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  "description": "\"Governor Rhoden isn’t focused on who he’s running against, but on what he’s running for.\" Also makes 2 campaign appointments. ",
  "path": "/larry-rhoden-dusty-johnsons-2-person-race/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-17T13:48:15.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "interview last week",
    "Emerson College poll commissioned by KELO-TV",
    "this year's session",
    "$1.6 million",
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    "Takeaways from the 2026 South Dakota legislative sessionLawmakers leave Pierre after passing a $7.5B budget that included a modest pay bump for state employees, teachers and Medicaid providers.South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
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  "textContent": "Gov. Larry Rhoden pushed back Monday against comments made by gubernatorial rival U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson.\n\nIn an interview last week with News Watch, Johnson argued a recent poll had demonstrated Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, and not the current sitting governor, was his closest challenger for the Republican nomination for governor.\n\nThe Emerson College poll commissioned by KELO-TV showed Johnson on top with support from 28% of respondents, while Doeden received 18%, Rhoden got 17% and House Speaker Jon Hansen received 14%. Almost a quarter of respondents, 23%, were undecided.\n\n\"When you see Doeden polling at second place, and having far more resources than Rhoden, I increasingly get the sense this is a two-person race,\" Johnson said.\n\n## ****Get South Dakota stories****\n\nAn email summary on most weekdays that links to the full version. Cancel anytime.\n\nSign up\n\nEmail sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup.\n\nRhoden's team hit back, arguing the governor's ability to get several key pieces of legislation over the line in this year's session meant Johnson's comments come from a place of concern rather than dismissiveness.\n\n\"Governor Rhoden isn’t focused on who he’s running against, but on what he’s running for. His achievements, including the biggest property tax cut in state history, prove he’s the right man for the job. Other candidates are dismissing him because they recognize that reality,\" Ian Fury, Rhoden's campaign manager, told News Watch March 16 in a statement.\n\nCampaign finance disclosure forms filed at the end of January showed Johnson and Doeden raising roughly $1.6 million and $2.1 million respectively in 2025, with the latter having the majority his campaign funds come from his own personal fortune. Johnson also received an additional $900,000 in funds from an affiliated political action committee.\n\n****Your donation supports trusted, balanced storytelling that's delivered for free to all South Dakotans.****\n\n Donate \n\nRhoden raised approximately $500,000 despite declaring to run in November, compared to Johnson announcing in June and Doeden in April.\n\nRhoden's pushback against Johnson came the same day he announced the appointment of two key roles on his campaign team. In addition to confirming Fury as his campaign manager, Rhoden named Lexie Warejcka as finance director.\n\n“Ian and Lexie are both incredibly competent, and I look forward to having them work with me on this campaign to help us keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free,\" Rhoden said in an email sent by his campaign.\n\nTakeaways from the 2026 South Dakota legislative sessionLawmakers leave Pierre after passing a $7.5B budget that included a modest pay bump for state employees, teachers and Medicaid providers.South Dakota News WatchAlexander Rifaat\n\nShare your thoughts on this story\n\n _**South Dakota News Watch** is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at _ _sdnewswatch.org_ _.**Contact politics and statehouse reporter Alexander Rifaat:** 605-736-4396/__alexander.rifaat@sdnewswatch.org_ _._",
  "title": "Rhoden hits back at Johnson's '2-person race' gibe",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-17T13:48:16.406Z"
}