In a night when Democrats made gains across the nation, South Dakota proved a rare red‑state stronghold. Republican Governor Larry Rhoden secured about 63.5% of the vote, virtually identical to President Donald Trump’s 63.4% showing in 2024.

Gubernatorial race stays firmly Republican

Rhoden defeated Democrat Dan Ahlers, who billed himself as a “conservative Democrat” and focused on affordability, rural health care, and education. Ahlers earned just 36.5% of the vote, leaving the GOP with a commanding statewide advantage.

Other statewide offices remain in GOP hands

Republicans swept the remaining statewide contests. Senator Mike Rounds won re‑election with 60.5%, and Attorney General Marty Jackley captured the at‑large congressional seat with roughly 64%, though his margin slipped from the 72% Dusty Johnson earned in 2024.

Legislative gains for Democrats are limited

Democrats flipped four seats in the Sioux Falls area, marking their first legislative gains in South Dakota since 2008. The losses were concentrated around the state’s largest city, where a growing population and shifting political attitudes have opened opportunities for the opposition.

University of South Dakota political scientist Julia Hellwege noted that opposition to large data‑center projects also resonated with some voters in the region.

Republican leadership cites policy successes

South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen praised the GOP’s focus on “issues that mattered to the people of our state,” highlighting property‑tax cuts, utility‑cost regulations tied to data‑center development, limits on corporate eminent domain, and a balanced state budget.

Hansen added, “We ran on real solutions, not just talk or excuses, and delivered what our people deserve.”

Economic backdrop supports GOP narrative

The state’s unemployment rate has hovered around 2% since last September, roughly half the national rate. Average wages rose about 4% in 2025, and South Dakota remains one of the most affordable states, though rent growth outpaced wage gains last year, according to Realtor.com data.

Comparison to other red states

While South Dakota’s margins stayed steady, other traditionally Republican states saw shrinking vote shares. In Idaho and Wyoming, gubernatorial winners posted lower percentages than President Trump’s 2024 performance. Texas experienced a dramatic shift, with Democrats flipping 21 GOP‑held state House seats.

Across the country, Republicans lost control of legislative chambers in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan.

Local perspective on the results

Republican House Majority Leader Rep. Scott Odenbach attributed losses elsewhere to a mismatch between promises and actions, noting, “We didn’t have that problem in South Dakota under our leadership.”

Overall, South Dakota’s election night demonstrated that a focus on tangible results—tax relief, utility protections, and fiscal responsibility—can sustain Republican dominance even as the broader national landscape shifts toward the Democrats.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.