Rhoden Secures SD GOP Nomination in Runoff Election

South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has secured his party's nomination for re-election after defeating primary challenger Toby Doeden in a runoff election.

The race, which was the first gubernatorial primary runoff in state history, saw Rhoden secure 70.5% of the vote compared to Doeden's 29.5% with approximately 25% of expected votes counted.

Doeden, a businessman and Bitcoin evangelist, had finished second in the initial June primary, securing 30.6% of the vote, while Rhoden received 25.2%. Under South Dakota state law, a runoff is required when no candidate receives at least 35% of the primary vote.

Rhoden became governor in early 2023 after Kristi Noem left to join the Trump administration. Doeden had entered the race as a political newcomer and built a public profile by advocating for investments in Bitcoin, stating 'I will buy bitcoin forever, every single day.'