PIERRE, S.D. (South Dakota Searchlight) – As the dust settles on the 2024 election and President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term, political observers are buzzing about the role Gov. Kristi Noem might play in the new administration.
Noem, a vocal Trump supporter throughout the campaign, was frequently seen on the trail in recent weeks.
“You’ve got to reward the people who backed you during the election,” said Northern State University political science professor Jon Schaff. “I think everybody knows she has been a strong supporter of Trump. I think it’d almost be remarkable if she didn’t have some position in that administration. The question is, does she want it?”
Schaff suggested Noem might be a fit for Secretary of Agriculture or Interior, which would align with her experience and the importance of agriculture to South Dakota. He said higher-profile cabinet posts like Secretary of Defense, State, Treasury, or Justice may be out of reach.
“The only one that seems plausible is State, and I don’t know if she has the diplomatic chops for that,” he said.
Noem could also become a conservative media commentator or the face of a Republican-aligned political organization, or could opt to run for a U.S. Senate seat. If Sen. Mike Rounds decides to run for re-election in 2026 and Noem decides to challenge him, Schaff foresees a very competitive race.
The South Dakota Governor’s Office did not respond to a request for comment regarding her plans.
Mike Card, a political science professor at the University of South Dakota, thinks the Department of Agriculture secretary slot or an ambassadorship are two possible paths for Noem, given speculation that North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will become Secretary of Interior.
“The question is whether she stays with the relatively easy job of being South Dakota Governor,” he said, which offers her a platform without the administrative work of becoming a cabinet secretary.
Noem has stayed quiet on Sen. John Thune’s bid to become Senate Majority Leader. Noem’s silence could mean she’s keeping her options open, Card said.
Thune’s influence could matter to Noem down the line. If Rounds retires and Thune backs someone else for Senate, it might be harder for Noem to win the seat. She could try to negotiate with Thune — since she has some sway with the president-elect — to help him secure this leadership role, Card said. In exchange, he said, she could ask for his support if she’s aiming for a cabinet position requiring Senate approval. Congress must sign off on a president’s cabinet secretary choices.
Governor Kristi Noem departs a tour bus while campaigning for former President Donald Trump on Oct. 18, 2024, in North Carolina. (Governor Kristi Noem’s Office)
The potential departure of Noem from South Dakota politics has already set the stage for a competitive 2026 gubernatorial race, Card said.
“This essentially means the race for governor has already begun,” he said, identifying key players like U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, Attorney General Marty Jackley, and Lt Gov. Larry Rhoden as likely contenders.
Card also expects an insurgent “America First” Republican to enter the race for governor in 2026, representing the party’s more populist wing.
“It’s an America First Republican party now,” Card said. “And so, who is that candidate? It’s hard not to see it cutting any other way.”
Noem before the election
Gov. Noem took an active role on the campaign trail for President-elect Donald Trump.
On Oct. 14, she moderated a town hall in Pennsylvania, where she praised Trump’s authenticity and commitment to protecting American families. The event generated headlines after Trump, 78, spent nearly 40 minutes listening to a variety of songs.
Through mid-October, Noem balanced her campaign efforts with state duties, meeting with her executive team in Pierre on Oct. 16 to prepare South Dakota’s budget before heading to Mar-a-Lago for discussions with Trump the following day.
As October progressed, she campaigned for Trump in key battleground states, with stops in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. She also took part in South Dakota events, attending former Senator Tim Johnson’s funeral and leading the annual Governor’s Hunt in Sioux Falls. Between campaign appearances, Noem was a frequent presence on conservative media, where she defended Trump and criticized President Joe Biden and business mogul Mark Cuban, the latter of whom she took issue with for his comments on Trump’s female supporters.
Noem joined panels of Republican women in Georgia and Michigan to rally support for Trump in his campaign’s final days. Her schedule remained private for part of Election Day, but a social media post revealed that she celebrated Trump’s victory on Nov. 6 with North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
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