Looking Forward

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Looking Forward

By: Gov. Larry Rhoden

December 26, 2025

I hope you had a Merry Christmas making memories with loved ones! The holidays are a special opportunity to take stock and reflect. The calendar turns pretty quickly to New Year's, which is often an opportunity for us to peek in the rearview mirror while also looking forward out the windshield.

One year ago, Governor Noem asked me to guest write her weekly column looking forward to 2025. At that time, we knew that she had been appointed to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security and would almost certainly be taking that job in the near future. One month later, I was sworn in as the 34^th Governor of South Dakota.

At the time, I wrote the following:

"Our people have built a state that I am proud to call home. I have been honored to serve them in a position of leadership alongside Governor Noem. I am blessed with the opportunity to continue serving South Dakotans in this new year. If you ever have any ideas for how we can make South Dakota even stronger in the days and years to come, please do not hesitate to reach out."

Those words remain true today. I once again find myself looking ahead to a year of serving the people of South Dakota - and I still would love to hear your ideas for how we can keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free.

Just a couple of weeks into new year, legislative session will kick off, and it will start with me giving my first ever State of the State Address. In that address, I'll lay out my vision to keep our state the greatest and freest in the nation. And I'll remind my friends and colleagues in the Legislature that everything we do is on behalf of the people of South Dakota.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, "Let every new year find you a better man." 2025 was a great year for South Dakota. We continued to grow, to thrive, and to set an example of freedom for the nation. 2026 is an opportunity for even better things - for each of us, for our families, for our communities, and for all of South Dakota. Improving ourselves and our state takes work. I'm committed to putting in the work, and I'm sure that the hard-working people of South Dakota are ready to, as well.

God bless you all, and Happy New Year!

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