POLITICS

Republican who oversees South Dakota’s elections endorses a Democrat in the race to succeed her

PUBLISHED Sep 21, 2026, 6:50 PM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 30

Left 13%

Center 70%

Right 17%

Sources: 30

South Dakota Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson has broken party lines to endorse Democratic nominee Terrence Davis in the race to succeed her. Johnson, who lost her bid for renomination at the state GOP convention to challenger Heather Baxter, stated that her decade-long experience running the office compelled her to back Davis to protect its institutional stability and professionalism. Baxter, alignment-associated with election-integrity shifts favoring modified voting procedures, secured the Republican nomination in June. Davis, a former state trooper, emphasizes secure administration standards. Johnson urged voters to look beyond party labels and examine candidate records. The rare cross-party endorsement highlights growing fractures within the state Republican Party regarding election management methods, contrasting traditional tabulation defense with populist pressure for procedural overhauls. Davis aims to become the first Democratic secretary of state in South Dakota since 1979.

By Ayesha A. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On November 8 2022 Monae Johnson won election as South Dakota Secretary of State
On June 20 2026 state GOP delegates nominated Heather Baxter over Monae Johnson
On September 19 2026 Monae Johnson released a personal statement announcing her endorsement
On September 20 2026 Monae Johnson publicly endorsed Democrat Terrence Davis for successor
On September 21 2026 Terrence Davis expressed gratitude for the cross-party endorsement support
On September 22 2026 regional and national media outlets widely reported the political shift
On November 3 2026 South Dakota voters will participate in the general election
On January 1 2027 In January 2027 the newly elected secretary of state will assume office.
On January 1 2030 By 2030 the incoming administration will complete its initial four year term.
On June 1 2030 Looking ahead future conventions may see continued friction over election administration.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Highlights intra-party Republican divisions over state election administration methods.
Possible long-term US impact: May influence bipartisan cooperation standards in future state election official races.
Most affected groups: South Dakota voters, state Republican delegates, and local election administration workers.
Reader priority: Official campaign statements, verified candidate records, and local journalism reporting.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 30
Right Leaning:: 5
Left Leaning:: 4
Neutral:: 21

Explain Framing

Left: Highlighted GOP fractures and institutional defense against election skepticism. Center: Focused objectively on the unusual cross-party endorsement and background context. Right: Emphasized convention delegate choices and policy friction within party ranks.