Dem
47
GOP
53
Although South Dakota has "South" in its name, it is not in the South, like South Carolina. It didn't secede from the Union in 1861—that wasn't even an option because it wouldn't join the Union for another 38 years. Nevertheless, it has something "southern" about it: It has runoff elections when no candidate gets enough votes in the primary. But SD is not really southern, so it sets the threshold for winning the primary outright at a different level than all the southern states. It is 35% instead of 50%. In the primary, bitcoin evangelist and wealthy businessman Toby Doeden put $4 million of his own money into the election and got 31% to the 25% Gov. Larry Rhoden (R-SD) got. Tomorrow, Doeden has a chance of ousting the governor.
For South Dakota voters, this runoff is obviously a big deal and Republican voter registration has soared since the June primary. Early voting is also way up.
Rhoden is a traditional Reagan-style Republican. He is not especially fond of Donald Trump. Doeden is very MAGA. That could play a role, but so could Rhoden's incumbency, although Rhoden was never elected governor. He was elected Lt. governor, and when Kristi Noem got out of Dodge (OK, Pierre) and moved to her flying bedroom in D.C. Rhoden became governor.
Doeden's main issue is his plan to eliminate property taxes, starting with owner-occupied property.. His ads attack the governor, who he calls "Lyin' Larry," relentlessly on this issue. Rhoden has called Dodeden "reckless." A recent Emerson College poll has Rhoden at 62% and Doeden at 32%. The winner will face Democrat Dan Ahlers in November, but no Democrat has been elected governor of South Dakota since 1975. (V)