Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden won the South Dakota gubernatorial primary runoff against Republican businessman Toby Doeden, according to the Associated Press. The race was the state's first gubernatorial primary runoff in history.
The AP called the race for Rhoden shortly after 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Decision Desk HQ also projected Rhoden would win.
The runoff was triggered after the initial primary on June 2, when neither candidate reached a certain vote threshold. South Dakota state law requires a runoff when no candidate receives at least 35% of the primary vote for governor, U.S. Senate, or U.S. House — though some reports cite a threshold above 50%.
Former President Donald Trump did not publicly endorse either candidate in the runoff. However, during his July 3 remarks at Mount Rushmore, Trump thanked Rhoden by name but did not mention the governor's race.
Toby Doeden campaigned as a "fierce Trump supporter" and said he would help implement the president's "America First agenda." After the June primary, Doeden said that "the career politicians told me" an outsider could not break through.
Rhoden rejected the "career politician" label, saying Doeden was trying to "make hay" out of it. In an interview with South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Rhoden called the characterization "such a warped viewpoint" and argued that his years in the South Dakota Legislature gave him practical experience writing laws and then returning home to live under them.
Rhoden ascended to the office last year when Kristi Noem left to join the Trump cabinet. He will face Democrat Dan Ahlers, a former state senator, in the November general election.