The current Secretary of State in South Dakota, who is affiliated with the Republican Party, has publicly backed a Democrat to take her place after losing her own party’s nomination.
Monae Johnson has endorsed Terrence Davis, the Democratic nominee, instead of the Republican candidate Heather Baxter, as reported in a statement on Saturday. This endorsement comes on the heels of Johnson’s defeat to Baxter in June, where she lost the nomination by a significant margin of 59% to 40%. In comparison, Donald Trump secured 63% of the vote in South Dakota during the 2024 election.
Currently, neither Johnson’s office nor the campaigns for Baxter and Davis have responded to requests for comments from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
In response, Davis expressed his gratitude for Johnson’s support in a Facebook post. He acknowledged that they come from different political backgrounds but emphasized the importance of her endorsement to him.
Johnson, in her statement, mentioned her extensive experience in the office, asserting that she believes Davis is the most qualified candidate to uphold the responsibilities of the role with integrity and commitment. She urged South Dakotans, regardless of their political affiliations, to look past party lines and consider the qualifications of the candidates when making their decision at the polls.
Baxter, on the other hand, has highlighted her focus on election integrity. She reminded POLITICO that Republican delegates had thoroughly assessed her record before nominating her over Johnson, emphasizing the significance of party affiliation in guiding voters’ choices.
Jon Hansen, the speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives, criticized Johnson’s decision, labeling it a mistake in a post on social media. He urged voters not to entrust their elections to the Democrats and to support the Republican nominee, Baxter.
As for the upcoming election, Baxter, Davis, and Libertarian candidate Tamara Lesnar are slated to compete on November 3, 2026.
