South Dakota’s Republican secretary of state has endorsed the Democrat running to replace her, over the Republican who beat her for the nomination.
Monae Johnson, the incumbent, lost the GOP nomination in June to state Rep.
Heather Baxter by 59% to 40%, and is therefore leaving office. Rather than back her party’s nominee, Johnson has endorsed Democrat Terrence Davis.
“I believe Terrence Davis is the candidate best prepared to protect the office and serve South Dakota with seriousness, steadiness, and integrity,” Johnson said.
She urged voters to “look beyond the letter beside a candidate’s name, examine the record and temperament of the candidates seeking this responsibility, and vote for Terrence Davis.”
Baxter, who has campaigned on election integrity, rejected the premise.
Republican delegates had already weighed both records when they chose her, she argued, and the party label “tells voters what governing philosophy they will carry into the office that runs our elections.”
State House Speaker Jon Hansen was blunter, calling Johnson’s endorsement a “huge mistake” and warning against handing “elections over to the Democrats.”
The secretary of state’s office administers South Dakota’s elections, which is what gives an incumbent’s endorsement of the other party’s candidate its weight.
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