Rhoden's SD Primary Challenge
Incumbent Larry Rhoden Faces Key Challenges in South Dakota's June 2 Republican Primary
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Six states are holding primary elections on June 2, 2026, with the most closely watched race unfolding in South Dakota, where incumbent Governor Larry Rhoden faces a contested four-way Republican primary. Rhoden was never elected governor — he stepped up from Lieutenant Governor after Kristi Noem resigned in January 2025 to join President Trump's Cabinet as Secretary of Homeland Security, according to KTVB.
A runoff is a real possibility. South Dakota requires any candidate to clear 35% of the vote to win outright. If no one hits that mark tonight, a second election is scheduled for July 28, according to WCNC.
South Dakota's Four-Way GOP Battle for Governor
Rhoden's three main challengers are U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, House Speaker Jon Hansen, and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden. Johnson is a moderate Republican who serves on the Problem Solvers Caucus. Hansen is a conservative firebrand who built his profile by opposing a major carbon pipeline project. Doeden frames himself as a political outsider, saying, "We needed a bold outsider to step up," according to WUSA9.
Hansen has surged from 2% to 18% in recent polling, according to KHOU. He credits televised debates for his rise, saying voters could "take a measure and get a sense of who is honest and who is genuine." Still, 18% is far from the 35% needed to avoid a runoff, and the race remains fluid with multiple candidates splitting the vote.
Pipeline Fight Shapes the South Dakota Primary
One of the biggest local issues driving this race is the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. The project would run through multiple Midwestern states to capture and store carbon from ethanol plants. Both Hansen and Doeden have opposed it. A win for either candidate could effectively kill the project, according to KVUE.
South Dakota Republicans have not been united on the pipeline. The debate has split the party along establishment versus grassroots lines. Rhoden, seen as the establishment pick, has not taken a strong stand against it. That divide is a key reason this primary is competitive, according to WWLTV.
Montana Senate Race Features a Controversial Last-Minute Switch
In Montana, Sen. Steve Daines dropped out of the Senate primary on March 5, 2026 — the filing deadline. Minutes later, former U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme filed to enter the race. Alme quickly won endorsements from both Daines and President Trump, according to THV11. Critics called the timing a "choreographed" hand-off designed to protect the seat.
Running against Alme is Seth Bodnar, the former University of Montana president, who is running as an independent. Bodnar leads the entire field in total fundraising, making him a serious threat even without a major party label, according to WKYC.
California's 61-Candidate Jungle Primary Tests Democratic Unity
California is holding a wide-open gubernatorial primary to replace term-limited Gavin Newsom. There are 61 candidates on the ballot, according to 5 News Online. The top two finishers advance to November, regardless of party. Leading Democrats include former HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and climate billionaire Tom Steyer. On the Republican side, Trump-endorsed commentator Steve Hilton is the frontrunner.
Democrats are worried about a "lockout" — a scenario where the Democratic vote splits so many ways that two Republicans finish in the top two. Analysts currently think that outcome is unlikely, but the sheer size of the Democratic field makes it a real concern to watch as results come in tonight, according to WHAS11.
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