South Dakota Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard embarked on a two-day campaign swing around the state Monday to officially launch his governor’s bid.

Daugaard, a presumed candidate for months, kicked things off with an event at his family farm in Garretson, S.D., and will hold six more public events across South Dakota through Tuesday.

The Republican is seeking to succeed his running mate in 2002 and 2006, Gov. Mike Rounds. Rounds is term-limited out of office in 2010. Before being elected to the lieutenant governor’s post, Daugaard served six years in the state Senate. He has served as executive director since 2002 of Children’s Home Society of South Dakota, which provides services for neglected and abused children.