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Governor

Governor, South Dakota

November 3, 2026 · 8 statements · 2026.09.23-0bc43a80

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  • The candidate list has not yet been checked against the certified state list.

Candidates

  • Dan Ahlers

    Democratic

    Sourced positions on 4 of 8

    Limited data. Sourced positions on fewer than 60 percent of the statements.

  • Larry Rhoden

    Republican Incumbent

    Sourced positions on 5 of 8

    Campaign siterhodenforsd.com

Statements and positions

AgreeDisagreeNo clear position Select a position to see the evidence behind it.

State statements

Health careNo. 1/8

South Dakota should end Medicaid expansion if the federal share of its cost falls below 90%.

Background

Voters added Medicaid expansion to the state constitution in 2022, and the federal government currently pays 90% of its cost. Amendment I on the November 2026 ballot would tie the expansion to that federal share staying at 90% or more.

Dan Ahlers Disagree

When the citizens of South Dakota passed medicaid expansion, the legislature came in and tried to undo it

Interview or debate · Sep 6, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcekotatv.com Archived copy

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion

Larry Rhoden Agree

When we have $40 trillion in debt in our nation, you can bet the feds are going to be kicking that down to the states.

Press quote · Sep 5, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcemitchellrepublic.com Archived copy

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion

EducationNo. 2/8

South Dakota should create education savings accounts that families can use for private school costs.

Background

An education savings account puts state money into an account that families can spend on private tuition and other approved costs. Recent proposals to start such a program have not passed the Legislature.

Dan Ahlers No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Agree Challenge Discussion

Larry Rhoden Agree

I'd just as soon give those dollars to a private school than Uncle Sam. I think they know how to spend it a little wiser than the federal government.

Press quote · Nov 14, 2025 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourceyankton.net Archived copy

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion

EducationNo. 3/8

South Dakota should use state budget surpluses to raise funding for K-12 public schools.

Background

The state sends aid to school districts through a per-student formula that lawmakers adjust in each budget. This would direct surplus revenue toward larger increases in that aid.

Dan Ahlers No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Agree Challenge Discussion

Larry Rhoden Disagree

So when folks try to tell you that slower sales tax growth means our economy is weak, don't be fooled. We're in great shape. We just can't spend money we don't have.

Campaign or official site · Dec 3, 2025 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcesdnewswatch.org Archived copy

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.70)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion

EconomyNo. 4/8

South Dakota should ban the use of eminent domain for all privately owned commercial projects.

Background

In 2025 the state banned the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines. This would extend that ban to other projects built by private companies.

Dan Ahlers No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Agree Challenge Discussion

Larry Rhoden No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Agree Challenge Discussion

AbortionNo. 5/8

South Dakota should add exceptions for rape and incest to its abortion ban.

Background

South Dakota bans abortion except when needed to save the life of the pregnant woman. This would also allow abortion in cases of rape or incest.

Dan Ahlers Agree

I think there should be exceptions for rape, incest and health of the mother.

Questionnaire · Nov 1, 2022 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcedakotanewsnow.com Archived copy

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion

Larry Rhoden Disagree

You draw a lot of flies on rape and incest, because, obviously, life is life, and that's a lot tougher issue to frame than many others. I think the life of the mother is, obviously, a lot easier for a lot more people to wrap their arms around than the rape and incest issue.

Press quote · Mar 22, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcekotatv.com No archived copy yet

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion

TaxesNo. 6/8

South Dakota should eliminate its state sales tax on groceries.

Background

South Dakota has no income tax and collects state sales tax on most groceries. Removing it would lower grocery costs and reduce state revenue unless replaced from other sources.

Dan Ahlers Agree

I would support repealing or reducing the sales tax on food.

Questionnaire · Nov 1, 2022 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcedakotanewsnow.com Archived copy

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion

Larry Rhoden No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Agree Challenge Discussion

Public safetyNo. 7/8

South Dakota should legalize recreational marijuana for adults.

Background

South Dakota allows medical marijuana, but recreational use is illegal. Voters approved legalization in 2020, which the state Supreme Court struck down, and rejected it in 2022 and 2024.

Dan Ahlers Agree

When the people of South Dakota passed recreational medicinal marijuana, the governor worked with law enforcement to undo the will of the people.

Interview or debate · Sep 6, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcekotatv.com Archived copy

If the people of South Dakota support it, I will do my best to implement it in the most efficient and safest way possible.

Questionnaire · Nov 1, 2022 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcedakotanewsnow.com Archived copy

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.60)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion

Larry Rhoden No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Review
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Agree Challenge Discussion

ImmigrationNo. 8/8

South Dakota should have state troopers help enforce federal immigration law through 287(g) agreements.

Background

The federal 287(g) program lets trained state and local officers perform certain immigration enforcement tasks. Participation is voluntary and decided by each state or local agency.

Dan Ahlers No clear position

We found no public vote or statement that answers this. It is not counted.

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Review
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Know a source? Challenge with evidence.

Agree Challenge Discussion

Larry Rhoden Agree

My administration's number one responsibility is keeping South Dakotans safe. We've been working hard to get illegal alien criminals off our streets, out of our prison, and out of our country.

Campaign or official site · May 18, 2026 · retrieved Sep 23, 2026

Open sourcedakotawarcollege.com Archived copy

Verification
Quote found on the cited page by an independent check.
Confidence
Medium (0.75)
Review
Not yet reviewed by a person.
Agree Challenge Discussion