South Dakota Republicans, please, tell me you’re not this stupid:
A new KELOLAND Media Group/Emerson College poll has a new leader in the Republican primary race for South Dakota governor.
Businessman Toby Doeden now holds a 3% advantage over second-place U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson. Doeden has 26% of the polled voters to Johnson’s 23%. The two switched places from the poll released on March 11 when Johnson had the lead with 28% followed by Doeden with 18%.
Businessman Toby Doeden now holds a 3% advantage over second-place U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson. Doeden has 26% of the polled voters to Johnson’s 23%. The two switched places from the poll released on March 11 when Johnson had the lead with 28% followed by Doeden with 18%.
In this latest poll, Gov. Larry Rhoden was at 19% followed by state Rep. Jon Hansen with 16%. These are gains from the Rhoden’s 17% in March and Hansen’s 14% in March.
Of the sampled 452 registered Republican voters, 432 answered they were likely (either very likely or somewhat likely) to vote in the June 2 primary election.
The poll was conducted May 18-19 by Emerson College [Rae Yost, “Doeden Surpasses Johnson in Latest KELOLAND/Emerson Poll,” KELO-TV, 2026.05.21].
The Republican primary is a job search. Republicans, you’re hiring a man for a public service job, the state’s chief executive position. Four men are applying for the job. Three of those applicants have worked as public servants in a variety of elected offices. One is currently doing the job after spending six years as Lieutenant Governor. Between the PUC and Congress, one worked as chief of staff to a Governor. One currently leads the House of Representatives.
And you’re going to pick the car salesman? The one who’s using his fat personal checkbook to buy the office? The one with no record of policymaking or public service?
South Dakota Republicans have been this stupid before. Back in 2010, they picked noisy, pretty, but achievementless Kristi Noem to go to Congress instead of well-versed, well-liked, and better qualified Chris Nelson and cranky but not stupid Dr. R. Blake Curd. (Think how much better our world would be if we’d sent Chris Nelson to Congress and left Kristi on the back bench collecting farm subsidies and keeping hubby Bryon off the Internet.)
But Toby Doeden? over Dusty Johnson? Come on—Doeden’s not even pretty. More importantly, he is the least informed, least policy detailed, and least personable candidate on the primary ballot (and “least personable” is a hard title to win in a battle with Jon Hansen and Larry Rhoden.) All picking Doeden in the primary does is increase the chances that Democratic candidate Dan Ahlers could win in November.
Whatever funk you’re in, poll-responding Republicans, snap out of it. Dusty Johnson is the most qualified candidate for the job you’re hiring for in the gubernatorial primary. Toby Doeden is the least qualified. Make a rational decision, and pick Dusty Johnson to do the job he is objectively qualified for.