Rhoden Trails In 3rd In Latest Poll Of Governor

Incumbent governor Larry Rhoden lags behind two other Republican candidates in the race for South Dakota governor

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:49pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new Emerson College/Keloland Poll shows incumbent South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden trailing two other Republican candidates in the race for governor. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson leads the poll with 28% of the vote, while Toby Doeden outpaces Rhoden by one percentage point. Rhoden comes in third with 17% of the vote, followed by state Representative Jon Hansen with 14%. The poll surveyed 413 Republican voters between March 7-9 and has a margin of error of 4.8%.

Why it matters

The governor's race in South Dakota is a closely watched contest, with the incumbent Rhoden facing a challenge from several other prominent Republican candidates. This latest poll suggests Rhoden may be struggling to maintain his lead, which could have significant implications for the direction of the state's politics.

The details

The Emerson College/Keloland Poll shows U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson leading the Republican field with 28% of the vote, followed by Toby Doeden at 18% and incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden at 17%. State Representative Jon Hansen comes in fourth with 14% of the vote. The poll was conducted between March 7-9 and surveyed 413 Republican voters, with a margin of error of 4.8%.

  • The poll was conducted between March 7-9, 2026.

The players

Larry Rhoden

The incumbent Republican governor of South Dakota.

Dusty Johnson

A U.S. Representative and Republican candidate for governor of South Dakota.

Toby Doeden

A Republican candidate for governor of South Dakota.

Jon Hansen

A state Representative and Republican candidate for governor of South Dakota.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

This poll suggests a competitive Republican primary race for the South Dakota governorship, with the incumbent Rhoden facing a challenge from several other prominent candidates. The results highlight the shifting political dynamics in the state and will likely shape the campaign strategies of the candidates in the months leading up to the primary election.