Larry Rhoden on Principles & Values

	Larry Rhoden on Principles & Values

A cornerstone of my administration would be civility

I'm talking about convening because it's important for you all to understand my leadership style. I don't need to be the smartest person in the room. It's more important to me to get the right people in the room--people with different perspectives who are focused on solutions. Shortly after becoming Governor, I pledged to all of you that a cornerstone of my administration would be civility. We achieved that last year. Let's all recommit to civility this legislative session. Source: 2026 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature , Jan 13, 2026

This year is 250th birthday of freest nation in history

This year is the 250th birthday of the United States of America, the freest nation in history. And South Dakota will host the very best and brightest celebration of that occasion when fireworks go off over Mount Rushmore on July 3rd. That monument celebrates four of our greatest presidents, who fought for the revolutionary ideal "that all men are created equal, and that [we] are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights." Source: 2026 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature , Jan 13, 2026

Roots are in South Dakota: I was born here; I will die here

My roots are in South Dakota. I was born here, and I will die here. I'm a fourth-generation South Dakotan. My father's grandfather, Allen Rhoden, came to western South Dakota in 1907. My mother was a Murphy. I'm a fifth-generation South Dakotan on her side. Her family came west on horses and wagons. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature , Jan 28, 2025

Parents taught us the importance of faith in Jesus Christ

Mom and Dad taught us the importance of faith in Jesus Christ. And church is still central in my life. They weren't rich by any stretch. But they made sacrifices to send three of us kids to Sunshine Bible Academy near Miller. They wanted our schooling to be centered around our faith and our values. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature , Jan 28, 2025

Our rights come from God, not from government

I am a common-sense conservative. In fact, I consistently ranked as one of South Dakota's most conservative legislators. I believe that our rights come from God, not from government. Our Creator endowed us with unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness--and life comes first. I am pro-life. I'm pro-2nd Amendment. I believe that government is best when it is limited. And I trust our people to exercise their personal freedoms. Source: 2025 State of the State Address to South Dakota legislature , Jan 28, 2025

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*Other governors on Principles & Values:*			*Larry Rhoden on other issues:*
*SD Gubernatorial:* Billie Sutton Daniel Ahlers Dusty Johnson Jamie R. Smith Jon Hansen Kristi Noem Marty Jackley Steven Haugaard *SD Senatorial:* Brian Bengs John Thune Mike Rounds	*Mayoral/Gubernatorial races 2025* (seated Jan. 2026): NJ Governor: Mikie Sherrill (D), U.S. Rep. NJ-11. vs.Jack Ciattarelli (R), State Assemblyman (2011-2018). NYC Mayor: Zohran Mamdani (D), New York State Assembly, 2021-2025. vs.Andrew Cuomo (I), former governor of New York, 2011-2021. vs.Curtis Sliwa (R), CEO of the Guardian Angels. VA Governor: Abigail Spanberger (D), U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024). vs.Winsome Earle-Sears (R), Lt. Gov. 2022-2026. *Gubernatorial races 2026*: AK: Mike Dunleavy(R,term-limited) vs.Click Bishop(R) vs.Nancy Dahlstrom(R) vs.Tom Begich(D) AL: Kay Ivey(R,term-limited) vs.Doug Jones(D) vs.Tommy Tuberville(R) vs.Will Boyd(D) vs.Yolanda Flowers(D) AR: Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R,for re-election) vs.Fredrick Love(D) AZ: Katie Hobbs(D,for re-election) vs.Andy Biggs(R) vs.David Schweikert(R) vs.~~Karrin Taylor Robson~~(R,withdrew) CA: Gavin Newsom(D,term-limited) vs.Xavier Becerra(D) vs.Steve Hilton(R) vs.Katie Porter(D) vs.Tom Steyer(D) vs.Eric Swalwell(D) vs.Antonio Villaraigosa(D) vs.~~Eleni Kounalakis~~(D,withdrew to run for state treasurer) vs.~~Zoltan Istvan~~(L,withdrew) CO: Jared Polis(D,term-limited) vs.Greg Lopez(R then I) vs.Barbara Kirkmeyer(R) vs.Scott Bottoms(R) vs.Michael Bennet(D) vs.Phil Weiser(D) CT: Ned Lamont(D,for re-election) vs.Ryan Fazio(R) vs.Susan Bysiewicz(D for Lt.Gov.) vs.~~Jen Tooker~~(R,withdrew) FL: Ron DeSantis(R,term-limited) vs.Jay Collins(R) vs.Paul Renner(R) vs.Byron Donalds(R) vs.David Jolly(R then D) vs.Jerry Demings(D) vs.Jason Pizzo(I) GA: Brian Kemp(R,term-limited) vs.Brad Raffensperger(R) vs.Chris Carr(R) vs.Burt Jones(R) vs.Geoff Duncan(R then D) vs.Keisha Lance Bottoms(D) vs.Mike Thurmond(D) vs.Chase Oliver(L) HI: Josh Green(D) (No opponent yet) IA: Kim Reynolds(R,retiring) vs.Brad Sherman (IA)(R) vs.Randy Feenstra(R) vs.Rob Sand(D) ID: Brad Little(R,for re-election) vs.Terri Pickens(D) IL: J.B. Pritzker(D,for re-election) vs.Darren Bailey(R) KS: Laura Kelly(D,term-limited) vs.Cindy Holscher(D) vs.Jeff Colyer(R) vs.Ty Masterson(R) vs.Vicki Schmidt(R) MA: Maura Healey(D,for re-election) vs.Mike Kennealy(R) MD: Wes Moore(D,for re-election) vs.Dan Cox(R) vs.~~Christopher Bouchat~~(R,withdrew) ME: Janet Mills(D,term-limited) vs.Shenna Bellows(D) vs.Troy Jackson(D) vs.Hannah Pingree(D) vs.Robert Charles(R) vs.Ed Crockett(I)	*Gubernatorial races 2026*: MI: Gretchen Whitmer(D,term-limited) vs.Aric Nesbitt(R) vs.Perry Johnson(R) vs.Jocelyn Benson(D) vs.John James(R) vs.Mike Cox(R) vs.Tom Leonard(R) vs.Mike Duggan(I) vs.~~Garlin Gilchrist~~(D,withdrew) MN: Tim Walz(D,retiring) vs.Lisa Demuth(R) vs.Mike Lindell(R) vs.Amy Klobuchar(D) vs.~~Scott Jensen~~(R,run for Auditor) vs.~~Jeff Johnson 2026~~(R,withdrew) NE: Jim Pillen(R,for re-election) vs.Lynne Walz(D) NH: Kelly Ayotte(R,for re-election) vs.Jon Kiper(D) vs.Cinde Warmington(D) NM: Michelle Lujan-Grisham(D,term-limited) vs.Deb Haaland(D) vs.Gregg Hull(R) vs.Steve Lanier(R) NV: Joe Lombardo(R) vs.Aaron Ford(D) NY: Kathy Hochul(D,for re-election) vs.Bruce Blakeman(R) vs.Larry Sharpe(L) vs.~~Antonio Delgado~~(D,withdrew) vs.~~Elise Stefanik~~(R,withdrew) OH: Mike DeWine(R,term-limited) vs.Vivek Ramaswamy(R) vs.Amy Acton(D) OK: Kevin Stitt(R,term-limited) vs.Gentner Drummond(R) vs.Jake Merrick(R) vs.Charles McCall(R) vs.Cyndi Munson(D) OR: Tina Kotek(D,for re-election) vs.Christine Drazan(R) PA: Josh Shapiro(D,for re-election) vs.Ken Krawchuk(L) vs.Stacy Garrity(R) RI: Dan McKee(D,for re-election) vs.Helena Foulkes(D) vs.Aaron Guckian(R) SC: Henry McMaster(R,term-limited) vs.Nancy Mace(R) vs.Ralph Norman(R) vs.Pamela Evette(R) vs.Alan Wilson(R) vs.Jermaine Johnson(D) SD: Larry Rhoden(R,for re-election) vs.Dusty Johnson(R) vs.Jon Hansen(R) vs.Daniel Ahlers(D) vs.~~Marty Jackley~~(R,withdrew) TN: Bill Lee(R,term-limited) vs.Marsha Blackburn(R) vs.John Rose(R) vs.Carnita Atwater(D) TX: Greg Abbott(R,for re-election) vs.Gina Hinojosa(D) vs.Chris Bell(D,lost primary) VT: Phil Scott(R) vs.Amanda Janoo(D) WI: Tony Evers(D,retiring) vs.Mandela Barnes(D) vs.Sara Rodriguez(D) vs.Kelda Roys(D) vs.Francesca Hong(D) vs.Tom Tiffany(R) vs.Mike Thurow(I) WY: Mark Gordon(R,term-limited) vs.Eric Barlow(R) vs.Megan Degenfelder(R)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]