Larry Rhoden Bio
Larry Robert Rhoden (born February 5, 1959) is an American politician, businessman, and rancher serving as the 34th governor of South Dakota. A Republican, he assumed the governorship in January 2025 after Kristi Noem resigned to become United States Secretary of Homeland Security. Before leading the state, Rhoden built a long career in the South Dakota Legislature and later served as the 39th lieutenant governor of South Dakota.
Over more than two decades in public life, Rhoden has been a consistent voice for limited government, agricultural interests, and conservative values. He is widely recognized for his steady presence in South Dakota politics and his deep roots in the state’s ranching country.
Early Life and Background
Larry Robert Rhoden was born on February 5, 1959, in Sturgis, South Dakota, and raised on a farm in the surrounding area. He grew up attending church and was shaped by the rhythms of rural life in western South Dakota. After completing his early education, he graduated from Sunshine Bible Academy in 1977.
Following high school, Rhoden served in the South Dakota National Guard from 1978 to 1985. While his children were young, he remained active in his community, serving as a church trustee and on the local school board. He also led the board of directors for the local Cenex, gaining early experience in cooperative business leadership.
Path to US Politics
Rhoden’s entry into politics grew out of his years of community involvement in western South Dakota. His work with the school board and the Cenex cooperative gave him practical experience in local governance and agricultural policy, two areas that would define his later career. These roles helped him build a reputation as a practical, conservative leader in his region.
In 2000, Rhoden won a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives, beginning a legislative career that would span nearly two decades. His early work in the House focused on rural issues, agricultural concerns, and the priorities of western South Dakota, themes that continued throughout his time in state government.
Larry Rhoden Career
Early Career (2001–2008)
Larry Rhoden served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2001 to 2008, where he became a leading voice for his district. He rose through the ranks and eventually served four years as majority leader, helping shape the legislative agenda for the Republican caucus. His tenure in the House was marked by a focus on agriculture, natural resources, and state affairs.
Rhoden served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and the State Affairs Committee during his time in the House. He backed bills to arm volunteers in schools and sponsored a legislative finding that the Founding Fathers had freely and willingly abjured all legislative and executive authority to regulate gun ownership and usage to individual citizens. These efforts reflected his consistent conservative priorities.
South Dakota Senate Breakthrough (2009–2019)
After being term-limited in the House, Rhoden was elected to the South Dakota State Senate, where he served from 2009 to 2015. In 2010, he ran for senate majority leader but lost to Russell Olson. He continued to advocate for his western South Dakota constituents while developing broader policy interests across the state.
In 2014, Rhoden launched a campaign for the United States Senate, positioning himself as a conservative voice for limited government. He spoke out against abortion, same-sex marriage, career politicians, activist judges, and immigration amnesty. He signed a pledge to never raise taxes and supported defunding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Rhoden also criticized fellow Republican candidate Mike Rounds’s position on taxes at a RedState conference. In the June 2 primary, Rounds defeated Rhoden, 41,377 votes to 13,393.
Rhoden returned to the South Dakota Senate, serving again from 2017 to 2019. His combined service in both chambers of the South Dakota Legislature gave him one of the most extensive legislative records in the state.
Lieutenant Governor Era (2019–2025)
On June 20, 2018, Republican gubernatorial nominee Kristi Noem announced that Rhoden would be her running mate for the 2018 election. The pair won, and Rhoden took office as the 39th lieutenant governor of South Dakota on January 5, 2019. As lieutenant governor, he played a traditional supporting role, focused on agricultural and rural issues.
On May 5, 2020, Noem announced that South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Kim Vanneman would resign, and Rhoden was named interim agriculture secretary. On August 27, 2020, Noem announced a merger of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources into a new Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, led by Hunter Roberts, ending Rhoden’s interim role. On June 20, 2020, Rhoden was also elected as one of South Dakota’s three Republican presidential electors.
Governor of South Dakota Era (2025–Present)
In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Kristi Noem to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security. After her confirmation on January 25, 2025, she resigned as governor of South Dakota, and Rhoden was sworn in as the 34th governor by Chief Justice Steven R. Jensen. He became one of the few South Dakota leaders to rise from the ranch country of the west to the state’s highest office.
On January 29, 2025, Rhoden chose Tony Venhuizen as his lieutenant governor. Venhuizen was unanimously confirmed by both the South Dakota Senate and House of Representatives the following day. Early in his term, Rhoden worked with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to order the return of the Mount Rushmore fireworks show in 2026, signaling his commitment to celebrating South Dakota’s heritage and tourism economy.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Rhoden’s signature moments was his 2014 U.S. Senate campaign, which positioned him as a strong conservative voice even in defeat. His rise from the South Dakota House to majority leader, and later to the governorship, marks one of the most extended state-level political journeys in recent South Dakota history. His ascent to the governorship following Noem’s federal appointment stands as the defining milestone of his career.
Larry Rhoden Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Larry Rhoden lives in Union Center, South Dakota, with his wife, Sandy (Murphy), whom he married in 1981. The couple has four children and seven grandchildren. Rhoden is a rancher by trade and runs and owns a cow-calf operation and a custom welding business, reflecting his lifelong connection to the land and small business in western South Dakota.
His deep roots in ranching and community have shaped both his personal life and his approach to public service. Rhoden’s family remains central to his identity as a lifelong resident of the region he now leads as governor.