The runoff has revealed a gap in South Dakota’s campaign finance laws: candidates don’t have to file any updates on their campaign donations and expenditures before the runoff! We require candidates to file pre-election reports 15 days before a primary and a general election, and during those last 15 days before the vote, we require candidates to file supplemental reports documenting any new contributions of $500 or more [SDCL 12-27-28]. But we don’t require a pre-runoff report or runoff supplementaries.
Poll-leading Governor Larry Rhoden is nonetheless eager to share that he’s hauled in a truckload of cash since placing second in the June primary:
Ian Fury responded for Rhoden’s campaign. “Governor Rhoden has raised $1.88 million in this runoff period. We anticipate that by the runoff election we will have spent approximately $1.7 million,” Fury said.
Rhoden’s campaign started 2026 with a $511,815.93 beginning balance and in the mid-May pre-primary statement reported raising $571,853.09 and spending $914,052.53 to that point [Bob Mercer, “Rhoden Raises $1.88M in Runoff, Doeden Won’t Say,” KELO-TV, 2026.07.23].
Rhoden’s opponent, Aberdeen loudmouth and primary winner Toby Doeden, stays mum about his runoff finances, instead going on a rmable-dodge about campaign donors destroying South Dakota:
Doeden, in his response, didn’t include any amounts of what his campaign had raised and planned to spend:
“I have financed 99% of this campaign with my own money, including the runoff. I have rejected any PAC donations, contributions from special interest groups, and lobbyists,” Doeden said.
“Our campaign finance system is entirely corrupt. Combined, we have watched Dusty Johnson and Larry Rhoden along with their donors spend nearly $15 million attempting to buy this election. It is frankly disgusting. I committed to spend whatever it takes to protect this state
from the special interest groups trying to destroy it. I will continue to do just that between now and July 28th,” Doeden said.Doeden’s campaign started 2026 with a $41,091.80 beginning balance and in the mid-May pre-primary statement reported raising $2,022,643.04 and spending $1,849,894.57. Doeden’s report showed outstanding loans from Doeden of $2,011,786.48 and $2,015,744.39. The $2,015,744.39 loan was made in 2025 [Mercer, 2026.07.23].
Doeden probably can continue to match Rhoden dollar for dollar with his own cash. But Rhoden gets to squeeze some happy press out of this figure, offering voluntary transparency on his runoiff finances while Doeden keeps secrets.
But let’s hope legislators remember this runoff and Doeden’s lack of transparency and add a runoff report to the campaign finance requirements for the next election cycle.