South Dakota’s Republican contenders for governor take the debate stage tonight in downtown Sioux Falls for the final time ahead of the June 2 GOP primary election.
The 2026 GOP gubernatorial debate, organized and hosted by Sioux Falls Live and The Dakota Scout, will be held at the Belbas Theater inside the Washington Pavilion. The candidates are U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, Gov. Larry Rhoden, House Speaker Jon Hansen and businessman Toby Doeden.
The 90-minute debate begins at 7:30 p.m. in front of a sold-out audience of about 300 subscribers of The Dakota Scout. The debate will air live on KSFL in Sioux Falls (Channel 36 and Midco channel 616) and KNBN in RAPID CITY (NewsCenter 1 Channel 21 and Midco 610), and will be livestreamed on TheDakotaScout.com and SiouxFallsLive.com. It will also be recorded for future public broadcast.
Veteran South Dakota journalists Jonathan Ellis of The Dakota Scout and Patrick Lalley of SiouxFallsLive.com will moderate the debate. They will enforce time limits and ensure equal participation among candidates.
No candidate will be allowed to bring props, pre-written notes, papers, electronic devices or other materials to the podium. Responses must be delivered without prepared written or visual aids. Notepads and pens will be provided at each podium.
The speaking order for opening statements, responses and closing remarks will be determined by a random draw conducted prior to the debate — and in the presence of all candidates and moderators. The order will rotate throughout the event.
All questions were prepared in advance by journalists from The Dakota Scout and Sioux Falls Live, and candidates will not see them prior to the debate.
Immediately following the debate, tune into TheDakotaScout.com for a special post-debate Scouting Lounge podcast that will be video streamed from the Washington Pavilion.
