Poll: Gov. Larry Rhoden in Third Place for South Dakota Governor behind Johnson and Doeden
A recent Emerson College Polling survey has delivered a jolt to South Dakota’s 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary, placing incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden in third place behind U.S. Congressman Dusty Johnson and businessman Toby Doeden.
The poll, conducted March 7-9, 2026, among 413 likely voters (with a margin of error of ±4.8 percentage points), found Johnson with 28%, Doeden with 18%, Rhoden with 17% and Speaker of the House Jon Hansen in last place with 14%.
Just months before the primary, the sitting governor sits in third, trailing not only the longtime congressman but also an outsider challenger in Doeden. Rhoden ascended to the governorship following Kristi Noem’s departure, but with high undecided numbers (nearly one in four voters) and a fragmented field, the race remains fluid. South Dakota’s primary rules add further intrigue: if no candidate reaches 35% on June 2, the top two finishers advance to a runoff election. Currently, no candidate has reached the 35% mark.
The poll also touched on other topics, including strong support for Attorney General Marty Jackley in the statewide race for U.S. Congress and the economy topping voter concerns at 35%. With the primary still months away and significant undecided voters, this Emerson snapshot suggests the incumbent Governor is in serious danger of losing his position.
