GOP fearful of losing South Dakota governorship after 40 years: 'We thought it was going to be a cakewalk'

Donald Trump's unpopularity combined with a candidate who has stumbled out of the gate has Republicans worried that they will lose the governorship of South Dakota after a 40-year run.

According to a report from CNN, Republican Rep. Kristi Noem's campaign began slowly because she didn't believe she faced much in the way of opposition from Democrat Billie Sutton, the State Senate Minority Leader whose views are more conservative than most members of the Democratic party.

"Her and her team, a few months ago, thought this was going to be a cakewalk -- they don't know," explained a top Republican operative. "Sutton still has an uphill battle. Is it a competitive race? Absolutely. Noem's team now seems to realize that."

Sutton, who is anti-abortion and pro-gun, has surprised even national Democrats who didn't expect a strong challenge in a state where Donald Trump almost doubled Hillary Clinton's vote total in 2016.

At a recent meet and greet, a Sioux Falls businessman walked up to Sutton and told him, "I might be one of those lifelong Republicans who votes for you."

Republican Noem has come to realize that her run for the governorship is in severe danger, saying, "I knew (the primary) would be hard. I didn't know about the general."

Of her opponent who uses a wheelchair due to a rodeo accident, she added, "He's the most talented candidate they have had in 30 years. I just don't think you can underestimate a good story. The story of his accident and his tenacity in that situation really resonates with the people of South Dakota."

The report states that part of Sutton's appeal is his attacks on corruption in the state capitol and compared it to Trump's call to "drain the swamp."

"It's a similar message," Sutton explained. "I think that is one of the reasons I am getting a lot of support from a lot of people that supported President Trump. ... They are tired of politics as usual, they want something different, they are tired of career politicians."

You can read more about the South Dakota battle here.