Monae Johnson, South Dakota’s Republican Secretary of State, has endorsed Terrence Davis, the Democrat running to replace her as secretary of state. Johnson, who previously campaigned on a platform emphasizing election integrity and questioning the 2020 presidential election results, now supports Davis over Heather Baxter, the MAGA-aligned Republican candidate who defeated her for the nomination at the state Republican convention in June.
Johnson announced her endorsement in September, stating, “I cannot remain silent when I believe the integrity, stability, and professionalism of this office is at stake.” In a letter published by South Dakota War College, a Republican blog, she wrote that South Dakota “deserves a Secretary of State who will strengthen confidence through performance rather than provocation; who will support election officials rather than burden them for political effect; who will protect voter access and election security without pretending those goals are enemies; and who will treat the office’s employees, voters, candidates, and business owners with dignity.” This represents a shift from her previous campaign platform, which centered on election integrity and scrutinizing voter rolls.
Johnson’s endorsement comes as more Republican candidates in the 2026 midterm elections appear to be distancing themselves from the hard-core MAGA base and its support for former President Donald Trump. For example, junior Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, chose not to attend the 2026 Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas, instead focusing on meeting with voters in South Dakota.
