Sioux Falls, South Dakota – Robert Arnold of Pierre, S.D., turned 20 on Saturday, a significant milestone as he works toward an even bigger goal: the Dakota State University student is running for governor of South Dakota in 2026.
“The way I see it, the people who have been in charge have been kind of running us into the ground for quite a few years, and we need a change,” Arnold told reporters.
The young Democrat from the Oglala Sioux Tribe would be eligible to serve as governor; the state constitution requires any governor to be at least 21 years old, and Arnold will reach that age in the summer of 2026.
“I really care about the average, everyday person and what happens in their life,” Arnold told me. “I want to bring politics back to them, back to dinner table issues, bringing, making sure people can secure a healthy living.”
He is also considering the impact of property taxes. He’s already familiar with the Capitol building in Pierre, having worked as a legislative page in 2023 and an intern with Senate Democrats in 2025.
“Politics isn’t about taking turns,” Arnold explained. “It is about policy. It’s about who comes to the table best serving your interests as a voter, and if I can, I want to be the person who serves people’s interests the most, and that’s what people should vote for.”
Many voters will wonder if he has enough life experience to lead the entire state. Arnold, for his part, believes that his youth both helps and hinders him.
“In this climate, things aren’t getting better with the current leadership, and we need new ideas. “We need some new blood,” Arnold said. “And I think that it does actually help me because it gives me the energy to keep going.”
Republicans Toby Doeden, Jon Hansen, and Dusty Johnson are also running, as is Chamberlain’s Terry Gleason, who is running independently. Before the 2026 general election, candidates for a party’s nomination must first navigate the primary election in June. And on that note, Arnold remains optimistic.
“I’m confident that I can win the primary because I am a serious candidate, and I think after that, then I’ll have undoubtedly the full support of the Democratic Party,” Arnold told the press.
KELOLAND News reached out to the South Dakota Democratic Party on Monday to inquire about their support for Arnold if he wins the primary, as well as whether the party intends to run someone who has yet to announce. In response, party chair Shane Merrill issued a statement saying, “The state party does not get involved with primaries, and we are actively recruiting candidates up and down the ballot.”
