Larry Rhoden

Last updated

Sandy Murphy
​
(m. 1981)​
Larry Rhoden
South Dakota Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden (cropped2).jpg
34th Governor of South Dakota
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 25, 2025
Children4
Military service
AllegianceFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Branch/serviceFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
Years of service1978–1985
Unit South Dakota National Guard

Larry Rhoden (born February 5, 1959) is an American politician and businessman serving as the 34th governor of South Dakota since 2025. [1]

Contents

A Republican, Rhoden served as a member of the state House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009 and from 2017 to 2019, as a member of the state senate from 2009 to 2015, and as the 39th lieutenant governor of South Dakota from 2019 to 2025. [2] [3] [4] He ran for U.S. Senate in the 2014 election, losing in the Republican primary to eventual winner Mike Rounds. [5]

Early life

Rhoden was born and raised on a farm. He grew up attending church, and graduated from Sunshine Bible Academy in 1977. After high school, he served in the South Dakota National Guard from 1978 to 1985. While his children were young, he served as a church trustee and on the local school board, and led the board of directors for the area Cenex. [6]

Career

Rhoden served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2001 to 2008, including four years as majority leader. After being term-limited, he was elected to the state senate. In 2010, Rhoden ran for senate majority leader, but lost to Russell Olson. [7]

Rhoden served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources and the State Affairs Committees. [8] He backed bills to arm volunteers in schools, and sponsored a legislative finding that the "Founding Fathers freely and willingly abjured all legislative and executive authority to regulate gun ownership and usage… to individual citizens." [7]

2014 U.S. Senate candidacy

Rhoden ran for a U.S. Senate seat in 2014, calling himself a "conservative voice for limited government". He spoke out against abortion, same-sex marriage, "career politicians", "activist judges", and immigration "amnesty". [9] Rhoden signed a pledge to never raise taxes, and supported de-funding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. [10]

Rhoden spoke at a conference organized by the conservative organization RedState, criticizing fellow candidate Mike Rounds's position on taxes. [11] In the June 2 primary, Rounds defeated Rhoden, 41,377 votes to 13,393. [12]

Lieutenant governor of South Dakota (2019–2025)

2018 gubernatorial election

On June 20, 2018, Republican gubernatorial nominee Kristi Noem announced that Rhoden would be her running mate. Noem had said the role of a lieutenant governor, "I would do it a little differently maybe than Daugaard and Michels have done it... I don’t see the lieutenant governor filling as big a role as Michels did. I'm just a believer that there are certain decisions the governor has to make, and so maybe it would be more of a traditional role than what we saw in the last administration." [13]

Tenure

Rhoden took office on January 5, 2019. On May 5, 2020, Noem announced that South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Kim Vanneman would resign effective May 8, and that Rhoden was being named interim agriculture secretary. [14] On August 27, Noem announced that she was merging the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources into a Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to be led by Secretary Hunter Roberts, thereby ending Rhoden's role as interim secretary. [15]

On June 20, 2020, at the Republican State Convention, Rhoden was elected to be one of South Dakota's three Republican presidential electors, along with Noem and Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. [16]

Governor of South Dakota (2025–present)

In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Kristi Noem for Secretary of Homeland Security. After her confirmation on January 25, 2025, she resigned as governor of South Dakota. Rhoden was subsequently sworn in as governor. [17]

Personal life

Rhoden lives in Union Center, South Dakota. He and his wife, Sandy, have four children and seven grandchildren. [2] [18] Rhoden is a rancher by trade and runs and owns a cow-calf operation and custom welding business. [4] [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Governor of South Dakota</span>

The governor of South Dakota is the head of government of South Dakota. The governor is elected to a four-year term in even years when there is no presidential election. The current governor is Larry Rhoden, a member of the Republican Party who took office on January 25, 2025.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Herseth Sandlin</span> American politician (born 1970)

Stephanie Marie Herseth Sandlin is an American attorney, university administrator, and politician from the Democratic Party. She represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2004 until 2011. Sandlin was first elected to Congress in a July 2004 special election and won three full terms before losing to Republican Kristi Noem in 2010. She was the youngest female member of the House, and the first woman elected to the House from South Dakota. Before her 2007 marriage to Max Sandlin, she was known as Stephanie Herseth. She is a Democrat and a member of the Herseth family of South Dakota. She and Senator Tim Johnson are the last Democrats to win a statewide and/or federal election in South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of South Dakota</span> Government of the U.S. state of South Dakota

The structure of the government of South Dakota is based on that of the federal government, with three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The structure of the state government is laid out in the Constitution of South Dakota, the highest law in the state. The constitution may be amended either by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature, or by voter initiative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span>

The 2010 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota took place on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Voters selected a representative for their single At-Large district, who run on a statewide ballot. On June 8, 2010, the Republicans nominated Kristi Noem, Assistant Majority Leader of the South Dakota House of Representatives and the Democrats nominated the incumbent Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. B. Thomas Marking ran as an Independent candidate. In the general election, Noem defeated Herseth Sandlin, winning 48.1 percent of the vote to 45.9 percent for Herseth Sandlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristi Noem</span> American politician (born 1971)

Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is an American politician who is currently serving as the eighth United States secretary of homeland security since 2025, serving under President Donald Trump in his second term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States Senate election in South Dakota</span>

The 2014 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of South Dakota, concurrently with the election of the Governor of South Dakota, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span>

The 2014 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014, to elect the U.S. representative from South Dakota's at-large congressional district, who would represent the state of South Dakota in the 114th United States Congress. The election coincided with the elections of a U.S. Senator from South Dakota, the Governor of South Dakota and other federal and state offices. Incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Kristi Noem won reelection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stace Nelson</span> American politician

Stacey "Stace" Nelson is an American politician, law enforcement officer, and retired Naval Criminal Investigative Service special agent who served as a member of both chambers of the South Dakota Legislature. On November 17, 2019, Nelson announced that he would be retiring from politics, effective December 10, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billie Sutton</span> American politician

Billie Harmon Sutton is an American former professional bronc rider and politician. He was a member of the South Dakota Senate from 2011 to 2019, served as Minority Leader, and was the 2018 Democratic nominee for Governor of South Dakota, which he narrowly lost to Republican nominee Kristi Noem in the general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Jackley</span> American lawyer

Martin J. Jackley is an American attorney and politician who is currently serving as the Attorney General of South Dakota since 2023, having previously served from 2009 to 2019. He assumed office as Attorney General again in 2023 after winning the 2022 election unopposed. He previously served as the 39th United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota. He ran unsuccessfully for Governor of South Dakota in 2018, losing the Republican primary to Kristi Noem.

Brock L. Greenfield is an American politician serving as School and Public Lands Commissioner of South Dakota. He previously served as a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate. Greenfield was consecutively a member of the House for District 6 from January 2009 until January 11, 2013, and a member of the South Dakota Senate for District 6 from January 2001 until January 2009. Greenfield has represented District 2 since January 10, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election</span>

The 2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican governor Dennis Daugaard was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota was held on November 6, to elect the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with other statewide, legislative, and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 South Dakota elections</span>

The 2018 South Dakota elections were held on November 6, 2018. All of South Dakota's executive officers were up for election as well as South Dakota's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Ravnsborg</span> American attorney and politician

Jason Richard Ravnsborg is an American attorney and politician. A Republican, he served as Attorney General of South Dakota from 2019 until his removal in 2022. Ravnsborg ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014, losing in the Republican primary to former Governor Mike Rounds, who won the general election.

Benjamin F. Jones is an American historian and academic administrator who is State Historian of South Dakota and Director of the South Dakota State Historical Society. He was previously Secretary of Education of South Dakota from January 2019 to December 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic in South Dakota is an ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The state of South Dakota reported its first four cases and one death from COVID-19 on March 10, 2020. On June 15, 2021, South Dakota public health authorities reported 25 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state's cumulative total to 124,377 cases. The state's COVID-19 death toll is 2,026, with no new deaths reported over the previous 24 hours. The state ranks 9th in deaths per capita among U.S. states, and 3rd in cases per-capita, behind only North Dakota and Rhode Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 South Dakota gubernatorial election</span>

The 2022 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, electing the governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican governor Kristi Noem defeated Democratic nominee Jamie Smith to win a second term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election</span>

The 2026 South Dakota gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican Governor Kristi Noem resigned on January 25, 2025 after being confirmed by the US Senate for the position of Secretary of Homeland Security. Even before the pending nomination, Noem was term-limited and thus ineligible to seek a third consecutive term.

References

  1. ↑ "Larry Rhoden succeeds to governor of South Dakota". KELOLAND.com. January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "South Dakota Governor". January 25, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Our Campaigns - SD State Senate 29 Race - Nov 04, 2008".
  4. 1 2 "Larry Rhoden".
  5. ↑ Weigel, David (July 31, 2013). "Mike Rounds, the Republican Most Likely to Take Over a Democratic Senate Seat, and His Struggles With the Tea Party". Slate Magazine. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Governor Kristi Noem - South Dakota: America's Beacon of Freedom". Archived from the original on August 25, 2018.
  7. 1 2 Montgomery, David (July 9, 2013). "Who is Larry Rhoden?". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Senator Larry Rhoden". South Dakota Legislature. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  9. ↑ Montgomery, David (July 10, 2013). "Rhoden strikes conservative tone in campaign kickoff". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  10. ↑ Montgomery, David (July 30, 2013). "Senate hopeful Larry Rhoden says his hard line aligns with right". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  11. ↑ Montgomery, David (August 2, 2013). "Rhoden: Stand by your position". Argus Leader. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
  12. ↑ "2014 Election Results" (PDF). sdsos.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  13. ↑ Woster, Kevin. "Next up for Noem: picking a running mate, planning a general-election race, holding a rummage sale". SDPB.org. South Dakota Public Broadcasting.
  14. ↑ "Noem Appoints Lt. Gov as Interim Ag Secretary". SDPB.org. South Dakota Public Broadcasting. May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Governor Noem announces Merging of Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources Departments". news.sd.gov. August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Convention Results". southdakotagopconvention.com. June 20, 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Larry Rhoden succeeds to governor of South Dakota". Keloland Local News. January 25, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  18. ↑ "The Governor's Team". governor.sd.gov. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  19. ↑ Hayworth, Bret (July 10, 2013). "Politically Speaking: Rhoden enters S.D. Senate race, setting GOP primary with Mike Rounds". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2013.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
2018, 2022 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
2019–2025		Vacant
Preceded by Governor of South Dakota
2025–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of precedence of the United States
Within South Dakota		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Mike Johnson
as Speaker of the House
Preceded byas Governor of North Dakota Order of precedence of the United States
Outside South Dakota		Succeeded byas Governor of Montana
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.