SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has defeated a Democratic state lawmaker to win reelection.
Noem leaned heavily on her handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a first term marked by positioning for a possible White House bid in 2024.
The Republican governor eased past state Rep. Jamie Smith after raising more than $15 million via a nationwide fundraising network.
Noem has said she would serve a full four-year term if reelected, but she generated speculation about higher political ambitions by becoming a fixture in conservative media and making appearances in key 2024 states.
Her fundraising haul was a historic amount of money for a South Dakota gubernatorial candidate.
