BOX ELDER — Political newcomer and Aberdeen businessman Tony Doeden will face Gov. Larry Rhoden in a Republican primary runoff election on July 28.
As of Wednesday morning, Doeden received 31% of the vote, while Rhoden received 25%. Rep. Dusty Johnson received 23%, and House Speaker Jon Hanson garnered 21%.
South Dakota law requires a gubernatorial candidate to receive at least 35% of the vote in a primary election featuring three or more candidates to secure the nomination. If no candidate reaches that percentage, a runoff election between the top two finishers is held eight weeks after the primary.
The winner of the July runoff will secure the Republican nomination and face Democrat Dan Ahlers on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
Voter turnout was 28.28% in Pennington County and 35.5% statewide.
In other South Dakota elections, Attorney General Marty Jackley won the Republican nomination for South Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat, defeating James Bialota. Jackley received 79% of the vote, while Bialota received 21%.
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds won the Republican nomination for reelection to the U.S. Senate, defeating Justin McNeal. Rounds received 76% of the vote, while McNeal received 24%.
DISTRICT 35
State Sen. Greg Blanc received 52% of the vote to defeat Nicole Mitzel.
Dale Bartscher and State Rep. James Fleming won the Republican primary for the District 35 House seats and will advance to the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Bartscher received 34% of the vote, while Fleming received 33%. Jace West and Emmett Reistroffer received 20% and 13%, respectively. Democrat Ken Jeakins was unopposed and also advances to the Nov. 3 ballot.
PENNINGTON COUNTY
Tina L. Mulally defeated Sabrina Green in the race for Pennington County auditor. Mulally received 53% of the vote, while Green received 47%.
CITY OF BOX ELDER
No municipal election was held in Box Elder because each open city council seat had only one nominee.
Incumbent council members Kirk Beauchamp (Ward 1), Patrick W. Schubert Sr. (Ward 2) and Steven Bixel (Ward 3) were unopposed in seeking new three-year terms.
The Box Elder City Council is expected to formally appoint them to their new terms during its June 3 meeting, which was rescheduled from June 2 because of the primary election.
