Larry Rhoden
2025 - Present
2027
0
Larry Rhoden (Republican Party) is the Governor of South Dakota. He assumed office on January 25, 2025. His current term ends on January 4, 2027.
Rhoden (Republican Party) ran for re-election for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Rhoden assumed office as governor when the U.S. Senate confirmed former governor Kristi Noem (R) as the secretary of homeland security in the second Donald Trump (R) administration. During his first gubernatorial address to the state legislature, Rhoden said he would focus on bringing "a collaborative and civility-minded style to the governor’s office" and would reset relations between the executive branch, the legislature, the state's nine Native American tribes, and the press.[1] On March 25, 2025, Rhoden signed 20 election bills into law.[2] Click here to view all enacted election-related bills in South Dakota in 2025.
Rhoden was born in 1959 in Sturgis, South Dakota. Following his graduation from high school at Sunshine Bible Academy in 1977, Rhoden joined the South Dakota National Guard, serving for six years. Rhoden's work experience included welding and operating a ranch.[3][4][5]
Before joining the executive branch, Rhoden served as a state legislator. He was first elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2000 and served until 2009, when he was term limited. While a member of the House, Rhoden served as state House majority leader from 2005 to 2008.[6] Rhoden was elected to the South Dakota State Senate in 2008, serving until 2015. He was elected again to the state House in 2016 and served until 2019.[4]
According to KELOLAND's Bob Mercer, Rhoden "was prime sponsor of 64 bills, and 43 became law. ... Among the topics that Rhoden ... most often addressed as a legislator were public school funding and agricultural property taxes. He also sponsored legislation exempting firearms from federal regulation, loosening state requirements for pistol permits, protecting private-property rights, changing political campaign funding and dealing with motorcycles ..."[4]
In 2018, Rhoden won election as lieutenant governor, running on the same ticket as Noem. They received 51% of the vote. The gubernatorial election was one of two since 1974, the other being 1986, decided by single digits.[7] Both were re-elected in 2022 with 62% of the vote.
Rhoden also served as South Dakota's interim secretary of agriculture from May to September 2020.[3]
Biography
Rhoden received his diploma from Sunshine Bible Academy in 1977. He then attended Northwestern Vocational School. He worked as a foreman for Cammack Ranch Supply from 1980 to 1991. In 1981, he began working as a rancher. Rhoden was in the National Guard from 1978 to 1985.[8]
Rhoden was a board member of Meade 46-1 School Board. He then worked as a board member for the Board of Directors of Sturgis, Belle Fourche, and Ceraex of Union Center.[8]
Political career
Below is a list of offices within Ballotpedia’s scope. Offices outside of that scope will not be listed. If an update is needed and the office is within our scope, please contact us.
Rhoden's political career includes the following offices:
- 2025-present: Governor of South Dakota
- 2019-2025: Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
- 2017-2019: South Dakota House of Representatives District 29
- 2009-2015: South Dakota State Senate District 29
- 2000-2008: South Dakota House of Representatives
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: South Dakota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Incumbent Larry Rhoden defeated Jennifer Healy Keintz and Ashley Strand in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Larry Rhoden (R) | 62.0 | 217,035 |
 | Jennifer Healy Keintz (D) | 35.2 | 123,148 | |
 | Ashley Strand (L) | 2.9 | 9,983 | |
| Total votes: 350,166 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic convention
Democratic convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Jennifer Healy Keintz advanced from the Democratic convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota on July 9, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Jennifer Healy Keintz (D) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican convention
Republican convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Incumbent Larry Rhoden defeated Steven Haugaard in the Republican convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota on June 25, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Larry Rhoden (R) |
 | Steven Haugaard (R) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Ashley Strand advanced from the Libertarian convention for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota on April 23, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Ashley Strand (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2018
Lieutenant Governor
General election
General election for Governor of South Dakota
Kristi L. Noem defeated Billie Sutton and Kurt Evans in the general election for Governor of South Dakota on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kristi L. Noem (R) | 51.0 | 172,912 |
 | Billie Sutton (D) | 47.6 | 161,454 | |
 | Kurt Evans (L) | 1.4 | 4,848 | |
| Total votes: 339,214 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- CJ Abernathey (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of South Dakota
Billie Sutton advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of South Dakota on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Billie Sutton |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of South Dakota
Kristi L. Noem defeated Marty J. Jackley in the Republican primary for Governor of South Dakota on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kristi L. Noem | 56.0 | 57,598 |
 | Marty J. Jackley | 44.0 | 45,174 | |
| Total votes: 102,772 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
State House
General election
General election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)
Kirk Chaffee and incumbent Thomas Brunner defeated Jade Addison and Michael McManus in the general election for South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kirk Chaffee (R) | 37.7 | 5,935 |
| ✔ |  | Thomas Brunner (R) | 36.3 | 5,711 |
| Jade Addison (D) | 13.2 | 2,078 | ||
| Michael McManus (D) | 12.7 | 2,004 | ||
| Total votes: 15,728 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Larry Rhoden (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)
Jade Addison and Michael McManus advanced from the Democratic primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | Jade Addison | |
| ✔ | Michael McManus | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 (2 seats)
Incumbent Thomas Brunner and incumbent Larry Rhoden advanced from the Republican primary for South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 on June 5, 2018.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Thomas Brunner |
| ✔ | | Larry Rhoden |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2016
Elections for the South Dakota House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on June 7, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 29, 2016. Incumbent Dean Wink (R) did not seek re-election.
Larry Rhoden and incumbent Thomas Brunner were unopposed in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 general election.[9][10]
| South Dakota House of Representatives, District 29 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Larry Rhoden |
59.81% | 6,919 | |
| Republican | Thomas Brunner Incumbent |
40.19% | 4,650 | |
| Total Votes | 11,569 | |||
| Source: South Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Thomas Brunner and Larry Rhoden were unopposed in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 Republican primary.[11][12]
| South Dakota House of Representatives, District 29 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Thomas Brunner Incumbent | |
| Republican | Larry Rhoden | |
2014
On July 9, 2013, Rhoden announced that he would run for the U.S. Senate in 2014.[13] He lost the Republican nomination in the primary on June 3, 2014, to Mike Rounds.[14]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mike Rounds |
55.5% | 41,377 | ||
| Larry Rhoden | 18.2% | 13,593 | ||
| Stace Nelson | 17.7% | 13,179 | ||
| Annette Bosworth | 5.7% | 4,283 | ||
| Jason Ravnsborg | 2.8% | 2,066 | ||
| Total Votes | 74,498 | |||
| Source: South Dakota Secretary of State |
||||
2012
Rhoden was re-elected to District 29 of the South Dakota State Senate in 2012. He was unopposed in both the Republican primary on June 5 and the general election on November 6.[15]
2010
Rhoden ran for re-election to the 29th District seat in 2010. He ran unopposed for the seat. The general election took place on November 2, 2010.
| South Dakota State Senate, District 29 (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Larry Rhoden (R)
|
7,313 | 100.00% | ||
2008
On Nov. 4, 2008, Rhoden won re-election to the 29th District Seat in the South Dakota State Senate, defeating opponent Dennis Levin (D).[16]
Rhoden raised $20,489 for his campaign, while Levin raised $3,225.[17]
| South Dakota State Senate, District 29 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Larry Rhoden (R)
|
7,307 | 65.94% | ||
| Dennis Levin (D) | 3,775 | 34.06% | ||
Media
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Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Larry Rhoden did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of South Dakota scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].
2018
In 2018, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 9 through March 26.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills supported or opposed by the organization.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 27. The legislature held a special session on June 12.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the 91st South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 12 through March 29.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the 90th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 13 to March 30.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 89th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 14 to March 31.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 88th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 8 to March 25.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 87th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 19.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 86th South Dakota State Legislature was in session from January 11 through March 28.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Rhoden and his wife, Sandy, have four children.[8]
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ The Dakota Scout, "Gov. Larry Rhoden: Time to 'reset' relations with South Dakota lawmakers, tribes, press," January 28, 2025
- ↑ News.SD.gov, "Gov. Rhoden Signs 20 Election Bills into Law," March 25, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 South Dakota Governor, "Larry Rhoden," accessed March 3, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 KELOLAND, "Who is South Dakota’s new governor, Larry Rhoden?" January 26, 2025
- ↑ Vote Smart, "Larry Rhoden's Biography," accessed March 3, 2025
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature: Legislative Research Council, "Historical Listing," accessed March 3, 2025
- ↑ Argus Leader, "Yes, South Dakota has had close governor races, but it's been awhile," November 6, 2018
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Project Vote Smart, "Larry Rhoden's Biography," accessed July 1, 2017
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 21, 2016
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Official Results State Canvas," accessed May 2, 2017
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed December 18, 2015
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "State primary results," accessed June 7, 2016
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedrun - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedprimary - ↑ Office of the South Dakota Secretary of State, "2012 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed March 31, 2012
- ↑ South Dakota Secretary of State, "2008 Election Results, South Dakota Senate, District 29," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "District 29 South Dakota Senate Spending, 2008," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ American Clarion, "South Dakota Freedom Index 2012," accessed August 14, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kristi L. Noem (R) |
Governor of South Dakota 2025-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota 2019-2025 |
Succeeded by Tony Venhuizen (R) |
| Preceded by Dean Wink (R) |
South Dakota House of Representatives District 29 2017-2019 |
Succeeded by Kirk Chaffee (R) |
| Preceded by - |
South Dakota State Senate District 29 2009-2015 |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
South Dakota House of Representatives 2000-2008 |
Succeeded by - |
 |
State of South Dakota Pierre (capital) |
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