WASHINGTON (AP) - South Dakota governor, state House speaker, the lone U.S. representative and a businessman compete Tuesday in a crowded Republican primary for governor. Voters also pick nominees for additional state and federal posts while Sioux Falls picks a new mayor.

Gov. Larry Rhoden aims for a full term after rising from lieutenant governor when Kristi Noem left in early 2025 for a Trump Cabinet post.

Rhoden faces stiff primary opposition from U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson, House Speaker Jon Hansen and businessman Toby Doeden despite serving only part of a term.

The nominee meets former state Sen. Dan Ahlers, unopposed on the Democratic side, in November.

Republican Sen. Mike Rounds seeks a third term and faces Navy veteran Justin McNeal in the primary. McNeal earlier tried to challenge Johnson as an independent.

Nonprofit leader and ex-trooper Julian Beaudion runs unopposed for the Democratic Senate nomination while independent Brian Bengs, a veteran attorney, seeks the seat again after taking 26 percent in 2022.

Attorney General Marty Jackley bids to succeed Johnson in the House and faces Republican James Bialota. Trump backed Rounds and Jackley but stayed neutral in the governor race.

Statewide GOP nominees for governor, Senate and House need at least 35 percent to win outright or the top two advance to a June 23 runoff.

Five candidates seek to replace term-limited Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken with a possible runoff if no one gains a majority.

Watch Minnehaha County around Sioux Falls and Pennington County near Rapid City for early signals.

South Dakota leans heavily Republican so Tuesday GOP winners hold strong general-election edges.

The AP Decision Team will track these key facts and numbers.

When do polls close?

Polls close at 7 p.m. local time, translating to 8 p.m. ET in most counties and 9 p.m. ET in Mountain-time areas.

What's on the ballot?

The AP will report results and name winners in contested primaries for Senate, House, governor, state legislature and Sioux Falls mayor.

Who gets to vote?

Only registered party members may vote in their party's primary. Independents can join the Democratic primary but not the Republican one.

How many voters are there?

About 674,000 voters were registered as of April 1, including 318,000 Republicans, 138,000 Democrats and 157,000 independents.

How many people actually vote?

The 2022 Republican Senate primary drew nearly 119,000 votes.

How much of the vote is cast early or by absentee ballot?

Roughly 19 percent of 2024 primary ballots and 20 percent of 2022 ballots arrived early. As of May 26 about 17,000 early ballots had been returned, mostly Republican.

When are early and absentee votes released?

Mail and early in-person results appear with Election Day totals. More than a third of counties usually report most results in the first batch.

How long does vote-counting usually take?

No results may be released until all polls close at 9 p.m. ET. In 2022 the AP posted first numbers at 9:02 p.m. ET and the final update came at 3:22 a.m. ET with over 99 percent counted.

When will the AP declare a winner?

The AP waits until no mathematical path remains for a trailing candidate. It continues coverage of concessions or claims until a call is possible.

How do recounts work?

Recounts occur automatically only on ties. Statewide candidates may request one if the margin is 0.25 percent or less; legislative and local candidates face a 2 percent threshold. The AP may still declare if the lead exceeds any recount impact.

Are we there yet?

Tuesday marks 154 days until the 2026 midterms.

-- Robert Yoon, Associated Press