Doeden, Rhoden headed to July runoff to settle GOP governor nomination
Aberdeen businessman takes top spot with governor edging congressman in South Dakota Republican primary
Gov. Larry Rhoden squeaked into a runoff with Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, who won the highest vote total in a four-candidate race for the GOP nomination for governor.
Rhoden finished second after a tight battle for the second runoff spot against Congressman Dusty Johnson. Earlier in the night, both Rhoden and Johnson expressed optimism they would finish second.
Doeden, meanwhile, said he might hit the elusive 35 percent mark to avoid a runoff.
“We might even wrap this up tonight,” Toby Doeden said while addressing his election night warehouse party crowd at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
