Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden speaks with a constituent at the state Capitol on Jan. 13, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)
Sometime this month Gov. Kristi Noem will get her seal of approval from the U.S. Senate to become the nation’s next secretary of Homeland Security. That paves the way for Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden to be the next governor of South Dakota.
With Rhoden’s experience as a legislator and his six years as president of the Senate, he has a firm grip on how things work in the state Capitol. During her tenure, it often seemed like Noem was more concerned about where her next job was coming from than she was in learning how to do the job that she had.
All of Rhoden’s legislative and political know-how will be needed as he takes on the role of governor during a legislative session that includes an influx of lawmakers who are most kindly described as non-traditional Republicans. Given his experience, Rhoden may be the best choice to step into an ongoing legislative session and navigate what are sure to be some choppy political waters.
Anyone going into a new job, even a seasoned veteran of the Legislature like Rhoden, could use some guidance. Here’s some unsolicited advice for the man who will be South Dakota’s 34th governor.
Make peace with the state’s Indian tribes.
It’s best to let the tribes know early and often that there’s a new governor in town who doesn’t think that they’re collaborating with drug cartels and who would like to be welcome on the reservations. If you do believe they’re allied with the cartels, make sure you have some proof before you start making allegations. Even though the tribes are sovereign nations, they should be treated with the respect and courtesy due any other South Dakotans.
Don’t try to solve national problems with state dollars.
With the state budget you’ve inherited, there likely won’t be enough money for any more grand gestures. Even so, please resist the temptation to use taxpayer dollars on National Guard deployments to the Texas border. There’s plenty for you to spend those dollars on here at home.
Embrace the traditional forms of communication.
Sure, you can copy the social media apparatus created by your predecessor. But keep in mind there’s a significant portion of the population that still gets its information from legacy media. To communicate with those people, that means having regular news conferences during the legislative session. That means having a communications staff that answers media questions readily and fully. That means not wasting your time, and the media’s, by howling “fake news” when you don’t like what’s written about you and then calling regular press conferences to update the public during a disaster.
If you want to show that you’ve got a better grip than your predecessor on the importance of transparency, throw your support to Senate Bill 9. That bill calls for making public the calendars and appointment logs of statewide elected officials and department heads. Currently those documents can be, and the governor’s currently is, closed to public scrutiny. Backing SB 9 would show that you’re all for letting the public know how their elected officials are spending their time.
It’s possible to be a Republican without going full-MAGA.
You can have deep feelings about border security without investing South Dakota’s tax dollars in another state. You can hold on to your GOP bonafides without embracing popular conservative causes like Noem’s call for crippling budget cuts for public broadcasting or her plan to spend $4 million in taxpayer dollars on tuition for private school students.
Time is short, but don’t be afraid to take on a big project.
The next election for governor takes place in 2026 and while no announcements have been made, the field of candidates for the Republican primary already looks crowded. You’ll be the incumbent, likely pitted against U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, Attorney General Marty Jackley and a player to be named later from the less-than-traditional wing of the Republican Party. There’s still time to offer a big idea about how to handle property tax reform or how to get teacher pay out of the basement of national rankings. Even with two years as governor to bolster your name recognition, you’re going to need to accomplish something big that sets you apart from the crowd.
It’s probably best if you don’t follow Noem’s example.
Noem was always shooting for higher office — when she wasn’t shooting pets or farm animals. Those national ambitions have paid off for her. Now it’s time for South Dakota to have a leader intent on leading the state rather than using the time in office to buff up a resume.
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