PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota voters will make history tommorrow as the state holds its first-ever gubernatorial primary runoff under a law passed in 1985.
Republican candidates Toby Doeden and Gov. Larry Rhoden advanced to the July 28 runoff after neither reached the 35% threshold required to win the nomination outright in the June primary. Doeden led with 31% of the vote, followed by Rhoden at 25%.
The race remains difficult to predict, with voter registration data showing thousands of South Dakotans either switching to the Republican Party or newly registering to vote ahead of the runoff. Republican registration has increased by more than 7,300 voters since the June primary.
Polling conducted after the primary showed Rhoden with an advantage among Republican voters, while absentee voting totals indicate turnout could be lower than in the June election.
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