As the year comes to a close, we think back on the year that was. It was a historic year of transition and change in South Dakota politics, and for this blogger personally. That personal change led to less posting this year, although, thanks to increased search traffic, 2025 was this blog’s most viewed year, going back to its launch in late 2016.

Here is a look at some of the South Dakota history made in 2025:

Thune, Noem, and Rhoden move up

Governor Larry Rhoden

The end of 2024 brought two political earthquakes to South Dakota politics: The election of U.S. Senator John Thune as Republican leader in the U.S. Senate; and the nomination of Governor Kristi Noem to be U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

Thune officially took on his new role in January 2025, upon the opening of the new Congress. Governor Noem had to wait for confirmation by the U.S. Senate, which came on January 25, 2025. She immediately resigned, becoming just the second South Dakota governor to do so, and was succeeded by Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden, who became the 34th Governor of South Dakota.

Rhoden was the first governor to take office midway through a legislative session, as he took the oath of office on the 9th Legislative Day. Later that week, Rhoden nominated State Rep. Tony Venhuizen of Sioux Falls to be the state’s 40th lieutenant governor; Venhuizen was unanimously confirmed by state legislators the next day. Rhoden also named Mackenzie Decker as his chief of staff, making her just the second woman to hold that role in South Dakota. The year also brought a special legislative session, in September, to secure approval of a new state penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

100th Legislative Session

Current and former legislators attend the 100th Session reunion in April (click to view larger)

The year 2025 also brought the state’s 100th Legislative Session, and this blogger was honored to chair the committee that planned for commemorations of this milestone. The commemorations included a reunion of more than 200 current and former legislators in April, at which a Termesphere honoring the legislature was unveiled. The State Historical Society published a new collection, A Legislature of Citizens, collecting historical articles about the legislature. The South Dakota Law Review published a symposium issue featuring several articles about the State Legislature, including an article co-written by this blogger and Sen. David Wheeler. The Legislator Historical Listing, on the legislative website, was enhanced with scanned images of former legislator’s profiles from the Biographical Dictionary of the South Dakota State Legislature and from the biennial South Dakota Legislative Manual, or “Blue Book.”

2026 Gubernatorial Election Begins

This is a history blog, not a politics blog, so although not covering the ebb and flow of political campaigns, the blog did write about the candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring for next year’s election.

Governor Larry Rhoden, the incumbent, made his reelection bid official in November. By then, three other Republicans had launched their campaigns, including House Speaker Jon Hansen of Dell Rapids, who announced a bid with running mate Karla Lems of Canton in April; Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, who launched his candidacy as a populist outsider in May; and Congressman Dusty Johnson of Mitchell, who announced his long-anticipated campaign in June.

In addition, to the Republicans, the current field includes Democrat Robert Arnold, a Dakota State University student and former legislative intern; and Allison Renville, a Native American community activist who is running as an independent. There will likely be another Democratic candidate added to the field in the new year, while the Republican field is probably set.

Thune, Noem, and Rhoden move up

100th Legislative Session

2026 Gubernatorial Election Begins

Final Farewells

SoDak Governors

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