Gov. Kristi Noem won reelection to serve as South Dakota’s governor after beating state Rep. Jamie Smith, allowing Noem to continue her leadership in the state while eyeing a 2024 presidential bid.
If Smith had won, he would have been the first Democrat to hold the governor’s mansion in the state since 1979.
Noem, the state’s first female governor, gained national attention for her stances on COVID-19, abortion, and critical race theory and maintained a steady lead over Smith during the race.
She stepped into the spotlight during the pandemic, with several supporters lauding her hands-off approach to COVID-19 and the economy, as well as her criticism of social justice movements.
Noem endorsed several other high-profile female GOP candidates during her campaign, such as Rep. Lauren Boebart (R-CO) and Kari Lake, who ran for Arizona governor.
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Throughout her campaign, Noem sparked conversations over whether she will either run for president or as former President Donald Trump’s running mate. She has not specified whether she will run but has said she would be “shocked” if Trump wanted her as vice president.
Noem’s approval rating sits at 57%, according to a Morning Consult poll.
