Noem has significant lead in 2026 Senate primary: poll

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has a significant lead in the 2026 Republican Senate primary, if she decides to enter the race, according to a new poll of Republican voters in the state.

Noem is the most well-liked politician among South Dakota Republican voters, with a 78% favorable rating, per a Kaplan Strategies poll, Dakota News Now reported Tuesday.

No candidate has entered the 2026 U.S. Senate election for the South Dakota seat currently held by Sen. Mike Rounds (R). 

A potential primary between Rounds and Noem showed Noem in the lead with 53% of the support while Rounds had 26%. 

In a hypothetical faceoff between Rep. Dusty Johnson and Noem in the state's GOP Senate primary, Noem had 54% support and Johnson had 23%.

Rounds' lower primary support may be due to his endorsement of South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott for president in 2024. 

Former President Donald Trump, who is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, is incredibly popular among South Dakota Republicans, with a 73% favorable rating. 

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.