Larry Rhoden

On May 5, 2020, Governor Noem announced that South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Kim Vanneman would be resigning effective May 8, 2020, and that Rhoden was being named interim agriculture secretary.

Kristi Noem announced on June 20, 2018, that Rhoden would be her running mate as Lieutenant Governor. Noem had previously referred to the role of a prospective Lieutenant Governor, stating that "I would do it a little differently maybe than Daugaard and Michels have done it." She further stated that "I don’t see the lieutenant governor filling as big a role as Michels did. I'm just a believer that there are certain decisions the governor has to make, and so maybe it would be more of a traditional role than what we saw in the last administration."

Rhoden ran for a United States Senate seat in 2014, calling himself a "conservative voice for limited government." Rhoden spoke out against abortion, same-sex marriage, "career politicians," "activist judges," and immigration "amnesty." Rhoden signed a pledge to never raise taxes, and supports de-funding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Rhoden spoke at a conference organized by the conservative organization RedState, criticizing fellow candidate Mike Rounds's position on taxes. Rounds defeated Rhoden by a margin of 41,377 to 13,393 in the June 2, 2014 primary.

Rhoden served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2001 to 2008, spending four years as majority leader. After being term-limited, Rhoden was elected to the state senate. In 2010, Rhoden ran for senate majority leader, but lost to Russell Olson.

Rhoden graduated from Sunshine Bible Academy in 1977 and served in the South Dakota National Guard from 1978 to 1985. Rhoden is a rancher by trade.

Larry Rhoden (born February 5, 1959) is an American politician, currently serving as the 39th lieutenant governor of South Dakota. A member of the Republican Party, previously served in both houses of the South Dakota Legislature.