Has Gov. Rhoden been criticized for his usage of the state plane?

Unlike some previous governors, Rhoden has not been publicly questioned on his use of the state airplane.

However, he was criticized over his use of a private plane in March after an investigation by The Dakota Scout “revealed that a benefactor to the governor’s candidacy in the 2026 gubernatorial election provided Rhoden and his campaign staff transportation” from Pierre to campaign events in Sioux Falls and Watertown.

The financial gain from use of that private plane was not disclosed on year-end financial reports filed with the Secretary of State’s office. Rhoden’s campaign told The Dakota Scout that the exclusion was “inadvertent.”

During the debate, Ahlers said there should be increased transparency on the use of the state airplane and that The Dakota Scout sued “less than a year ago to get state records.”

“That is patently false,” Rhoden said. “We’ve never been criticized one bit on the plane usage.”