking over from former Gov. Kristi Noem and is the last candidate to announce his run – notably, less than a year before the general election and just six months from the primary.
Jan. 30, 2026: The first campaign finance deadline, for raising and spending through 2025. Notable revelations from those filings include that Johnson raised more than $1.6 million and spent over $650,000 in 2025 in addition to an already-stocked war chest, and that Doeden had followed through on his promise to self-fund his campaign, loaning $2 million of his own money in 2025.
Mar. 31, 2026: KELO-TV hosts the first of three debates between Republican gubernatorial candidates. Notably, Johnson and Rhoden disagree about the efficacy of property tax bills that Rhoden touts as the largest property tax cut in South Dakota history. Johnson says those bills led to a large sales tax increase for South Dakotans.
April 13, 2026: The four candidates square off in a debate moderated by SDPB and South Dakota News Watch. Johnson and Rhoden once again clash over property tax bills passed in the South Dakota Legislature earlier in the year. Doeden reiterates his plan to eliminate property taxes in the state.
April 27, 2026: The third and final debate among the candidates before the primary election, hosted by Sioux Falls Live and the Dakota Scout. Arguments largely reflect that of previous debates, sparring over property tax policy, education, economic development and affordability.
May 1, 2026: Rhoden tells a group of journalists at the South Dakota NewsMedia Association conference that a candidate tried to "blackmail" him to prevent him entering the governor's race. He later confirmed to News Watch that he was talking about Johnson, saying, "They let me know he had more than just the $6 (million) or $7 million in his personal fund. That he also had these dark money super PACs that he could maintain cover on." The statement reflects a race that has frequently resulted in jabs between candidates.
May 18, 2026: The pre-primary campaign finance deadline. Johnson reports a total of $3.7 million raised, significantly outpacing his competitors and underscoring his financial lead in the campaign. Doeden donates another $2 million to his campaign, bringing his personal spending total to $4 million. Rhoden reports raising just over $1 million.
May 21, 2026: KELO releases a poll showing Doeden leading in the primary election with 26% of the vote and Johnson with 23%, within the margin of error. It is the first third-party poll in which Doeden didn't poll behind Rhoden and Johnson since the race began.
June 2, 2026: Primary election day. As results come in, no candidate earns 35% of the vote, triggering the state's first-ever gubernatorial runoff. Doeden, receiving 31%, and Rhoden, with 25%, advance. Johnson, once considered a favorite in the race, fails to secure enough votes to advance with 23%. Hansen also falls short with 21%.
Gov. Larry Rhoden (left) speaks to supporters at his campaign party on June 2, 2026 in Rapid City, S.D. A man (right) holds a "Team Doeden" sign at Toby Doeden's campaign party on June 2, 2026 in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photos: Bart Pfankuch and Molly Wetsch/South Dakota News Watch)
June 12, 2026: Rhoden says he will not debate Doeden ahead of the runoff, citing "outrageous, false claims" from Doeden. Doeden and Rhoden will continue to spar in back-and-forth negative ads and in the media.
July 13, 2026: The last day for South Dakota voters to register to vote or switch their party affiliation before the runoff election. Since the primary election, the Republican party has gained more than 7,000 new registered voters.
July 15, 2026: KELO releases a poll showing that 62% of likely voters would choose Rhoden over Doeden, who received 32%.
July 23, 2026: Recently elected mayor of Sioux Falls, Christine Erickson, just weeks after her own runoff election, endorses Rhoden for governor. Both Rhoden and Doeden endorsed Erickson in her mayoral race against Jamie Smith, which ended in a runoff on June 23.
July 27, 2026: The last day for Republican voters can vote early for the runoff election.
July 28, 2026: Polls open at 7 a.m. local time and close at 7 p.m. Voters will choose between Rhoden and Doeden for the final time. The winning candidate faces Democrat Dan Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election.
South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, subscribe for free and donate at sdnewswatch.org. Contact reporter/Report for America corps member Molly Wetsch: 605-531-7382/molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org.
