South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem presents Lieutenant Gov. Larry Rhoden with a baseball bat during her State of the State address on Jan. 14. The gift represented a pending change in leadership as Noem is considered for a national appointment as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Photo by: Dave Bordewyk/South Dakota NewsMedia Association

Noem resigns, Larry Rhoden assumes office of governor

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem resigned Saturday morning, minutes after being confirmed as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

Noem, the first female governor of South Dakota, wrote a letter to her successor, Larry Rhoden, wishing him well as he assumed office. 

“Under God, the People Rule,” Noem reminded Gov. Rhoden in the letter, referencing the state’s motto. “I chose you because I knew that you would approach the role the same way that I did.” 

Rhoden, 65, becomes the 34th governor of South Dakota.

The longtime policymaker from Union Center has a long history in state politics, having served as a lawmaker in both the South Dakota House and Senate before becoming lieutenant governor in 2019. He took a brief hiatus from Pierre politics in order to run for U.S. Senate in 2014, but lost in the GOP primary to Sen. Mike Rounds. He and his family ranch in Meade County. He is married to Sandy, and the two have four kids together.

Rhoden’s move into the governor’s office has been anticipated for months, and on Friday, the state Senate, which he had led as Senate president, bid him a bipartisan farewell. 

“The best part of my job has been meeting the people,” Rhoden said in his final remarks as Senate president.

Rhoden acknowledged acceptance of Noem’s resignation letter in a statement posted to X. 

“I look forward to keeping South Dakota strong, safe, and free,” the newly minted governor said.

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