The announcement confirms what many throughout the state have expected for months, if not years. He joins a growing field in the Republican primary slated for June of 2026.

Lance Russell, the State’s Attorney for Fall River and Oglala Lakota Counties and former state lawmaker, announced his candidacy for Attorney General on Tuesday.

GOP Rep. Dusty Johnson entered the race Monday for South Dakota governor, as Gov. Larry Rhoden (R) has yet to announce whether he will run for reelection. “South Dakota is a special place where hard work, conservative common sense and firm handshakes are a way of life,” Johnson says in an ad posted on YouTube.