Tom Lawrence looks at the surge in Democrats re-registering as Republicans to vote in the July 28 Rhoden/Doeden runoff and makes the argument that these party-switchers might want to vote for Toby Doeden to help Democratic candidate Dan Ahlers:
Ahlers is a known commodity, having served in the Legislature, as the Democratic Party candidate for the Senate seat held by Mike Rounds in 2020, and as a state party official in recent years.
Who would he rather run against? A governor with a long record in Pierre, who is known as a decent man, not a firebrand who seeks confrontation and conflict?
Or a political newcomer who has been compared to President Donald Trump for his blustery, boastful manner?
Rhoden’s political and private life has been explored and reported for years. There are likely no shocking and disturbing news stories waiting to be released in the next few months.
Doeden is still a mystery to most voters. If reporters did [sic] deep enough — and they will — what might we learn about him before November?
Who would be the better — and by that, I mean easier to defeat — opponent for Ahlers?
…A lot of Democrats are willing to hold their nose and become Republicans for a brief period to try to ensure Gov. Larry Rhoden is the Republican candidate. They fear Doeden, and he may pose a big risk to our state.
But he also might be the ideal foe for Dan Ahlers. Maybe a large share of Rhoden, Johnson and Hansen supporters would cross party lines in the General Election and support Ahlers.
So, make your choice before 5 p.m. Monday. Are you willing to be a temporary Republican to help your state — or should you remain a dedicated Democrat to give your party its best chance to elect a governor in more than half a century? [Tom Lawrence, “Is Becoming a Short-Term Republican to Beat Doeden Your Best Choice?” South Dakota Standard, 2026.07.12]
Monday was the deadline for registering Republican to access the runoff ballot, so the question is no longer whether Dems and indies ought to switch to participate in the Republican runoff, but simply how those folks who have switched ought to use their vote.
I suggest keeping it simple: vote for the person who, out of the two choices on the ballot, would do the job better. If you think, as I do and as all of Doeden’s lies and bluster and utter lack of public service indicate, that Doeden would be a worse Governor than Rhoden, don’t cast a vote that would move Doeden one step closer to that office. Don’t gamble that boosting Doeden to the November ballot will inspire disappointed Rhoden/Johnson/Hansen voters to abandon the SDGOP brand and vote to elect a Democratic Governor. Don’t make yourself morally culpable for electing a guy who’d be worse than Kristi Noem at governing South Dakota just for the sake of a “strategic” vote that might improve a Democrat’s chance of winning the Governor’s chair from 20% to 30%.
Remember: Doeden should have been the weakest candidate in the June 2 GOP primary, but he spent and lied and negative-campaigned his way to beating an incumbent Governor and two sitting Republican elected officials. If you’re voting on November strategy rather than qualifications for office, you could argue that Doeden’s riches, relentlessness, and lack of restraint could make him a fiercer general election opponent to mild-mannered Ahlers than Rhoden, who will likely be tuckered out from the primary and runoff.
But hey, party-switchers: whatever you do with your July 28 run-off vote, be sure you switch your registration back to Democratic on July 29 so you can give the party you really want to win some good press and so you can sign petitions for Democratic candidates in 2028!