South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican who lost her party’s primary in June, has endorsed Democrat Terrence Davis to succeed her, marking an unusual cross-party endorsement in a politically charged environment. Johnson made her endorsement public on Saturday through a column on the South Dakota War College blog, praising Davis’s background in law enforcement and public policy.
Johnson acknowledged that her decision might upset some within her party, but emphasized her belief that South Dakota needs a Secretary of State who can "strengthen confidence through performance rather than provocation," support election officials without political interference, and balance voter access with election security responsibly. She also criticized the divisive election tactics employed by many within the Republican Party.
Johnson assumed office in 2022 amid heightened attention on election integrity following the 2020 presidential election. Her campaign was propelled by conservative activists concerned about alleged fraud, a claim former President Donald Trump promoted despite numerous audits and legal challenges finding no evidence of widespread irregularities. Johnson herself did not recognize Joe Biden as the legitimate winner of the 2020 race and promised reforms such as hand-counting ballots and auditing every precinct.
During her tenure, Johnson implemented some measures aligned with her campaign promises, including establishing a process for precinct audits. However, she refrained from enacting other proposed changes, leading to diminished support among Republican officials. At the June Republican state convention, delegates nominated State Representative Heather Baxter over Johnson, with Baxter campaigning on a platform of more extensive election integrity measures.
In response, Baxter stated that the primary results reflected informed voter choice and underscored the importance of party affiliation in guiding the office responsible for elections and business services.
Johnson cited Davis’s relevant experience as a former state trooper as a key factor in her endorsement, suggesting his background would be directly applicable to the Secretary of State’s responsibilities. Davis expressed appreciation for Johnson’s support, acknowledging their political differences but emphasizing the value of her confidence as a bipartisan gesture.
This endorsement comes amid a broader pattern of Republican officials nationwide diverging from Trump-aligned candidates, as seen recently in Texas, where several GOP members publicly opposed a conservative candidate for a state regulatory agency following controversial remarks. Johnson’s endorsement of a Democrat highlights ongoing tensions within the Republican Party regarding election policy and governance philosophies.