South Dakota has had thirty-eight lieutenant governors. Twelve of them, or nearly one third, sported a mustache (using the Senate lobby’s official portraits as a reference). South Dakota’s first 7 LG’s all had mustaches, as did 10 of the first 11, and 11 of the first 15. The incumbent, Matt Michels, ended an 82-year drought in 2011 when he became the first mustachioed LG since Hyatt E. Covey in 1927-29. Here are all twelve:
James H. Fletcher 1889-91
George H. Hoffman 1891-93
Charles N. Herreid 1893-97
Daniel T. Hindman 1897-99
John T. Kean 1899-1901
George W. Snow 1901-05
John E. McDougall 1905-07
Frank M. Byrne 1911-13
Edward L. Abel 1913-15
Peter Norbeck 1915-17
Hyatt E. Covey 1927-29
Matt Michels 2011-19
Larry Rhoden, the Republican nominee for LG, has been known to often sport a mustache or goatee, although not generally in his official legislative photographs. Which begs the question: If the Noem/Rhoden ticket prevails in November, will Larry Rhoden join the ranks of mustachioed lieutenant governors?
Update 6/22/18: Courtesy of Dakota War College, Rhoden seems to be preparing for his role as LG: