ELECTION DAY: Here's how South Dakota’s first governor runoff came to be
Timeline outlines campaign journey that narrowed South Dakota’s GOP field to Gov. Larry Rhoden and businessman Toby Doeden
South Dakota Republicans head to the polls today for the state’s first-ever gubernatorial primary runoff, with Gov. Larry Rhoden facing Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden.
The historic contest follows a crowded June 2 primary in which no candidate reached the 35 percent threshold required to win the Republican nomination outright. Doeden finished first with about 31 percent of the vote, followed by Rhoden with roughly 25 percent, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson with 23 percent and state House Speaker Jon Hansen with 21 percent.
The winner will advance to the Nov. 3 general election ballot to face Democratic nominee Dan Ahlers.
Here is a look at how the race developed, from the early political groundwork through the endorsements, party registration shifts and campaign maneuvering that shaped the runoff.
