| Governor of South Dakota | |
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| Government of South Dakota | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | The Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively[1] |
| Inaugural holder | Arthur C. Mellette 1889[2] |
| Formation | Constitution of South Dakota |
| Succession | Line of succesion |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota |
| Salary | $139,100.00[3][4] |
| Website | Official website |
Thegovernor of South Dakota is thehead of government ofSouth Dakota.[5] The governor is elected to a four-year term in even years when there is nopresidential election.[1]
The current governor isLarry Rhoden, a member of theRepublican Party who took office on January 25, 2025 uponKristi Noem's resignation following her confirmation asSecretary of Homeland Security by theUnited States Senate.
Anyone who seeks to be elected Governor of South Dakota must meet the following qualifications:[6][better source needed]
The governor holds many powers and duties, which in many ways are similar to those held by thepresident of the United States:[7]
From 1889 to 1974, the governor served a 2-year term. Until the 1940s, the governor was allowed to serve unlimited terms; since that time, governors have been limited to 2 consecutive terms. The gubernatorial term was extended to 4 years in 1974. The governor andlieutenant governor run on a single ticket. The gubernatorial nominee must win a primary, whereas the lieutenant governor nominee is selected at a state party convention. After the convention, they run on a single ticket.[1]
South Dakota’s first governor wasArthur C. Mellette, who was also the last governor of theDakota Territory.[2]
3 of South Dakota's governors have left office before their terms expired. In 1978,Richard F. Kneip resigned from office 6 months before the expiration of his term to accept an appointment asUnited States ambassador toSingapore.[10] On April 19, 1993,George S. Mickelson was killed in a plane crash nearDubuque, Iowa; Mickelson is the only South Dakota governor to die in office. Mickelson and his father,George Theodore Mickelson, are the only father-son duo to serve as governor.[11] On January 25, 2025,Kristi Noem resigned to become theUnited States Secretary of Homeland Security in theCabinet ofPresidentDonald Trump.
South Dakota's longest-serving governor wasBill Janklow; he was the first governor to complete two four-year terms, and he did it twice, serving from 1979 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 2003.[12] Janklow is also the only person to serve non-consecutive terms as governor.
Several governors have gone on to serve in other high offices.Coe I. Crawford,[13]Peter Norbeck,[14]William H. McMaster,William J. Bulow,Harlan J. Bushfield, andMike Rounds followed their tenures as governor by serving in theUnited States Senate. Bill Janklow served briefly in theUnited States House of Representatives following his second stint as governor.[15]Kristi Noem was South Dakota's first female governor.
Of the 50 states, South Dakota currently holds the longest non-interrupted party control of the governorship. The Republican Party has controlled the South Dakota governorship since January 1, 1979.
