'We're a team': Lieutenant governor selection fuels intrigue around Rhoden’s future

South Dakota governor's choice has implications for 2026 election cycle

Gov. Larry Rhoden’s selection of a seasoned political operative and ally of some of South Dakota’s most powerful adds a twist to the state’s political dynamics in what will likely be a momentous 2026 election.

Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen was already a household name in South Dakota political circles before being elected to the state House in 2022, a product of his previous high-profile posts in state government. But his selection to be Rhoden’s lieutenant governor has sparked speculation that the newly minted governor will not be seeking a full term in the office in 2026. A congressional run in the next election cycle had also been rumored inside the halls of the state Capitol.

But if you ask Rhoden, it’s too soon to know what lies ahead for the two men who now control the executive branch of South Dakota state government.

“The answer is no.”

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