Lt. Governor's son hired to handle South Dakota GOP operations

Reggie Rhoden to become South Dakota Republican Party's next Executive Director after previously serving in Secretary of State's Office

Feb 20, 2024

A former staffer in Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s office and campaign staffer for Gov. Kristi Noem has been tapped by the South Dakota Republican Party to oversee the day-to-day operations of the organization.

South Dakota GOP Chairman John Wiik confirmed Tuesday to The Dakota Scout that the party recently hired Reggie Rhoden of Rapid City to become the next Executive Director of the organization.

“Reggie is well known and respected as a dedicated, hard-worker within the South Dakota GOP,” Wiik said.

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Rhoden is the son of Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden. He fills a vacancy created by the departure of the South Dakota GOP’s former executive director, Madison Sheahan, who left the post in December to take a cabinet-level position in Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s administration.

During his time in with the Secretary of State’s Office, Rhoden worked serevd as Pistol Permit Administrator and Election Coordinator. He was in that role for less than a year. At the time of his departure, he told The Dakota Scout he left the office to be closer to his West River home. Since then, he’s been working in the Meade County Auditor’s Office.

Rhoden has also worked for the state’s Department of Labor and as a Regional Consultant for Northpoint Data Security.

He is the son of Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden.

The Executive Director of the state party is tasked with overseeing day-to-day operations, such as communicating with donors, helping to organize county parties, and plan party functions and conventions.

That will be of particular importance, as the state’s GOP ramps up for its convention later this year in Pierre, and a state Legislature election year.

“He seemed a perfect fit for a busy election year,” Wiik said.