A new poll conducted by Emerson College Polling in Boston shows Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden overtaking U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson in the race for the Republican nomination for South Dakota Governor.
The poll was commissioned by KELO-TV in Sioux Falls and shows Doeden at 26%, Johnson at 23%, current Governor Larry Rhoden at 19% and state House Speaker John Hansen at 16%. 15% of the respondents were still undecided. The poll has a margin of error of 3.2%.
The current poll was conducted May 18th and 19th. Emerson surveyed 452 registered Republicans in South Dakota, including 432 who indicated they were either very or somewhat likely to vote in the June second primary.
The winner of the primary needs 35% support to advance to the November 3rd general election against Democrat Dan Ahlers who is unopposed for the democrats.
If none of the Republicans gets at least 35% of the vote the top two will face off in a runoff on July 28th
