Politics
South Dakota Republican election chief backs Democrat in race to succeed her
Monae Johnson rejected Republican nominee Heather Baxter following her own loss at the state GOP convention.
The short version
- South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson endorsed Democratic candidate Terrence Davis over her party's nominee, Heather Baxter.[The Hill · The Washington Sun]
- Johnson lost the Republican nomination to Baxter during the state party convention in June.[The Hill · ABC News]
- Baxter downplayed the endorsement, while Democrats seek their first statewide victory in South Dakota since 2015.[The Hill · ABC News]
- It remains uncertain what impact Johnson's cross-party endorsement will have on the heavily Republican state's upcoming election.[The Hill · The Washington Sun · ABC News]
Key facts
- South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson endorsed Democratic candidate Terrence Davis to succeed her.[The Hill · The Washington Sun]
- Johnson lost the Republican nomination to state Representative Heather Baxter at the state GOP convention in June.[The Hill · ABC News]
- Johnson cited Davis's law enforcement background as a state trooper and his education in law and policy for her support.[ABC News]
- No Democrat has held statewide office in South Dakota since 2015.[The Hill · ABC News]
- Baxter previously sponsored legislation to prohibit automatic tabulating systems, but the bill failed.[ABC News]
What remains uncertain
- The potential impact of Johnson's endorsement on voter behavior in South Dakota remains unclear given the state's strong Republican voting history.[ABC News]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.