South Dakota Governor and Lieutenant Governor
Dan Ahlers (D) vs. Larry Rhoden (R). General election Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
What does a governor do?
Runs the state government. Proposes the state budget, signs or vetoes bills passed by the legislature, and appoints the heads of state agencies. Usually 4 years (2 in NH and VT).
- State budget, schools and Medicaid funding
- Signs or vetoes state laws
- Leads emergency response and the state National Guard
Your options
Listed alphabetically by last name. Each box has the same sections in the same order. Donation and campaign links appear only after we confirm they belong to the candidate's own committee.
Dan Ahlers
Who they are
What they say they'll do
- BUILDING BACK RURAL SOUTH DAKOTA
- STRONG EDUCATION
- AFFORDABLE HOUSING
- HEALTHCARE
- THE ECONOMY & YOUR POCKETBOOK
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
Larry Rhoden
Who they are
What they say they'll do
What they've done
Who funds them
In short
WinRed page belongs to "Larry Rhoden For Governor", checked against the page's own recipient details.
Where they stand, issue by issue
Quotes are taken from each campaign's own website (first sentences of the section, unedited). Topics are assigned by keyword; we do not summarize or score positions. "No public position found" means we did not find the topic on the campaign site, not that the candidate has no view.
As our state grows, people are being priced out of the housing market. South Dakotans deserve access to safe, affordable housing. As governor, I will: Support local solutions to increase housing availability in both rural and growing communities.source
Every South Dakotan deserves access to affordable, quality healthcare, regardless of where they live. As governor, I will: Fight to keep rural hospitals open and long-term care facilities thriving. Address crucial workforce shortages straining our healthcare system.source
South Dakota believes in the investment of a strong public education sector, something every student deserves. As governor, I will: Recruit and retain great teachers in classrooms across the state. Strengthen rural schools and keep them at the heart of their communities.source
South Dakota needs to be a government that works for the people, not one that hides from them. As governor, I will: Work to make government open, honest, and accountable to the people. Communicate clearly and directly with constituents about decisions that affect their lives.source
In South Dakota, we're proud of our rural culture. But for too long it's been taken from us. Let's invest back in ourselves. As governor, I will: Invest in Main Street businesses and local economies that are the backbone of rural communities.source
No candidate in this race addresses on their site: Taxes & government spending, Social Security & Medicare, Immigration & the border, Crime & public safety, Guns, Abortion, Energy & environment, Foreign policy & defense, Veterans, Housing, Roads, transit & infrastructure.
About this race
Larry Rhoden (Republican) is the incumbent. The race is rated solidly Republican. Usually 4 years (2 in NH and VT).
Rating from the Cook Political Report race ratings, Oct 23, 2026. Candidates from the South Dakota Secretary of State, 2026 General Election candidate list.