SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken endorsed Larry Rhoden as a gubernatorial candidate.
“Specifically since Governor Rhoden’s taken office, we’ve enjoyed a lot of support from this administration… it’s made Sioux Falls a stronger community for the past year and a half,” TenHaken said.
Rhoden and his campaign was in Sioux Falls Monday for a press conference alongside TenHaken and other area state lawmakers at the Governor’s Sioux Falls campaign headquarters.
Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen introduced Mayor TenHaken, who’s remarks further pointed out Sioux Falls-focused legislation passed at the 2026 session, including the airport expansion, expanded highway patrol and brand new men’s prison. He also credited Rhoden’s team for their efforts in keeping Smithfield Foods’ plant in Sioux Falls.
“It’s easy to make promises and commitments on how you would lead a state and community, but it’s another thing to look at the resume, the portfolio… there’s a lot of things in the last 18 months that this guy (Rhoden) has gotten done,” TenHaken said.
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Rhoden took the podium to thank TenHaken for his collaboration and said he remains committed to “diversifying South Dakota’s economy.”
“Sioux Falls represents a huge economic engine for our entire state, when Sioux Falls and our cities in South Dakota do well, that tide raises all ships,” he said.
Toby Doeden, Rhoden’s opponent, responded to the endorsement in a Facebook post that did not acknowledge TenHaken. Doeden cited Q1 GDP data that showed the economy declined 1.6%.
“Larry is a nice guy, but he has ZERO vision for this state. We have become the laughing stock of the nation on numerous fronts, but our economy chief among them,” Doeden wrote.
TenHaken is the outgoing mayor. A recount of the June mayoral runoff race is pending between candidates Christine Erickson and Jamie Smith.
Minutes after Doeden’s first post about the endorsement, he posted a direct attack against TenHaken, misspelling his name twice and calling him a “closet Democrat”.
“I find it laughable that Mayor Tinhaken had the audacity to question my faith, my morals, and my ethics. He has never spoken to me. Doesn’t know me, my family, or anyone around me,” the post said.
TenHaken was joined in support by several state officials including:
State Senator Sue Peterson
State Senator Ernie Otten
State Senator Kevin Jensen
State Representative Tim Czmowski
State Representative Roger DeGroot
State Representative Leslie Heinemann
State Representative Jack Kolbeck
State Representative Brian Mulder
State Representative Keri Weems
