Governor of South Dakota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Governor of South Dakota |
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| Government of South Dakota | |
| Style | The Honorable |
| Residence | The Governor's Mansion |
| Term length | Four years, renewable once consecutively |
| Inaugural holder | Arthur C. Mellette 1889 |
| Formation | Constitution of South Dakota |
| Succession | Line of succesion |
| Deputy | Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota |
| Salary | $139,100.00 |
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The governor of South Dakota is like the main leader for the state of South Dakota. They are in charge of the state's government. People vote for the governor every four years. This election happens in even-numbered years when there isn't a big presidential election.
The person who is currently governor is Larry Rhoden. He is a member of the Republican Party. Governor Rhoden started his job on January 25, 2025. He took over after Kristi Noem resigned. She left to become the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States.
Contents
Becoming Governor: What It Takes
To become the Governor of South Dakota, a person needs to meet a few important requirements:
- They must be a citizen of the United States.
- They need to be at least 21 years old.
- They must have lived in South Dakota for at least two years before the election.
What the Governor Does: Powers and Duties
The governor has many important jobs and powers. These are often similar to what the president of the United States does for the whole country.
Representing the State
The governor acts as a spokesperson for South Dakota. They help promote businesses and economic growth in the state. This means they encourage new companies to come to South Dakota.
Working with Laws
The governor plays a big part in making laws. They can suggest new laws to the South Dakota Legislature. They also have the power to veto (say no to) bills. A veto stops a bill from becoming a law. However, the state legislature can sometimes override a veto. This means they can still pass the bill if enough lawmakers vote for it.
Leading the Executive Branch
The governor is in charge of the executive branch of the state government. This branch carries out the laws. The governor chooses people to be part of their cabinet. These cabinet members help run different parts of the state government. The governor also appoints members to many state boards and groups.
Commander of the National Guard
The governor is the commander-in-chief of the South Dakota National Guard. This means they are the top leader for the state's military forces.
Granting Pardons
The governor can grant pardons. A pardon is when someone convicted of a crime under state law is officially forgiven.
Filling Vacancies
If there's an empty spot in the state legislature or state courts, the governor can choose someone to fill it. They also fill empty spots in other state offices. If a United States Senate seat from South Dakota becomes empty, the governor chooses someone to fill that spot too.
Leading Their Political Party
The governor is usually the main leader of their political party in the state.
History of South Dakota's Governors
The way governors serve has changed over time in South Dakota.
Term Length Changes
From 1889 to 1974, governors served for two years at a time. Until the 1940s, a governor could serve as many terms as they wanted. After that, they were limited to two terms in a row. In 1974, the term length was changed to four years.
How Governors Are Chosen
Today, the governor and the lieutenant governor run for office together. The person who wants to be governor must first win a primary election. The person who will be lieutenant governor is chosen at a state party meeting. After that, they run as a team.
First Governor and Notable Events
South Dakota's very first governor was Arthur C. Mellette. He was also the last governor of the Dakota Territory before it became a state.
Three of South Dakota's governors have left office before their terms ended:
- In 1978, Richard F. Kneip resigned. He left six months early to become a United States ambassador to Singapore.
- On April 19, 1993, George S. Mickelson died in a plane crash. He is the only South Dakota governor to die while in office. His father, George Theodore Mickelson, also served as governor. They are the only father-son pair to hold the job.
- On January 25, 2025, Kristi Noem resigned. She became the United States Secretary of Homeland Security in the Cabinet of President Donald Trump.
Longest-Serving and Other Roles
Bill Janklow was South Dakota's longest-serving governor. He was the first to complete two four-year terms, and he did it twice! He served from 1979 to 1987 and again from 1995 to 2003. He is also the only person to serve terms that were not in a row.
Several governors have gone on to hold other important jobs. Coe I. Crawford, Peter Norbeck, William H. McMaster, William J. Bulow, Harlan J. Bushfield, and Mike Rounds all became U.S. Senators after being governor. Bill Janklow also served in the United States House of Representatives for a short time after his second period as governor. Kristi Noem was the first woman to be governor of South Dakota.
South Dakota has a unique record among the 50 states. The Republican Party has controlled the governorship without interruption since January 1, 1979. This is the longest streak for any state.
Timeline of Governors
| Timeline of South Dakota governors |
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