First-Ever Gubernatorial Runoff Sets Up Historic Choice for South Dakota Republicans
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Republicans have managed to drag the state into uncharted political territory, forcing the first-ever gubernatorial runoff election on July 28 because neither camp could even clear a pitiful 35% bar.
Instead of a decisive victory, the June 2 primary exposed a bitter, fractured party. Voters can choose incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden-and political business-as-usual in Pierre for the past 50 years —or Toby Doeden, an outsider running a loud campaign long on disruption but short on details. Neither candidate could convince even roughly a third of their own party to back them the first time around, and now everyone has to pay the price.
If you are planning to wade into this mess, here is the brass-tacks reality of how this redundant election works.
The Ground Rules for Round Two
- You don’t need a June alibi: Didn’t bother showing up for the June 2 primary? You can still vote in the runoff. Any registered Republican in South Dakota can cast a ballot, meaning both campaigns are about to spend the next month begging no-shows to save them.
- The clock is ticking on party switching: If you want to jump into the fray or change your registration, you have until July 13. Of course, the state hasn’t dragged its bureaucracy into the 21st century yet: you can’t just register online. You have to print out a physical form from the Secretary of State’s website and manually haul it or mail it to your local county auditor.
