South Dakota’s political landscape is set for a showdown as Gov. Larry Rhoden and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden advance to a runoff election for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. The primary election, which featured four candidates, saw Doeden leading with the highest vote total, while Rhoden narrowly secured the second runoff spot after a tight contest with Congressman Dusty Johnson.

The race was closely watched, with both Rhoden and Johnson expressing optimism throughout the evening about their chances of advancing. Ultimately, Rhoden edged out Johnson, setting the stage for a July runoff against Doeden.

Doeden, addressing supporters at his election night event at the Sioux Falls Convention Center, expressed confidence in his campaign’s momentum. “We might even wrap this up tonight,” he told the crowd, reflecting on the possibility of surpassing the 35 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. However, as the final votes were tallied, it became clear that the race would extend into the summer.

The upcoming runoff will be a pivotal moment for South Dakota Republicans as they choose their nominee for the governor’s race. Both candidates will now focus on rallying support and presenting their visions for the state’s future to voters.

Original reporting: The Dakota Scout (Sioux Falls) — read the source article.