South Dakota Republican Secretary of State Endorses Democrat After Losing Primary
This is not good. Who in their right mind would back a Democrat for Secretary of State? A hurt candidate who is the current Secretary of State and who lost in the primary, that’s who.
South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson is backing the Democrat for Secretary of State.
The State Speaker of the House backs the GOP primary winner for South Dakota Secretary of State, Heather Baxter.
South Dakota Republican Secretary of State, after being defeated at the Republican party convention in her reelection bid, is endorsing the Democrat candidate. Huge mistake!
Do NOT hand our elections over to the Democrats!
Vote REPUBLICAN Heather Baxter for Secretary of State! https://t.co/RJhidH5pla pic.twitter.com/Kc9EQvUlG5
— Speaker Jon Hansen (@SpeakerHansen) September 19, 2026
Baxter told the DCNF she was “not particularly” surprised by Johnson’s decision.
“Secretary Johnson and I disagreed on the direction of this office — that’s exactly why Republican delegates overwhelmingly chose a change in June,” Baxter said Saturday. “It’s not surprising she’d rather back someone who won’t change what she’s built. Pseudo Republicans have long infiltrated the party, changing their voter registrations from Democrat to Republican. South Dakota’s illusion of ruby red is being exposed!”
When asked what Johnson’s endorsement of a Democrat could signal to campaigns outside of South Dakota, Baxter told the DCNF that “[t]his is a real dynamic to note: an outgoing officeholder crossing party lines to back the opposing party’s nominee, in a race where their own party ousted them in a primary/convention, is a notable ‘sore loser or good-faith institutionalist.’”
Baxter, Davis, and Libertarian nominee Tamara Lesnar are ultimately expected to face off Nov. 3, 2026.
Well, the positive is one less RINO!