Rhoden Fights to Hang On to South Dakota Governor's Mansion in GOP Primary Runoff The significance of the South Dakota governor's primary runoff cannot be overstated, as it determines who will carry the Republican Party's banner into the general election.
With control of the governor's mansion at stake and the party's dominance in the state all but guaranteed come November, this contest is less about the outcome than about leadership.
The two candidates vying for the nomination are Steve Haugaard, Kristi Noem's handpicked successor, and Larry Rhoden, the current lieutenant governor.