PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Outside the sky was bright blue with sunshine and the air a brisk 20 degrees. Inside the South Dakota Capitol, hundreds of people dressed in their Saturday best filled the rotunda to witness the official inauguration of the state’s new governor, Larry Rhoden.
Rhoden was lieutenant governor until two weeks ago to the day, when Kristi Noem officially resigned as governor after the U.S. Senate confirmed her as the nation’s new homeland security secretary. Rhoden, a Republican, took the oath as governor the following Monday.
On Saturday, Rhoden placed his left hand on his mother’s Bible that was held by his wife, Sandy, raised his right hand and took the oath a second time, once again from South Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Steven Jensen. Then the new lieutenant governor, Tony Venhuizen, accompanied by his wife, Sara, took his oath a second time, too.
“Wow,” Rhoden said as he returned onstage to a long-standing ovation. He spoke for about 10 minutes, recalling how his ancestors came across the prairie in a covered wagon and summarizing the story of another South Dakota governor from a century ago, Carl Gunderson, whose statue sits in front of the governor’s mansion, a figure in overalls working on a wagon wheel.
Rhoden’s remarks suggested that he wanted to follow Gunderson’s example as governor and put the people’s needs first, without concern for one’s personal place in history.
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“He was a down-to-earth South Dakota man. When his time as governor was over, he went back to farming,” Rhoden said. “Many of you probably didn’t know who Carl Gunderson was. And a hundred years from now, folks might not remember who Larry Rhoden is. If we remember that, making the best decisions for our people suddenly becomes a lot easier.
“I promise to be a governor who remembers that the solution to our problems will not come through legislation,” Rhoden continued. “Rather it will come from providing our people the opportunity to do right for their families. I promise to set a tone of civility and respect, and the example will start from the top.
“I pledge to govern with openness and responsiveness. My focus will always be to keep South Dakota strong, safe and free,” he said. He added, “Freedom will continue to be our calling card as long as I am governor.”
Rhoden said the difference between challenges and opportunities for him is “largely one of perspective. Challenge many times is opportunity not yet recognized or realized. Whenever I have a task in front of me, I try not to see it as an obstacle to overcome. Rather, if I look at it as an opportunity to achieve something, the task at hand becomes a lot easier. I want that same mindset to be the foundation of everything we do during my administration.”
He recalled that Noem as governor five years ago declared South Dakota open for business. “That bold stand was put to the ultimate test during COVID. We overcame that challenge and turned it into South Dakota’s greatest opportunity. Now we want to apply that same approach to all of our work. I want to keep South Dakota open for business, but more than that, I want to keep South Dakota open for opportunities.”
“Opportunity,” Rhoden said, “is not limited by my vision or even the vision of anyone in this rotunda today. It’s as broad as the South Dakota prairies and as high as Black Elk Peak. If we all link arms and pledge to chase down opportunities together, our state will be in great shape. Fifty years from now, if someone remembers the work that we did, well, that’s just the bonus.”
Among the crowd were former Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who is the father-in-law of Lt. Gov. Venhuizen, as well as Daugaard’s lieutenant governor, Matt Michels, who served as emcee and is now a senior advisor and counsel to Gov. Rhoden. Former First Gentleman Bryon Noem spoke, reading a message from the former governor, who’s been busy traveling around the nation during her first days on the new job. Also present was former First Lady Patricia Miller, wife of the late Gov. Walter Dale Miller.
Rhoden served 16 years in the Legislature and was a candidate for re-election to the state House in 2018 when Noem announced that he was her choice for running mate. Now he will serve the remaining 23-plus months of her second and final term as governor.
On Friday he filed organization papers changing the name of his campaign committee to Rhoden for Governor, telling reporters that he has felt encouragement to seek election but would make an announcement at a later date. Two of his possible opponents for the Republican nomination in 2026 were present on Saturday: U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, who was Daugaard’s chief of staff for four years before running for Congress; and state Attorney General Marty Jackley, whom Noem defeated in the 2018 Republican primary.
One of the surprises during the hour-long ceremony featured the governor’s twin sister, Lorie Rhoden-Hausmann. She spoke about how her brother Larry showed a knack for welding while they were growing up, how he’s made hundreds of branding irons for other ranchers, and the natural ability he has to work with his hands, including at carpentry.
And she read a poem, The Fate of the Black Walnut Tree, that First Lady Sandy Rhoden had written. It’s about a tree that had stood for decades on the family ranch in Meade County. After the tree died, Larry Rhoden used wood from the tree to make decorative crosses. Lorie showed the cross given to her from the Rhodens along with the poem. The poem was included as an insert to the inauguration ceremony booklet.
State Tribal Relations Secretary David Flute, a former chairman of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Tribe, wore a ceremonial headdress as he delivered a prayer in his native language. There was a beautiful solo performance of the national anthem by Brittany Lindberg, and Sara Frankenstein sang a stunning rendition of “God Bless America,” to which Rhoden could be seen singing along at times, his eyes tearing near the end.
The 66-year-old Rhoden wrapped up his speech by recognizing his family, especially his wife, Sandy. “She’s been my most loyal supporter,” he said. “And I know I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for her love and support. And I want to thank the good Lord for putting me in the position to serve as your governor.”
He concluded, “I want to thank the people of South Dakota — thank you for trusting me with this honor. And thank all of you for being here to celebrate, with me and my family. Thank you, God bless you all, and may God continue to bless our great state of South Dakota.”
