4 stories credited to South Dakota News Watch
Latest story Apr 21, 2026 · on ChamberLight since Apr 2026
A story can appear as several articles (copies of the same piece), so counts of stories and of articles differ.
Scores for South Dakota News Watch
Writing quality not enough rated stories yet: 3 of 10. How it is measured
Scores last checked Sep 24, 2026.
Stories ChamberLight collected, by month
Stories credited to South Dakota News Watch, by publication date. ChamberLight collects articles that mention the officials it tracks, so this shows its own coverage of this source, not how much the source publishes.
- Stories from South Dakota News Watch
- Shaded: ChamberLight collected no stories, or almost none, from any outlet (a gap in its collection, not in the outlet’s publishing)
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| Month | Stories | All outlets |
|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | 4 | 3,706 |
| May 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| June 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| July 2026 | 0 | none collected |
| August 2026 | 0 | 1 (collection gap) |
| September 2026 | 0 | 598 |
Top topics
Share of this source’s stories tagged with each topic. A story can carry several topics, so the shares do not add up to 100%.
- Ethics/Corruption3
75% of 4 stories · 62% across all outlets
- Voting Rights3
75% of 4 stories · 20% across all outlets
- Budget/Spending2
50% of 4 stories · 33% across all outlets
- Abortion/Reproductive Rights1
25% of 4 stories · 1% across all outlets
- Healthcare1
25% of 4 stories · 8% across all outlets
- Immigration1
25% of 4 stories · 13% across all outlets
- Taxes1
25% of 4 stories · 5% across all outlets
The thin mark on each bar is the topic’s share across all outlets.
Who they cover
Party of the officials these stories are mainly about, across all 7 officials named. A story counts once for each official it is mainly about, so the split is over 10 story–official pairs, from 4 stories.
- Republican80% · 8 pairs
- Party not recorded20% · 2 pairs
Most covered
Stories mainly about each official, and their share of the source’s 4 stories.
Article tone
ChamberLight’s article analysis assigns each story a tone toward the official it covers. It describes the coverage of that official, not South Dakota News Watch’s stance, and reader votes do not change it. 4 stories.
- Good Look
- 2 (50%)
- Mixed
- 2 (50%)
- Informational
- 0 (0%)
- Bad Look
- 0 (0%)
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No one has challenged a score on this page yet. Anyone can; editors publish every outcome here.
Articles served from sdnewswatch.org
10
Poll: Most South Dakotans approve of Trump's firing of Noem
Editor's note: If you cite the results of this poll, credit South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy, per copyright law and our republishing policy. PIERRE, S.D. – Roughly 3 in 4 South Dakotans approve of President Donald Trump's decision to sack former Gov. Kristi Noem from her role as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to a new poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota. The survey of 500 registered voters across party affiliation conducted April 7-9 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found 76% of respondents agreed with Trump's move, while 59% of South Dakotans disapproved of her performance as head of the DHS. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 4.5%. Noem, who is from the Castlewood/Watertown area, received criticism earlier this year for her handling of protests that broke out against the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during which two Minnesotans were killed. Questions were also raised over DHS contracts that were awarded to individuals connected to her and senior aide Corey Lewandowski. Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters, also pointed out that support for Noem was dropping prior to her role at DHS, citing revelations in her 2024 memoir that she shot and killed her dog because, as she put it, it was "untrainable." "I think she was already starting to slip. Trump gave her a lifeline, and she wasn't able to hold on to the lifeline," Coker said. "Republicans have dogs too. It wasn't something that just offended the left." Julia Hellwege, director of the Chiesman Center and USD associate professor in political science, was not surprised by Noem's approval numbers given, in addition to her being heavily disliked by Democrats, Republicans tend to validate decisions made by President Trump. "This is somewhat expected in the aftermath of her termination, which was praised by both liberal opponents and then of course Trump supporters who would support his decision," Hellwege told News Watch. Majority approve of Rhoden, Rounds job performance Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, who succeeded Noem last year when she took the DHS post, received a 53% job approval rating in the poll, with 29% disapproving and 18% of respondents being unsure. Rhoden, who is from Union Center and is running to win his job outright, has touted a successful legislative session that saw many of his proposals pass the South Dakota Legislature. "Rhoden's job approval rating is still pretty good for a guy who more or less inherited the job," Coker told News Watch. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds of Pierre, who is also in a race to maintain his seat, received a 55% job approval rating in the poll, with 34% of respondents disapproving and 11% being unsure. Rounds, who served as South Dakota governor from 2003-2011, holds a commanding lead over his GOP primary challenger, Justin McNeal of Rapid City. Thune numbers drop Slightly less than half of respondents approved of U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune's job performance. Thune, who grew up in Murdo and resides in Sioux Falls, received a 49% approval rating, while 39% disapproved and 12% were unsure. When asked whether Thune, who has served as senator since 2005 and majority leader since last year, is committed to South Dakota, 48% of respondents said yes, while 42% said no and 9% were undecided. Both figures are down from the last South Dakota News Watch poll in November last year that found 54% of respondents approving Thune's job performance and commitment to South Dakota. As Thune grows in national prominence due to his status as majority leader, questions have been raised whether he would suffer a similar fate as the man he originally ousted: Democrat Tom Daschle. Daschle, from Aberdeen, rose to become Senate majority leader but along the way was also seen as putting national party politics over the interests of South Dakota. Thune ended up recording a close victory over Daschle in the 2004 U.S. Senate race. A plurality of respondents disapproved of Thune's performance as the Republican's leader in the Senate, with 47% disapproving, 38% approving and 15% not sure, the poll found. Get South Dakota news Subscribe for a free newsletter on weekdays. Cancel any time. We won't share your address. Sign up Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Coker said Thune's lower job approval numbers could be tied to the "Daschle effect" and said that while he doesn't see the Senate majority leader having difficulty in a general election, he might have to worry about someone from within the South Dakota GOP. "He's been sucked into that Washington vortex and paying a price," Coker said. "I don't see him as someone who could be challenged in the general election, but it would be interesting to see if he gets a challenger in the primary." Thune is up for reelection in 2028. Overall trends Hellwege pointed out that while the job approval ratings for Rhoden, Rounds and Thune do not vary greatly by region, there is a clear divide among young and old. While 65% of respondents aged 65 and older approve of Rhoden's performance, only 35% of those aged 18-34 approved. Poll: Johnson, Jackley and Rounds lead in SD GOP primary State House Speaker Jon Hansen, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden are effectively tied for second in gubernatorial race. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat Similarly for Thune, 55% of those surveyed aged 65 or older approved of his performance, but only 38% of those aged 18-34 felt the same way. For Rounds, 67% of those aged 65 and older approve of his performance, while 45% of those aged 18-34 approved. In addition to age, Hellwege also highlighted that women tended to less approve of the elected officials compared to men. Play a bigger role in our storytelling. Join us as a partner in telling stories that are important to all South Dakotans with a tax-deductible donation. Donate Rhoden's job approval rating was 43% among women and 65% among men. Thune's job approval rating was 58% among men and 42% among women. Rounds received approval from 61% of men and 50% of women. "This seems to signal something more about those gender and age differences in expectations and approval of elected officials overall rather than specific assessment of the individual officeholders, particularly given that the gender differences hold even for Noem," Hellwege said, pointing out that, for the former governor, her disapproval numbers were high across age and gender categories. Coming Wednesday Wednesday's story will delve into the South Dakota News Watch/Chiesman Center for Democracy poll results on voter sentiment toward a number of topical issues, including recent tax legislation, local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, data centers and the implementation of new voter ID laws. Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
Poll: Most South Dakotans approve of Trump's firing of Noem
Editor's note: If you cite the results of this poll, credit South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy, per copyright law and our republishing policy. PIERRE, S.D. – Roughly 3 in 4 South Dakotans approve of President Donald Trump's decision to sack former Gov. Kristi Noem from her role as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to a new poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota. The survey of 500 registered voters across party affiliation conducted April 7-9 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found 76% of respondents agreed with Trump's move, while 59% of South Dakotans disapproved of her performance as head of the DHS. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 4.5%. Noem, who is from the Castlewood/Watertown area, received criticism earlier this year for her handling of protests that broke out against the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during which two Minnesotans were killed. Questions were also raised over DHS contracts that were awarded to individuals connected to her and senior aide Corey Lewandowski. Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters, also pointed out that support for Noem was dropping prior to her role at DHS, citing revelations in her 2024 memoir that she shot and killed her dog because, as she put it, it was "untrainable." "I think she was already starting to slip. Trump gave her a lifeline, and she wasn't able to hold on to the lifeline," Coker said. "Republicans have dogs too. It wasn't something that just offended the left." Julia Hellwege, director of the Chiesman Center and USD associate professor in political science, was not surprised by Noem's approval numbers given, in addition to her being heavily disliked by Democrats, Republicans tend to validate decisions made by President Trump. "This is somewhat expected in the aftermath of her termination, which was praised by both liberal opponents and then of course Trump supporters who would support his decision," Hellwege told News Watch. Majority approve of Rhoden, Rounds job performance Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, who succeeded Noem last year when she took the DHS post, received a 53% job approval rating in the poll, with 29% disapproving and 18% of respondents being unsure. Rhoden, who is from Union Center and is running to win his job outright, has touted a successful legislative session that saw many of his proposals pass the South Dakota Legislature. "Rhoden's job approval rating is still pretty good for a guy who more or less inherited the job," Coker told News Watch. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds of Pierre, who is also in a race to maintain his seat, received a 55% job approval rating in the poll, with 34% of respondents disapproving and 11% being unsure. Rounds, who served as South Dakota governor from 2003-2011, holds a commanding lead over his GOP primary challenger, Justin McNeal of Rapid City. Thune numbers drop Slightly less than half of respondents approved of U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune's job performance. Thune, who grew up in Murdo and resides in Sioux Falls, received a 49% approval rating, while 39% disapproved and 12% were unsure. When asked whether Thune, who has served as senator since 2005 and majority leader since last year, is committed to South Dakota, 48% of respondents said yes, while 42% said no and 9% were undecided. Both figures are down from the last South Dakota News Watch poll in November last year that found 54% of respondents approving Thune's job performance and commitment to South Dakota. As Thune grows in national prominence due to his status as majority leader, questions have been raised whether he would suffer a similar fate as the man he originally ousted: Democrat Tom Daschle. Daschle, from Aberdeen, rose to become Senate majority leader but along the way was also seen as putting national party politics over the interests of South Dakota. Thune ended up recording a close victory over Daschle in the 2004 U.S. Senate race. A plurality of respondents disapproved of Thune's performance as the Republican's leader in the Senate, with 47% disapproving, 38% approving and 15% not sure, the poll found. Get South Dakota news Subscribe for a free newsletter on weekdays. Cancel any time. We won't share your address. Sign up Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Coker said Thune's lower job approval numbers could be tied to the "Daschle effect" and said that while he doesn't see the Senate majority leader having difficulty in a general election, he might have to worry about someone from within the South Dakota GOP. "He's been sucked into that Washington vortex and paying a price," Coker said. "I don't see him as someone who could be challenged in the general election, but it would be interesting to see if he gets a challenger in the primary." Thune is up for reelection in 2028. Overall trends Hellwege pointed out that while the job approval ratings for Rhoden, Rounds and Thune do not vary greatly by region, there is a clear divide among young and old. While 65% of respondents aged 65 and older approve of Rhoden's performance, only 35% of those aged 18-34 approved. Poll: Johnson, Jackley and Rounds lead in SD GOP primary State House Speaker Jon Hansen, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden are effectively tied for second in gubernatorial race. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat Similarly for Thune, 55% of those surveyed aged 65 or older approved of his performance, but only 38% of those aged 18-34 felt the same way. For Rounds, 67% of those aged 65 and older approve of his performance, while 45% of those aged 18-34 approved. In addition to age, Hellwege also highlighted that women tended to less approve of the elected officials compared to men. Play a bigger role in our storytelling. Join us as a partner in telling stories that are important to all South Dakotans with a tax-deductible donation. Donate Rhoden's job approval rating was 43% among women and 65% among men. Thune's job approval rating was 58% among men and 42% among women. Rounds received approval from 61% of men and 50% of women. "This seems to signal something more about those gender and age differences in expectations and approval of elected officials overall rather than specific assessment of the individual officeholders, particularly given that the gender differences hold even for Noem," Hellwege said, pointing out that, for the former governor, her disapproval numbers were high across age and gender categories. Coming Wednesday Wednesday's story will delve into the South Dakota News Watch/Chiesman Center for Democracy poll results on voter sentiment toward a number of topical issues, including recent tax legislation, local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, data centers and the implementation of new voter ID laws. Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
Poll: Most South Dakotans approve of Trump's firing of Noem
Editor's note: If you cite the results of this poll, credit South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy, per copyright law and our republishing policy. PIERRE, S.D. – Roughly 3 in 4 South Dakotans approve of President Donald Trump's decision to sack former Gov. Kristi Noem from her role as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, according to a new poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota. The survey of 500 registered voters across party affiliation conducted April 7-9 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found 76% of respondents agreed with Trump's move, while 59% of South Dakotans disapproved of her performance as head of the DHS. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 4.5%. Noem, who is from the Castlewood/Watertown area, received criticism earlier this year for her handling of protests that broke out against the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during which two Minnesotans were killed. Questions were also raised over DHS contracts that were awarded to individuals connected to her and senior aide Corey Lewandowski. Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters, also pointed out that support for Noem was dropping prior to her role at DHS, citing revelations in her 2024 memoir that she shot and killed her dog because, as she put it, it was "untrainable." "I think she was already starting to slip. Trump gave her a lifeline, and she wasn't able to hold on to the lifeline," Coker said. "Republicans have dogs too. It wasn't something that just offended the left." Julia Hellwege, director of the Chiesman Center and USD associate professor in political science, was not surprised by Noem's approval numbers given, in addition to her being heavily disliked by Democrats, Republicans tend to validate decisions made by President Trump. "This is somewhat expected in the aftermath of her termination, which was praised by both liberal opponents and then of course Trump supporters who would support his decision," Hellwege told News Watch. Majority approve of Rhoden, Rounds job performance Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden, who succeeded Noem last year when she took the DHS post, received a 53% job approval rating in the poll, with 29% disapproving and 18% of respondents being unsure. Rhoden, who is from Union Center and is running to win his job outright, has touted a successful legislative session that saw many of his proposals pass the South Dakota Legislature. "Rhoden's job approval rating is still pretty good for a guy who more or less inherited the job," Coker told News Watch. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds of Pierre, who is also in a race to maintain his seat, received a 55% job approval rating in the poll, with 34% of respondents disapproving and 11% being unsure. Rounds, who served as South Dakota governor from 2003-2011, holds a commanding lead over his GOP primary challenger, Justin McNeal of Rapid City. Thune numbers drop Slightly less than half of respondents approved of U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune's job performance. Thune, who grew up in Murdo and resides in Sioux Falls, received a 49% approval rating, while 39% disapproved and 12% were unsure. When asked whether Thune, who has served as senator since 2005 and majority leader since last year, is committed to South Dakota, 48% of respondents said yes, while 42% said no and 9% were undecided. Both figures are down from the last South Dakota News Watch poll in November last year that found 54% of respondents approving Thune's job performance and commitment to South Dakota. As Thune grows in national prominence due to his status as majority leader, questions have been raised whether he would suffer a similar fate as the man he originally ousted: Democrat Tom Daschle. Daschle, from Aberdeen, rose to become Senate majority leader but along the way was also seen as putting national party politics over the interests of South Dakota. Thune ended up recording a close victory over Daschle in the 2004 U.S. Senate race. A plurality of respondents disapproved of Thune's performance as the Republican's leader in the Senate, with 47% disapproving, 38% approving and 15% not sure, the poll found. Get South Dakota news Subscribe for a free newsletter on weekdays. Cancel any time. We won't share your address. Sign up Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Coker said Thune's lower job approval numbers could be tied to the "Daschle effect" and said that while he doesn't see the Senate majority leader having difficulty in a general election, he might have to worry about someone from within the South Dakota GOP. "He's been sucked into that Washington vortex and paying a price," Coker said. "I don't see him as someone who could be challenged in the general election, but it would be interesting to see if he gets a challenger in the primary." Thune is up for reelection in 2028. Overall trends Hellwege pointed out that while the job approval ratings for Rhoden, Rounds and Thune do not vary greatly by region, there is a clear divide among young and old. While 65% of respondents aged 65 and older approve of Rhoden's performance, only 35% of those aged 18-34 approved. Poll: Johnson, Jackley and Rounds lead in SD GOP primary State House Speaker Jon Hansen, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden are effectively tied for second in gubernatorial race. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat Similarly for Thune, 55% of those surveyed aged 65 or older approved of his performance, but only 38% of those aged 18-34 felt the same way. For Rounds, 67% of those aged 65 and older approve of his performance, while 45% of those aged 18-34 approved. In addition to age, Hellwege also highlighted that women tended to less approve of the elected officials compared to men. Play a bigger role in our storytelling. Join us as a partner in telling stories that are important to all South Dakotans with a tax-deductible donation. Donate Rhoden's job approval rating was 43% among women and 65% among men. Thune's job approval rating was 58% among men and 42% among women. Rounds received approval from 61% of men and 50% of women. "This seems to signal something more about those gender and age differences in expectations and approval of elected officials overall rather than specific assessment of the individual officeholders, particularly given that the gender differences hold even for Noem," Hellwege said, pointing out that, for the former governor, her disapproval numbers were high across age and gender categories. Coming Wednesday Wednesday's story will delve into the South Dakota News Watch/Chiesman Center for Democracy poll results on voter sentiment toward a number of topical issues, including recent tax legislation, local law enforcement cooperation with ICE, data centers and the implementation of new voter ID laws. Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
Poll: Johnson widens lead in SD GOP governor race
Editor's note: If you cite the results of this poll, credit South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy, per copyright law and our republishing policy. PIERRE, S.D. – With seven weeks until the June 2 primary, U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson is close to avoiding a runoff in the race to secure the GOP nomination for governor, according to a new poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota. In the contests for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, state Attorney General Marty Jackley and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds have solid leads over their challengers. The scientific survey of 500 registered Republicans, conducted April 7-11 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found Johnson leading the four-way contest for governor with 34% of likely GOP primary voters supporting his candidacy. The other three candidates are effectively tied for second due to the margin of error being plus-or-minus 4.5%. State House Speaker Jon Hansen, of Dell Rapids, has 18% support from GOP voters, and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden both have 17%. Roughly 14% of those surveyed were undecided. South Dakota Election Voter Guide Everything South Dakota voters need to know about statewide contests in the primary and general elections. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat If no candidate receives at least 35% of the vote on the June 2 ballot, a runoff between the top two finishers will take place July 28. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election. Rhoden's support drops; Hansen surges While Johnson, who grew up in Pierre and lives in Mitchell, saw a 6-point increase from the News Watch/Chiesman poll conducted last October, Rhoden's support fell 10 points. Julia Hellwege, director of the Chiesman Center and USD associate professor in political science, said Rhoden's association with his predecessor, former Gov. Kristi Noem, could be behind the drop in poll numbers. "He has aligned himself closely with Noem. They worked closely together, and he continues to champion her and stand by her," she said. "There's a potential that has been a side effect." Rhoden served as lieutenant governor under Noem and became governor in January 2025 when President Donald Trump made her secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He fired her last month after severe criticism. Hellwege pointed out the poll found that Johnson even leads in West River, a stronghold for Rhoden, who is from Union Center east of Sturgis. Get South Dakota news Subscribe for a free email newsletter on weekdays. Cancel any time. We won't share it. Sign up Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. She said one candidate more than any other has been the main beneficiary of the declining support for the sitting governor. "Anyone shifting from Rhoden is more likely to shift towards Hansen," Hellwege said, noting that Hansen is a state lawmaker, like Rhoden was, who plays up his conservative Christian credentials. Hellwege said in comparing the new poll results with those from last year, a certain pattern can be seen. That includes the surge in support for Hansen and Johnson, a decline in support for Rhoden, a stable level of support for Doeden and a lower number of undecided voters. "My interpretation is many Rhoden voters in the last poll shifted to Hansen voters and the undecideds went to Johnson," Hellwege said. SD governor: Johnson in driver's seat Hellwege highlighted the extent to which the math favors Johnson. "Even if all the undecided voters go to one of those second-place candidates, plus if you factor in the margin of error, they still would barely reach where Johnson is sitting right now," Hellwege said. Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters, also believes Johnson is in a comfortable position. "Johnson is moving into the clear front-runner status," he said. "People know him. People like him, and that's probably why he's ahead right now. Whether he can hold on to that will depend on what the other campaigns – particularly Hansen's – are able to do in the coming weeks," Coker told News Watch, pointing to the poll results that found Johnson has a 47% favorability rating, the highest of any of the candidates. South Dakota News Watch invests in scientific polls to let elected leaders know how constituents think they're doing and also survey people's opinions on important issues. But a good poll isn't cheap, so if you value these stories, please consider helping cover the cost. Thank you! Donate and make these polls possible Coker said Hansen has the best chance to challenge Johnson not only because his candidacy has seen the biggest increase in support but also due to not many people knowing him – yet. "Hansen's name recognition is only 73%. He's still got 27% of the voters who don't know who he is, which I think gives him a much higher ceiling than Doeden and Rhoden," Coker said. "That tells me Hansen is getting some traction." On the flip side, Doeden's 35% unfavorable rating and high name recognition indicate his support has mostly peaked, Coker said. "He has a higher negative rating than positive rating, which tells me he's got a core group behind him, but his growth potential is far more limited, especially since he has 89% name recognition," Coker said. The poll was conducted after the four candidates met in the March 31 KELO-TV debate but before the April 13 SDPB and South Dakota News Watch forum. US House: Jackley has comfortable lead Since Johnson ran for governor, that opened up South Dakota's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In that contest, Jackley – who is from Sturgis and previously served as U.S. attorney for the District of South Dakota – has a comfortable lead toward securing the GOP nomination. According to the poll, he has 68% support from South Dakota Republican voters surveyed, well ahead of challenger James Bialota Jr., who has 12%, with 20% of respondents undecided. "This primary is definitely in Jackley's favor, even if all the undecideds move to Bialota," Hellwege said. The winner will face Democrat Nicole "Nikki" Gronli in the November general election. US Senate: Incumbent Rounds ahead by large margin Rounds – who's from Pierre and was South Dakota's governor from 2003 to 2011 – also enjoys a sizable lead over his challenger. He received 66% support from GOP voters surveyed, compared to 18% for challenger Justin McNeal, with 16% of respondents undecided. "The fact that McNeal, who is vastly outspent by Rounds, is able to get up to 18% is commendable. But at the same time, I don't think there's any expectation that Rounds will not be able to hold on to that seat," Hellwege said. The winner will take on Democrat Julian Beaudion in November. Brian Bengs is also running for Senate as an Independent. Favorability poll results for all governor, House and Senate candidates The News Watch/Chiesman poll also asked Republicans their opinions of the candidates. To see results for each person, click the arrow below and the tab for each section: overall, by gender, age and region where they're from. Coming Tuesday Tuesday's story will focus on South Dakota News Watch/Chiesman Center for Democracy poll results on the job performance rating South Dakotans give Gov. Larry Rhoden, Sen. John Thune and other elected officials. The story also includes voter thoughts on Noem's time as DHS secretary and President Trump's decision to fire her. Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
Poll: Johnson widens lead in SD GOP governor race
Editor's note: If you cite the results of this poll, credit South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy, per copyright law and our republishing policy. PIERRE, S.D. – With seven weeks until the June 2 primary, U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson is close to avoiding a runoff in the race to secure the GOP nomination for governor, according to a new poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota. In the contests for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, state Attorney General Marty Jackley and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds have solid leads over their challengers. The scientific survey of 500 registered Republicans, conducted April 7-11 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found Johnson leading the four-way contest for governor with 34% of likely GOP primary voters supporting his candidacy. The other three candidates are effectively tied for second due to the margin of error being plus-or-minus 4.5%. State House Speaker Jon Hansen, of Dell Rapids, has 18% support from GOP voters, and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden both have 17%. Roughly 14% of those surveyed were undecided. South Dakota Election Voter Guide Everything South Dakota voters need to know about statewide contests in the primary and general elections. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat If no candidate receives at least 35% of the vote on the June 2 ballot, a runoff between the top two finishers will take place July 28. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election. Rhoden's support drops; Hansen surges While Johnson, who grew up in Pierre and lives in Mitchell, saw a 6-point increase from the News Watch/Chiesman poll conducted last October, Rhoden's support fell 10 points. Julia Hellwege, director of the Chiesman Center and USD associate professor in political science, said Rhoden's association with his predecessor, former Gov. Kristi Noem, could be behind the drop in poll numbers. "He has aligned himself closely with Noem. They worked closely together, and he continues to champion her and stand by her," she said. "There's a potential that has been a side effect." Rhoden served as lieutenant governor under Noem and became governor in January 2025 when President Donald Trump made her secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He fired her last month after severe criticism. Hellwege pointed out the poll found that Johnson even leads in West River, a stronghold for Rhoden, who is from Union Center east of Sturgis. Get South Dakota news Subscribe for a free email newsletter on weekdays. Cancel any time. We won't share it. Sign up Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. She said one candidate more than any other has been the main beneficiary of the declining support for the sitting governor. "Anyone shifting from Rhoden is more likely to shift towards Hansen," Hellwege said, noting that Hansen is a state lawmaker, like Rhoden was, who plays up his conservative Christian credentials. Hellwege said in comparing the new poll results with those from last year, a certain pattern can be seen. That includes the surge in support for Hansen and Johnson, a decline in support for Rhoden, a stable level of support for Doeden and a lower number of undecided voters. "My interpretation is many Rhoden voters in the last poll shifted to Hansen voters and the undecideds went to Johnson," Hellwege said. SD governor: Johnson in driver's seat Hellwege highlighted the extent to which the math favors Johnson. "Even if all the undecided voters go to one of those second-place candidates, plus if you factor in the margin of error, they still would barely reach where Johnson is sitting right now," Hellwege said. Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters, also believes Johnson is in a comfortable position. "Johnson is moving into the clear front-runner status," he said. "People know him. People like him, and that's probably why he's ahead right now. Whether he can hold on to that will depend on what the other campaigns – particularly Hansen's – are able to do in the coming weeks," Coker told News Watch, pointing to the poll results that found Johnson has a 47% favorability rating, the highest of any of the candidates. South Dakota News Watch invests in scientific polls to let elected leaders know how constituents think they're doing and also survey people's opinions on important issues. But a good poll isn't cheap, so if you value these stories, please consider helping cover the cost. Thank you! Donate and make these polls possible Coker said Hansen has the best chance to challenge Johnson not only because his candidacy has seen the biggest increase in support but also due to not many people knowing him – yet. "Hansen's name recognition is only 73%. He's still got 27% of the voters who don't know who he is, which I think gives him a much higher ceiling than Doeden and Rhoden," Coker said. "That tells me Hansen is getting some traction." On the flip side, Doeden's 35% unfavorable rating and high name recognition indicate his support has mostly peaked, Coker said. "He has a higher negative rating than positive rating, which tells me he's got a core group behind him, but his growth potential is far more limited, especially since he has 89% name recognition," Coker said. The poll was conducted after the four candidates met in the March 31 KELO-TV debate but before the April 13 SDPB and South Dakota News Watch forum. US House: Jackley has comfortable lead Since Johnson ran for governor, that opened up South Dakota's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In that contest, Jackley – who is from Sturgis and previously served as U.S. attorney for the District of South Dakota – has a comfortable lead toward securing the GOP nomination. According to the poll, he has 68% support from South Dakota Republican voters surveyed, well ahead of challenger James Bialota Jr., who has 12%, with 20% of respondents undecided. "This primary is definitely in Jackley's favor, even if all the undecideds move to Bialota," Hellwege said. The winner will face Democrat Nicole "Nikki" Gronli in the November general election. US Senate: Incumbent Rounds ahead by large margin Rounds – who's from Pierre and was South Dakota's governor from 2003 to 2011 – also enjoys a sizable lead over his challenger. He received 66% support from GOP voters surveyed, compared to 18% for challenger Justin McNeal, with 16% of respondents undecided. "The fact that McNeal, who is vastly outspent by Rounds, is able to get up to 18% is commendable. But at the same time, I don't think there's any expectation that Rounds will not be able to hold on to that seat," Hellwege said. The winner will take on Democrat Julian Beaudion in November. Brian Bengs is also running for Senate as an Independent. Favorability poll results for all governor, House and Senate candidates The News Watch/Chiesman poll also asked Republicans their opinions of the candidates. To see results for each person, click the arrow below and the tab for each section: overall, by gender, age and region where they're from. Coming Tuesday Tuesday's story will focus on South Dakota News Watch/Chiesman Center for Democracy poll results on the job performance rating South Dakotans give Gov. Larry Rhoden, Sen. John Thune and other elected officials. The story also includes voter thoughts on Noem's time as DHS secretary and President Trump's decision to fire her. Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
Poll: Johnson widens lead in SD GOP governor race
Editor's note: If you cite the results of this poll, credit South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy, per copyright law and our republishing policy. PIERRE, S.D. – With seven weeks until the June 2 primary, U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson is close to avoiding a runoff in the race to secure the GOP nomination for governor, according to a new poll sponsored by South Dakota News Watch and the Chiesman Center for Democracy at the University of South Dakota. In the contests for U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, state Attorney General Marty Jackley and U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds have solid leads over their challengers. The scientific survey of 500 registered Republicans, conducted April 7-11 by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, found Johnson leading the four-way contest for governor with 34% of likely GOP primary voters supporting his candidacy. The other three candidates are effectively tied for second due to the margin of error being plus-or-minus 4.5%. State House Speaker Jon Hansen, of Dell Rapids, has 18% support from GOP voters, and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden both have 17%. Roughly 14% of those surveyed were undecided. South Dakota Election Voter Guide Everything South Dakota voters need to know about statewide contests in the primary and general elections. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat If no candidate receives at least 35% of the vote on the June 2 ballot, a runoff between the top two finishers will take place July 28. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election. Rhoden's support drops; Hansen surges While Johnson, who grew up in Pierre and lives in Mitchell, saw a 6-point increase from the News Watch/Chiesman poll conducted last October, Rhoden's support fell 10 points. Julia Hellwege, director of the Chiesman Center and USD associate professor in political science, said Rhoden's association with his predecessor, former Gov. Kristi Noem, could be behind the drop in poll numbers. "He has aligned himself closely with Noem. They worked closely together, and he continues to champion her and stand by her," she said. "There's a potential that has been a side effect." Rhoden served as lieutenant governor under Noem and became governor in January 2025 when President Donald Trump made her secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He fired her last month after severe criticism. Hellwege pointed out the poll found that Johnson even leads in West River, a stronghold for Rhoden, who is from Union Center east of Sturgis. Get South Dakota news Subscribe for a free email newsletter on weekdays. Cancel any time. We won't share it. Sign up Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. She said one candidate more than any other has been the main beneficiary of the declining support for the sitting governor. "Anyone shifting from Rhoden is more likely to shift towards Hansen," Hellwege said, noting that Hansen is a state lawmaker, like Rhoden was, who plays up his conservative Christian credentials. Hellwege said in comparing the new poll results with those from last year, a certain pattern can be seen. That includes the surge in support for Hansen and Johnson, a decline in support for Rhoden, a stable level of support for Doeden and a lower number of undecided voters. "My interpretation is many Rhoden voters in the last poll shifted to Hansen voters and the undecideds went to Johnson," Hellwege said. SD governor: Johnson in driver's seat Hellwege highlighted the extent to which the math favors Johnson. "Even if all the undecided voters go to one of those second-place candidates, plus if you factor in the margin of error, they still would barely reach where Johnson is sitting right now," Hellwege said. Brad Coker, founder of Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy, ranked as one of the least-biased and most-factual pollsters, also believes Johnson is in a comfortable position. "Johnson is moving into the clear front-runner status," he said. "People know him. People like him, and that's probably why he's ahead right now. Whether he can hold on to that will depend on what the other campaigns – particularly Hansen's – are able to do in the coming weeks," Coker told News Watch, pointing to the poll results that found Johnson has a 47% favorability rating, the highest of any of the candidates. South Dakota News Watch invests in scientific polls to let elected leaders know how constituents think they're doing and also survey people's opinions on important issues. But a good poll isn't cheap, so if you value these stories, please consider helping cover the cost. Thank you! Donate and make these polls possible Coker said Hansen has the best chance to challenge Johnson not only because his candidacy has seen the biggest increase in support but also due to not many people knowing him – yet. "Hansen's name recognition is only 73%. He's still got 27% of the voters who don't know who he is, which I think gives him a much higher ceiling than Doeden and Rhoden," Coker said. "That tells me Hansen is getting some traction." On the flip side, Doeden's 35% unfavorable rating and high name recognition indicate his support has mostly peaked, Coker said. "He has a higher negative rating than positive rating, which tells me he's got a core group behind him, but his growth potential is far more limited, especially since he has 89% name recognition," Coker said. The poll was conducted after the four candidates met in the March 31 KELO-TV debate but before the April 13 SDPB and South Dakota News Watch forum. US House: Jackley has comfortable lead Since Johnson ran for governor, that opened up South Dakota's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. In that contest, Jackley – who is from Sturgis and previously served as U.S. attorney for the District of South Dakota – has a comfortable lead toward securing the GOP nomination. According to the poll, he has 68% support from South Dakota Republican voters surveyed, well ahead of challenger James Bialota Jr., who has 12%, with 20% of respondents undecided. "This primary is definitely in Jackley's favor, even if all the undecideds move to Bialota," Hellwege said. The winner will face Democrat Nicole "Nikki" Gronli in the November general election. US Senate: Incumbent Rounds ahead by large margin Rounds – who's from Pierre and was South Dakota's governor from 2003 to 2011 – also enjoys a sizable lead over his challenger. He received 66% support from GOP voters surveyed, compared to 18% for challenger Justin McNeal, with 16% of respondents undecided. "The fact that McNeal, who is vastly outspent by Rounds, is able to get up to 18% is commendable. But at the same time, I don't think there's any expectation that Rounds will not be able to hold on to that seat," Hellwege said. The winner will take on Democrat Julian Beaudion in November. Brian Bengs is also running for Senate as an Independent. Favorability poll results for all governor, House and Senate candidates The News Watch/Chiesman poll also asked Republicans their opinions of the candidates. To see results for each person, click the arrow below and the tab for each section: overall, by gender, age and region where they're from. Coming Tuesday Tuesday's story will focus on South Dakota News Watch/Chiesman Center for Democracy poll results on the job performance rating South Dakotans give Gov. Larry Rhoden, Sen. John Thune and other elected officials. The story also includes voter thoughts on Noem's time as DHS secretary and President Trump's decision to fire her. Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
GOP governor debate: Key takeaways and voter reaction
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The four candidates vying for the Republican nomination for South Dakota governor met for a second time Monday in a relatively well-tempered debate in Sioux Falls. The debate, co-moderated by South Dakota Public Broadcasting and South Dakota News Watch, saw little in terms of major clashes, with the candidates instead mostly focusing on staking out their policy positions and seeking to differentiate themselves in a crowded field. Key moments from the first GOP gubernatorial debate News Watch takes a look at the top takeaways from the first GOP gubernatorial debate. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat Gov. Larry Rhoden, who replaced former Gov. Kristi Noem in January 2025 after her appointment as secretary for Homeland Security, argued recent legislative accomplishments showed he should be given his own mandate to keep his job while U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson, state House Speaker Jon Hansen and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden offered their own visions for running the Mount Rushmore state. If no candidate receives at least 35% of the vote on the June 2 ballot, a runoff between the top two finishers will take place July 28. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election. Key takeaways Here are some key takeaways from the debate: Johnson announced a plan to appoint a state surgeon general that would, among other things, assist in the managing of the state's Medicaid program in an effort to combat rising maternal and infant mortality rates. "We don't do a very good job of managing the Medicaid program today," he said. "We're going to get our arms around this." Hansen pledged to break up the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "I believe the South Dakota Department of Agriculture deserves its own department away from the people in the Department of Natural Resources," Hansen said. The two departments merged as a result of an executive order Noem issued in 2021. Doeden reiterated his plan to phase out property taxes completely, saying he will fill the budget hole by implementing policies that boost economic development, bringing in "external revenue sources" and cutting discretionary spending. He didn't specify the sources of revenue. "We don't need new taxes, we don't need higher taxes, we need more tax revenue," Doeden said. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and First Lady Sandy Rhoden speak with attendees ahead of GOP gubernatorial debate on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the SDPB studios in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Jon Beringer / for South Dakota News Watch) Similar to the first debate, Johnson and Rhoden clashed over the recently enacted property tax bills, which Johnson said has led to the largest sales tax increase in state history. Rhoden pointed out that one of the bills, which takes the planned 0.3% increase in the state sales tax next year to create a property tax relief fund for homeowners, was similar to Johnson's own proposal. "This rhetoric about sales tax. That's baloney," Rhoden said. "Congressman Johnson was going to use the exact same dollars for his property tax plan." On education, Hansen reiterated his support for creating publicly funded education grants for students regardless if they go to public school, private school or are home schooled. "I want to put parents in the driver's seat. I think parents know best," Hansen said. Each candidate sought to solidify their anti-abortion credentials when asked about their thoughts on whether the pro-life movement had achieved its objectives in South Dakota. Hansen cited his efforts in defeating Amendment G, a 2024 proposal to establish the right to an abortion in South Dakota. Rhoden touted recent legislation that makes it a felony to advertise, distribute or sell abortion pills. Doeden said raising living standards would help deter abortions, while Johnson said greater investments in K-12 education would also be a deterrent. Hansen beats expectations Two political observers who talked to News Watch said that while the candidates appeared to only have minor policy differences, one candidate did outperform the rest on the night. "In terms of a winner, in a political debate it is usually the candidate that exceeds expectations," said Emily Wanless of Augustana University in Sioux Falls. "Rep. Jon Hansen met and exceeded my expectations." South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen prepares for a debate on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the SDPB studios in downtown Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Photo: Jon Beringer / for South Dakota News Watch) Hansen exuded a stronger leadership presence, while Rhoden appeared the weakest of the candidates on the debate stage, said Wanless, an associate professor of government and international affairs. "A lot of his answers lacked specific substance," Wanless said of Rhoden. "As someone trying to distinguish themselves as an incumbent governor, Rhoden is really struggling to separate himself from former Gov. Noem." Sign up for our free, daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox. Subscribe Robert Burns of South Dakota State University echoed Wanless' sentiments that Hansen came out the biggest beneficiary of the debate while Rhoden struggled. "If you just paid attention to the optics of the debate, I really think Jon Hansen stood out," Burns said. "On the other end, I think Gov. Rhoden stumbled more." The debate made it clear which wing of the Republican party each candidate represents, with Rhoden leaning on his role as the incumbent, Doeden cementing his status as the outsider, Hansen leading the Christian conservative faction and Johnson solidifying his position as the moderate voice, said Burns, distinguished professor emeritus of political science. Impact of 'insider vs. outsider' dynamic Wanless said Johnson might need to tread carefully as he takes positions that appeal to a large swathe of the electorate but might not be to the core of GOP voters he needs to make it past the primary. South Dakota U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson prepares for the GOP gubernatorial debate on April 13, 2026, at the SDPB studious in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Photo: Jon Beringer / for South Dakota News Watch) "We have to remember who the target audience is for this debate: the Republican primary voter," she said. "It will be interesting to see how the property tax discussion goes because I think for Rep. Johnson to claim this affects more South Dakotans when you raise the sales tax, you're speaking to a demographic of voters that aren't going to be able to participate in the Republican primary." South Dakota's Republican Party operates a closed primary system, meaning only registered party members can vote in the June 2 primary. Partner with South Dakota News Watch and support fact-based news and information. Donate While she believes Hansen stood out in the debate, Wanless noted the emerging "insider vs. outsider" dynamic taking place in the gubernatorial race could potentially favor Johnson and Rhoden. "I think Doeden is a true outsider. He doesn't have that political experience to date, but Rep. Johnson is also an outsider because he's outside of state politics so he gets to play the outsider card but still have that name recognition," Wanless said. Businessman Toby Doeden prepares for the South Dakota GOP gubernatorial debate on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the SDPB studious in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Photo: Jon Beringer / South Dakota News Watch) "On the insider front, I think Hansen is ultimately going to struggle because both he and Rhoden are seen as the insider candidates and the status quo in South Dakota politics, but Rhoden has the name recognition that Hansen does not." Voter voices South Dakota News Watch also spoke to a couple of Republicans to get their thoughts on the debate. DeVries: Pro-life stances encouraging, with more work to be done Heather DeVries is 42 years old, from Madison and describes herself as "active in both local and state politics." She said that she was encouraged, and in some cases, pleasantly surprised by candidates' responses to whether continuing pro-life legislation would be a priority. DeVries said she hopes that the candidates can commit to specific plans that the entire party can agree on, without "infighting." Heather DeVries, a Republican voter from Madison, S.D. (Photo: Heather DeVries) DeVries also said she hopes that the candidates consider working with non-governmental entities to support programming for maternal and infant health across the state. She called the debate "heated yet informative" and said that "while many claim to be pro-life on abortion, significant work still remains." "It takes a village to heal society, and that healing cannot begin until every life is cherished and protected under the law," DeVries said. "I hope the future governor will take all of that into consideration." Schomp: Some voters feel 'left behind' by candidates Judd Schomp is a 49-year-old rancher from Martin. He is the chair of the Bennett County GOP and has served on the Bennett County Commission. Schomp told News Watch that he is concerned about whether the candidates are truly listening to voters’ concerns about divides within the party, which are worse than ever. In rural Bennett County and other areas across the state, some of the values they hold are starkly different to those of the candidates, and that they often feel “left behind” by the Republican Party, he said. Judd Schomp, chair of the Bennett County GOP. (Photo: Judd Schomp) Schomp said that he was not satisfied with any of the candidates’ responses to a question about how they will unify the Republican Party. He said he had issues with the candidates’ focus on attempting to create unity in the state Legislature and federal government rather than with South Dakotan voters. “Us voters remain small, divided and unheard,” Schomp said. “What I did not hear (during the debate) was, ‘South Dakota is the greatest state in the nation, and we’ve achieved that status because of the people here in South Dakota.’” 2026 Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Debate SDPB News presents the 2026 South Dakota Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Debate. SDPB South Dakota Public BroadcastingSDPB Staff and SDPB News Staff Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org. Contact reporter/Report for America corps member Molly Wetsch: 605-531-7382/molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org.
GOP governor debate: Key takeaways and voter reaction
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The four candidates vying for the Republican nomination for South Dakota governor met for a second time Monday in a relatively well-tempered debate in Sioux Falls. The debate, co-moderated by South Dakota Public Broadcasting and South Dakota News Watch, saw little in terms of major clashes, with the candidates instead mostly focusing on staking out their policy positions and seeking to differentiate themselves in a crowded field. Key moments from the first GOP gubernatorial debate News Watch takes a look at the top takeaways from the first GOP gubernatorial debate. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat Gov. Larry Rhoden, who replaced former Gov. Kristi Noem in January 2025 after her appointment as secretary for Homeland Security, argued recent legislative accomplishments showed he should be given his own mandate to keep his job while U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson, state House Speaker Jon Hansen and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden offered their own visions for running the Mount Rushmore state. If no candidate receives at least 35% of the vote on the June 2 ballot, a runoff between the top two finishers will take place July 28. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the Nov. 3 general election. Key takeaways Here are some key takeaways from the debate: Johnson announced a plan to appoint a state surgeon general that would, among other things, assist in the managing of the state's Medicaid program in an effort to combat rising maternal and infant mortality rates. "We don't do a very good job of managing the Medicaid program today," he said. "We're going to get our arms around this." Hansen pledged to break up the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "I believe the South Dakota Department of Agriculture deserves its own department away from the people in the Department of Natural Resources," Hansen said. The two departments merged as a result of an executive order Noem issued in 2021. Doeden reiterated his plan to phase out property taxes completely, saying he will fill the budget hole by implementing policies that boost economic development, bringing in "external revenue sources" and cutting discretionary spending. He didn't specify the sources of revenue. "We don't need new taxes, we don't need higher taxes, we need more tax revenue," Doeden said. South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and First Lady Sandy Rhoden speak with attendees ahead of GOP gubernatorial debate on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the SDPB studios in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Jon Beringer / for South Dakota News Watch) Similar to the first debate, Johnson and Rhoden clashed over the recently enacted property tax bills, which Johnson said has led to the largest sales tax increase in state history. Rhoden pointed out that one of the bills, which takes the planned 0.3% increase in the state sales tax next year to create a property tax relief fund for homeowners, was similar to Johnson's own proposal. "This rhetoric about sales tax. That's baloney," Rhoden said. "Congressman Johnson was going to use the exact same dollars for his property tax plan." On education, Hansen reiterated his support for creating publicly funded education grants for students regardless if they go to public school, private school or are home schooled. "I want to put parents in the driver's seat. I think parents know best," Hansen said. Each candidate sought to solidify their anti-abortion credentials when asked about their thoughts on whether the pro-life movement had achieved its objectives in South Dakota. Hansen cited his efforts in defeating Amendment G, a 2024 proposal to establish the right to an abortion in South Dakota. Rhoden touted recent legislation that makes it a felony to advertise, distribute or sell abortion pills. Doeden said raising living standards would help deter abortions, while Johnson said greater investments in K-12 education would also be a deterrent. Hansen beats expectations Two political observers who talked to News Watch said that while the candidates appeared to only have minor policy differences, one candidate did outperform the rest on the night. "In terms of a winner, in a political debate it is usually the candidate that exceeds expectations," said Emily Wanless of Augustana University in Sioux Falls. "Rep. Jon Hansen met and exceeded my expectations." South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen prepares for a debate on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the SDPB studios in downtown Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Photo: Jon Beringer / for South Dakota News Watch) Hansen exuded a stronger leadership presence, while Rhoden appeared the weakest of the candidates on the debate stage, said Wanless, an associate professor of government and international affairs. "A lot of his answers lacked specific substance," Wanless said of Rhoden. "As someone trying to distinguish themselves as an incumbent governor, Rhoden is really struggling to separate himself from former Gov. Noem." Sign up for our free, daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox. Subscribe Robert Burns of South Dakota State University echoed Wanless' sentiments that Hansen came out the biggest beneficiary of the debate while Rhoden struggled. "If you just paid attention to the optics of the debate, I really think Jon Hansen stood out," Burns said. "On the other end, I think Gov. Rhoden stumbled more." The debate made it clear which wing of the Republican party each candidate represents, with Rhoden leaning on his role as the incumbent, Doeden cementing his status as the outsider, Hansen leading the Christian conservative faction and Johnson solidifying his position as the moderate voice, said Burns, distinguished professor emeritus of political science. Impact of 'insider vs. outsider' dynamic Wanless said Johnson might need to tread carefully as he takes positions that appeal to a large swathe of the electorate but might not be to the core of GOP voters he needs to make it past the primary. South Dakota U.S. House Rep. Dusty Johnson prepares for the GOP gubernatorial debate on April 13, 2026, at the SDPB studious in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Photo: Jon Beringer / for South Dakota News Watch) "We have to remember who the target audience is for this debate: the Republican primary voter," she said. "It will be interesting to see how the property tax discussion goes because I think for Rep. Johnson to claim this affects more South Dakotans when you raise the sales tax, you're speaking to a demographic of voters that aren't going to be able to participate in the Republican primary." South Dakota's Republican Party operates a closed primary system, meaning only registered party members can vote in the June 2 primary. Partner with South Dakota News Watch and support fact-based news and information. Donate While she believes Hansen stood out in the debate, Wanless noted the emerging "insider vs. outsider" dynamic taking place in the gubernatorial race could potentially favor Johnson and Rhoden. "I think Doeden is a true outsider. He doesn't have that political experience to date, but Rep. Johnson is also an outsider because he's outside of state politics so he gets to play the outsider card but still have that name recognition," Wanless said. Businessman Toby Doeden prepares for the South Dakota GOP gubernatorial debate on Monday, April 13, 2026, at the SDPB studious in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Photo: Photo: Jon Beringer / South Dakota News Watch) "On the insider front, I think Hansen is ultimately going to struggle because both he and Rhoden are seen as the insider candidates and the status quo in South Dakota politics, but Rhoden has the name recognition that Hansen does not." Voter voices South Dakota News Watch also spoke to a couple of Republicans to get their thoughts on the debate. DeVries: Pro-life stances encouraging, with more work to be done Heather DeVries is 42 years old, from Madison and describes herself as "active in both local and state politics." She said that she was encouraged, and in some cases, pleasantly surprised by candidates' responses to whether continuing pro-life legislation would be a priority. DeVries said she hopes that the candidates can commit to specific plans that the entire party can agree on, without "infighting." Heather DeVries, a Republican voter from Madison, S.D. (Photo: Heather DeVries) DeVries also said she hopes that the candidates consider working with non-governmental entities to support programming for maternal and infant health across the state. She called the debate "heated yet informative" and said that "while many claim to be pro-life on abortion, significant work still remains." "It takes a village to heal society, and that healing cannot begin until every life is cherished and protected under the law," DeVries said. "I hope the future governor will take all of that into consideration." Schomp: Some voters feel 'left behind' by candidates Judd Schomp is a 49-year-old rancher from Martin. He is the chair of the Bennett County GOP and has served on the Bennett County Commission. Schomp told News Watch that he is concerned about whether the candidates are truly listening to voters’ concerns about divides within the party, which are worse than ever. In rural Bennett County and other areas across the state, some of the values they hold are starkly different to those of the candidates, and that they often feel “left behind” by the Republican Party, he said. Judd Schomp, chair of the Bennett County GOP. (Photo: Judd Schomp) Schomp said that he was not satisfied with any of the candidates’ responses to a question about how they will unify the Republican Party. He said he had issues with the candidates’ focus on attempting to create unity in the state Legislature and federal government rather than with South Dakotan voters. “Us voters remain small, divided and unheard,” Schomp said. “What I did not hear (during the debate) was, ‘South Dakota is the greatest state in the nation, and we’ve achieved that status because of the people here in South Dakota.’” 2026 Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Debate SDPB News presents the 2026 South Dakota Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Debate. SDPB South Dakota Public BroadcastingSDPB Staff and SDPB News Staff Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org. Contact reporter/Report for America corps member Molly Wetsch: 605-531-7382/molly.wetsch@sdnewswatch.org.
Primary season enters next phase in South Dakota
PIERRE, S.D. – The field is set for the 2026 South Dakota Primary Election on June 2 for state legislative races as well as governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Since Democrats had only one nominee qualify for each of the three statewide primary contests, those candidates are automatically that party's nominee for the Nov. 3 general election and will not appear on the June ballot. What questions do you have for the GOP governor candidates? The next Republican governor's debate is Monday, April 13. It will be streamed and air live on SDPB at 8 p.m. CT and will be co-moderated by South Dakota News Watch. Send questions you have for the candidates to alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org or text 605-736-4396. While the deadline for candidates to submit the required signatures was March 31, it typically takes state election workers several days to verify their veracity. Challenges to a candidate's signatures must be filed by 5 p.m. today, Friday, April 10. Here is a rundown of the June 2 primary election races. Statewide, legislative, local offices Governor: Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, state House Speaker Jon Hansen, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Gov. Larry Rhoden all qualified for the GOP primary contest after collecting the required 2,171 signatures. Now each candidate will hope they get 35% of the vote and avoid a runoff election eight weeks later. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives: Since Johnson has declined to seek reelection for Congress to run for governor, the state's only congressional seat is open. Attorney General Marty Jackley is being challenged by James Bialota Jr. for the GOP nomination and the chance to face off against Democrat Nicole "Nikki" Gronli in November. U.S. Senate: Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds is being challenged by Justin McNeal on the GOP primary ballot. The winner of that contest will take on Democrat Julian Beaudion in the general election. South Dakota Election Voter Guide Everything South Dakota voters need to know about statewide contests in the primary and general elections. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat Legislature, county and local races: In addition to statewide offices, hundreds of other candidates qualified for legislative and county and local races, including county treasurer, auditor, finance officer, sheriff, register of deeds, coroner and county commissioner as well as school board, mayor, city council and others. That full list is available on the Secretary of State's website. Voter portal: Find out if you're registered to vote and which legislative district you live in through the Voter Information Portal. Constitutional and statutory offices While voters elect candidates for governor in the primary election, political parties choose other state executive candidates at conventions. Here are the constitutional and statutory offices that have elections in 2026: lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, treasurer, commissioner of School and Public Lands and Public Utilities Commission. The South Dakota Democratic Party holds its convention June 6 in Sioux Falls. The Republican party's convention is June 25-27 in Rapid City. Temperature check: Republican Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre, majority leader of the state Senate, expects comfortable wins for Jackley and Rounds in their respective primary races. He thinks the gubernatorial contest could come down to either Johnson or Rhoden, pouring skepticism on a poll released last month that showed Doeden ahead of the current governor. "I don't think it will hold water in the long term," Mehlhaff told News Watch. "It doesn't mean Toby Doeden isn't running a hard race, I just don't think he's there yet." Sign up for our free, daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox. Subscribe In terms of the state legislative races, Mehlhaff, who faces two primary challengers for his seat in District 24, said a theme he has noticed this election cycle is several incumbent state senators who lost their seat in 2024 are attempting to make a comeback. That includes former Sen. Jean Hunhoff of Yankton challenging current Sen. Lauren Nelson for the GOP nomination in District 18. Hunhoff lost to Nelson by fewer than 100 votes in the 2024 Republican primary. Other examples Mehlhaff cited include former Sen. Erin Tobin, who is looking to take back District 21 from Sen. Mykala Voita, and District 3, where there will be a rematch between Katherine "Katie" Washnok and Sen. Carl Perry. Melhalff said the 2024 primary results could have been impacted by the lack of competitive statewide races, something that isn't the case this year with the high-profile contests, including statewide races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. "There was no big draw to drive turnout, and this time obviously there is, so I think we are going to see a much bigger turnout," Melhaff said. "It will be interesting to see how that affects all those rematches." Temperature check: Democrat On the Democratic side, Rep. Erik Muckey of Sioux Falls praised his party's nominees for statewide office and believes, with Republicans set to be engaged in a number of vicious primary battles, his party could give the GOP a run for its money in the general election. "Above all, they each possess something South Dakotans value: ability to cast a vision for the future and focus on the state above partisanship. That's something we sorely lack right now as a state," Muckey told News Watch in a text message. This newsletter and all our stories are free because we believe that essential, fact-based information should be available to everyone, not just those who can pay for it. If you can afford it, please consider joining others and becoming a supporter. Thank you. Donate In addition to laying out their plan to address issues pertinent to South Dakota, Muckey said Democrats across the state will highlight growing public disapproval of President Donald Trump's performance, including his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and the war against Iran. "Republican leadership locally and nationally consistently places party above state and country. It's time for South Dakotans to be prioritized over politics, and our candidates will bring the message and the actions to back it up," he said. Correction: this story was updated April 10, 2026 to correct the party affiliation of former Sen. Erin Tobin and the description of Katherine "Katie" Washnok. Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.
Primary season enters next phase in South Dakota
PIERRE, S.D. – The field is set for the 2026 South Dakota Primary Election on June 2 for state legislative races as well as governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. Since Democrats had only one nominee qualify for each of the three statewide primary contests, those candidates are automatically that party's nominee for the Nov. 3 general election and will not appear on the June ballot. What questions do you have for the GOP governor candidates? The next Republican governor's debate is Monday, April 13. It will be streamed and air live on SDPB at 8 p.m. CT and will be co-moderated by South Dakota News Watch. Send questions you have for the candidates to alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org or text 605-736-4396. While the deadline for candidates to submit the required signatures was March 31, it typically takes state election workers several days to verify their veracity. Challenges to a candidate's signatures must be filed by 5 p.m. today, Friday, April 10. Here is a rundown of the June 2 primary election races. Statewide, legislative, local offices Governor: Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, state House Speaker Jon Hansen, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and Gov. Larry Rhoden all qualified for the GOP primary contest after collecting the required 2,171 signatures. Now each candidate will hope they get 35% of the vote and avoid a runoff election eight weeks later. The winner of the contest will meet Democrat Dan Ahlers in the general election. U.S. House of Representatives: Since Johnson has declined to seek reelection for Congress to run for governor, the state's only congressional seat is open. Attorney General Marty Jackley is being challenged by James Bialota Jr. for the GOP nomination and the chance to face off against Democrat Nicole "Nikki" Gronli in November. U.S. Senate: Incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds is being challenged by Justin McNeal on the GOP primary ballot. The winner of that contest will take on Democrat Julian Beaudion in the general election. South Dakota Election Voter Guide Everything South Dakota voters need to know about statewide contests in the primary and general elections. South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat Legislature, county and local races: In addition to statewide offices, hundreds of other candidates qualified for legislative and county and local races, including county treasurer, auditor, finance officer, sheriff, register of deeds, coroner and county commissioner as well as school board, mayor, city council and others. That full list is available on the Secretary of State's website. Voter portal: Find out if you're registered to vote and which legislative district you live in through the Voter Information Portal. Constitutional and statutory offices While voters elect candidates for governor in the primary election, political parties choose other state executive candidates at conventions. Here are the constitutional and statutory offices that have elections in 2026: lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor, secretary of state, treasurer, commissioner of School and Public Lands and Public Utilities Commission. The South Dakota Democratic Party holds its convention June 6 in Sioux Falls. The Republican party's convention is June 25-27 in Rapid City. Temperature check: Republican Republican Sen. Jim Mehlhaff of Pierre, majority leader of the state Senate, expects comfortable wins for Jackley and Rounds in their respective primary races. He thinks the gubernatorial contest could come down to either Johnson or Rhoden, pouring skepticism on a poll released last month that showed Doeden ahead of the current governor. "I don't think it will hold water in the long term," Mehlhaff told News Watch. "It doesn't mean Toby Doeden isn't running a hard race, I just don't think he's there yet." Sign up for our free, daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox. Subscribe In terms of the state legislative races, Mehlhaff, who faces two primary challengers for his seat in District 24, said a theme he has noticed this election cycle is several incumbent state senators who lost their seat in 2024 are attempting to make a comeback. That includes former Sen. Jean Hunhoff of Yankton challenging current Sen. Lauren Nelson for the GOP nomination in District 18. Hunhoff lost to Nelson by fewer than 100 votes in the 2024 Republican primary. Other examples Mehlhaff cited include former Sen. Erin Tobin, who is looking to take back District 21 from Sen. Mykala Voita, and District 3, where there will be a rematch between Katherine "Katie" Washnok and Sen. Carl Perry. Melhalff said the 2024 primary results could have been impacted by the lack of competitive statewide races, something that isn't the case this year with the high-profile contests, including statewide races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate. "There was no big draw to drive turnout, and this time obviously there is, so I think we are going to see a much bigger turnout," Melhaff said. "It will be interesting to see how that affects all those rematches." Temperature check: Democrat On the Democratic side, Rep. Erik Muckey of Sioux Falls praised his party's nominees for statewide office and believes, with Republicans set to be engaged in a number of vicious primary battles, his party could give the GOP a run for its money in the general election. "Above all, they each possess something South Dakotans value: ability to cast a vision for the future and focus on the state above partisanship. That's something we sorely lack right now as a state," Muckey told News Watch in a text message. This newsletter and all our stories are free because we believe that essential, fact-based information should be available to everyone, not just those who can pay for it. If you can afford it, please consider joining others and becoming a supporter. Thank you. Donate In addition to laying out their plan to address issues pertinent to South Dakota, Muckey said Democrats across the state will highlight growing public disapproval of President Donald Trump's performance, including his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and the war against Iran. "Republican leadership locally and nationally consistently places party above state and country. It's time for South Dakotans to be prioritized over politics, and our candidates will bring the message and the actions to back it up," he said. Correction: this story was updated April 10, 2026 to correct the party affiliation of former Sen. Erin Tobin and the description of Katherine "Katie" Washnok. Share your thoughts on this story South Dakota News Watch is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at sdnewswatch.org. Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat: 605-736-4396/alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org.