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Sunday, Jul 5, 2026

Are lieutenant governor picks always announced after the nominee is selected?

Michael Klinski, South Dakota News Watch
no

Gubernatorial running mates in South Dakota are not always chosen after the nominee is selected.

Republican nominee Jon Hansen chose Karla Lems as his running mate on April 24, 2025, over a year before the primary on June 2.

Gov. Larry Rhoden announced that Lt. Gov. Tony Venhuizen would stay on as his running mate when he announced his re-election campaign on Nov. 18.

In 1994, former Gov. Bill Janklow tapped Carole Hillard prior to the primary. Janklow went on to beat Walter Miller in the primary, and Hillard became the first woman to serve as lieutenant governor of South Dakota.

In May 2025, Rhoden signed into law a bill that requires governor candidates to nominate a candidate for lieutenant governor by 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday of August on election years. In 2026, Aug. 11 is the deadline for governor hopefuls to choose running mates.

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