SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Among South Dakota’s four Republican candidates for governor, Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden was the only one not holding political office ahead of the primary election.
“I can’t think of a better way to describe me that would make me more proud than an ‘outsider’ because I don’t want any part of the inside of the nonsense that’s been happening in Pierre the last 10 and 20 years,” Doeden said June 16, 2025. “I don’t want to be associated with that at all. I’m going to Pierre to tip it upside down, dump out the trash and actually move South Dakota forward.”
During that same interview in June 2025, he also highlighted a plan which voters have come to closely link with his campaign.
“We are going to get immediate relief for all property owners in South Dakota, and ultimately, yes, we are going to eliminate property tax,” Doeden said.
South Dakota Republican voters will pick their nominee for governor in Tuesday’s runoff election. Doeden and current Gov. Larry Rhoden are on the ballot; they advanced to the runoff after finishing first and second in the primary election of June 2, 2026 ahead of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson and state Speaker of the House Jon Hansen. Never before in South Dakota history has a gubernatorial primary gone to a runoff.
Among the four candidates, Doeden likely had the least name recognition at first. But in March 2026, he was second among the four in the first round of polling from Emerson College Polling and KELOLAND Media Group. That same month, he stated his case in KELOLAND Media Group’s gubernatorial debate.
“You can pick one of the career politicians, and they will do what career politicians have always done: overtax, overspend and continue to make South Dakota less and less affordable,” Doeden said during the debate on March 31, 2026. “Or you can vote for me: the outsider, the businessman.”
His message, at least with some Republican voters, resonated. He placed first among the four in the next round of polling in May. He went on to win the June primary with 31% of the vote but didn’t reach the 35% threshold needed to clinch the party’s nomination. He said his strategy was not changing even though the field of candidates had narrowed from four to two.
“There’s a lot of things we have to work on,” Doeden said June 10. “Public safety and affordability, right at the top of the list. That’s what I’ve talked about for a year; that’s what I’m going to continue to drive home.”
The race, nevertheless, had fundamentally changed. A field of four candidates had shrunk by half. The most recent round of polling, done in July, saw Doeden relinquish his leading position. This time, Rhoden had a commanding lead: 62% to 32%, with 7% undecided.
“You can poll anybody you want,” Doeden said July 15. “The people we’re polling, Dan, are the people we know are showing up in a low-turnout runoff. We’re going to win.”
In KELOLAND News’ recent “Conversations with the Candidates” special, Doeden said his property tax plan would be a gradual process.
“If I said I was going to build the biggest grocery store chain in the country, I wouldn’t build 5,000 grocery stores tomorrow, Dan,” Doeden said July 17 during the recording of his half of the special. “I would build one at a time. So where are we going to start with the phase-outs, right. That’s how we deal with a big issue.”
Now, the end of the primary campaign has arrived.
“I think it’s going very well,” Doeden said July 23. “I think the voters are going to reward me on Tuesday for continuing to talking about positivity, affordability and law and order.”
Ahead of Tuesday, he highlights his person-to-person outreach on the campaign trail and also has a promise for the future.
“On day one, I will make every decision on what’s best for you, the people of South Dakota, and the next generation and our grandkids,” Doeden said July 23
