A conservative Aberdeen businessman has formally announced he’s running for governor.
Toby Doeden vows to shake up Pierre if elected governor.
During a campaign announcement in Aberdeen Wednesday night, he said he will not take a salary as governor, shred executive branch credit cards and halt airplane use for out of state travel.
Doeden said he would utilize “external revenue” to fund state government, but did not indicate what those sources would be.
He said as governor he will make property tax relief an immediate priority—by eliminating them.
“So that each and every resident—regardless of class, color, creed or profession—can truly own their home and their land once and for all," Doeden said.
Property taxes in South Dakota fund public schools and county governments.
Doeden self-funded the political action committee Dakota First Action with $100,000 contribution. That committee helped finance a wave of Republican candidates who shifted the majority coalition in the state legislature.
In addition to property tax relief, Doeden said the size and scope of state government must dramatically decrease without effecting services to residents.
“South Dakota is a bloated $8 billion enterprise. We need a CEO who will take bold action to shrink our budget and reduce government overreach and bureaucracy all while ensuring that public services and resident quality of life increase," Doeden said.
In March, the Republican majority state legislature approved a $7.3 billion budget for fiscal year 2026. Over 40 percent of that is federal funds.
Doeden was introduced by Rapid City Republican state Senator Taffy Howard, who Doeden called a fierce and relentless conservative leader.
Doeden joins Speaker of the House Jon Hansen as a second candidate to formally announce a run for South Dakota governor.
Current Gov. Larry Rhoden, Congressman Dusty Johnson and Attorney General Marty Jackley are all rumored to be exploring a bid for the office.
