He’s now receiving bipartisan praise as a South Dakota-focused conservative well-versed in how the state’s Republican-dominated Legislature works. President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday he would nominate Noem, 52, as the next U.S. homeland ...

"He's legitimately legit," said Republican state Rep. Greg Jamison, of Sioux Falls, one of five House majority whips, calling Rhoden "a real reflection on South Dakota and how anybody from across the country would perceive our state."

Attention is already turning to 2026, when South Dakota will elect a new governor as well as hold races for U.S. Senate.