Larry Rhoden

Larry Rhoden
Name	Larry Rhoden
Office	Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
Governor	Kristi Noem
Term start	January 5, 2019
Term end	present
Predecessor	Matt Michels
Office1	Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
Term start1	January 2001
Term end1	January 2009
Term start2	January 2011
Term end2	January 2019
Birth date	March 18, 1959
Birth place	Sturgis, South Dakota
Party	Republican Party (United States)
Spouse	Jean Rhoden
Residence	Sturgis, South Dakota

Larry Rhoden

Larry Rhoden is an American politician and rancher from South Dakota who has served as the state's Lieutenant Governor since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served multiple terms in the South Dakota House of Representatives representing parts of Meade County and the Black Hills region. Rhoden has been involved in agricultural, energy, and veteran affairs issues and announced a campaign for the United States Senate in 2024.

Early life and education

Rhoden was born March 18, 1959, in Sturgis, South Dakota, a community known for the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. He grew up in rural Meade County and attended local public schools before enrolling at Black Hills State University, where he pursued studies related to agriculture and business. His family connections to ranching and ties to regional institutions such as South Dakota State University and local extension services shaped his early interests. During this period he became involved with organizations linked to National Rifle Association affiliates, regional 4-H chapters, and community groups centered in the Black Hills National Forest area.

Early career and business activities

Rhoden worked as a rancher and cattle producer on operations near Sturgis, South Dakota, participating in commodity markets tied to the United States Department of Agriculture and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulatory environment. His business activities connected him with state-level agricultural networks including the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association and regional trade groups that liaise with the Farm Service Agency. Rhoden also engaged with energy and land-use stakeholders associated with projects near the Black Hills and the Belle Fourche River watershed, interacting with state agencies such as the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

South Dakota Legislature

Rhoden was first elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives in 2000, serving from 2001 to 2009 and again from 2011 to 2019. In the Legislature he served on committees addressing appropriations, commerce and energy, and agriculture-related panels, working alongside legislators from districts including Rapid City and Pierre. His legislative tenure overlapped with notable South Dakota figures such as Mike Rounds, Dennis Daugaard, and later Kristi Noem. Rhoden sponsored and supported bills involving state budgeting, property taxation, and veteran services, coordinating with entities like the South Dakota Veterans Council and municipal governments in Sturgis and surrounding townships.

Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota

In 2018 Rhoden was selected as the running mate of Kristi Noem in the 2018 gubernatorial election in South Dakota; the ticket won the general election. As Lieutenant Governor he presided over ceremonial duties at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre and represented the state in meetings with federal officials from the United States Department of the Interior and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Rhoden has accompanied the Governor on trade and agricultural delegations to stakeholders tied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, energy producers active in the Midwest, and veterans' organizations such as the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He has participated in state-level emergency response coordination with the South Dakota National Guard and attended regional forums with neighboring states including Wyoming and North Dakota.

Political positions and legislative initiatives

Rhoden's policy positions align with conservative priorities advanced by figures such as Ronald Reagan, Donald Trump, and state conservatives in the Republican Party. He has advocated for lower state taxes, regulatory relief for producers interacting with the Environmental Protection Agency, and support for Second Amendment rights in coordination with groups like the National Rifle Association. On healthcare matters he has favored state-led solutions that interacted with programs under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Rhoden backed measures to expand access to rural broadband in partnership with federal initiatives from the United States Department of Agriculture and state infrastructure projects, and he supported workforce development efforts tied to South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Black Hills State University. On energy policy he has promoted development of regional energy resources and opposed regulatory approaches advanced by the Environmental Protection Agency that he and allies argued would affect ranching and energy sectors.

2024 U.S. Senate campaign

Rhoden launched a campaign for the United States Senate in 2024 to seek the seat held by Senator John Thune (note: campaign context and opponents vary by cycle). His campaign emphasized themes central to statewide Republican politics—rural economic development, support for agriculture, veterans' affairs, and opposition to federal regulatory overreach—with outreach to county parties across South Dakota and engagement at events like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The primary landscape included other Republicans with backgrounds in statewide office, business, and United States House of Representatives delegations; Rhoden sought endorsements from state legislators, county officials, and national conservative organizations. He campaigned on coordination with federal representatives from the Great Plains region and highlighted ties to institutions such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and veteran service groups.

Category:Lieutenant Governors of South Dakota Category:Members of the South Dakota House of Representatives Category:South Dakota Republicans Category:People from Sturgis, South Dakota