SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELOLAND) — If the July 28 Republican election for governor were held today, Gov. Larry Rhoden would win by a resounding margin, according to the latest KELOLAND/Emerson College Poll.

The poll asked 500 Republicans shows 62% of likely voters would choose Rhoden, while 32% would choose Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden. There are 7% of Republican voters still undecided. The poll has a margin of error of 4.3%.

Poll respondents who did not choose Rhoden or Doeden in the June 2 primary overwhelmingly switched to Rhoden in this poll.

Rhoden gained a significant amount of voters who had selected U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson in the June 2 primary. The poll shows that 95% of those who voted for Johnson in the primary indicated that they would vote for Rhoden. Only 5% indicated Doeden.

State Rep. Jon Hansen voters chose Rhoden over Doeden 69% to 31%, respectively.

If undecided voters are included the margin is 65% for Rhoden and 35% for Doeden.

Thirty of those respondents had already voted while 94% indicated they were likely to vote.

The Emerson College Polling/KELOLAND South Dakota survey was conducted July 12-13, 2026.