# South Dakota Secretary of State endorsement controversy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/south-dakota-secretary-of-state-endorsement-controversy
> Updated: 2026-10-14T15:00:08.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 3.

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican, has endorsed Democratic nominee Terrence Davis to succeed her in office. Johnson, who lost the Republican nomination in June to state representative Heather Baxter, stated that her decision was based on Davis being the candidate best prepared to manage the office’s responsibilities, including election and business systems.

Johnson emphasized that “the integrity, stability, and professionalism of this office is at stake,” urging voters to prioritize candidate records and temperaments over party affiliation. She acknowledged that her cross-party endorsement might anger members of her own party. In response, Baxter’s campaign suggested that Johnson preferred a candidate who would not change her previous actions. Baxter’s platform has aligned with Donald Trump regarding concerns over voting machines and mail-in ballots, having previously advocated for replacing machines with hand-counted paper ballots.

Since her initial endorsement, Johnson has also undergone a shift in her personal stance on election security. Although she was elected in 2022 with support from activists who distrusted electronic tabulators, she has since moved from skepticism to publicly supporting their use. After overseeing elections, Johnson stated that South Dakota’s system includes necessary safeguards, affirming her trust in county auditors and secure, tested ballot tabulators during a summer address to Republican convention delegates. Former Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar noted that while officials often enter roles due to skepticism, it is rare for a statewide official to publicly admit that their previous concerns were unfounded.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-14: Monae Johnson shifts stance on South Dakota voting machines

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson has shifted from questioning electronic voting machines to expressing full confidence in the state's secure ballot tabulators.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/monae-johnson-shifts-stance-on-south-dakota-voting-machines

### 2026-09-21: South Dakota Republican Secretary of State endorses Democrat

South Dakota Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson has endorsed Democrat Terrence Davis, citing concerns over the integrity and professionalism of the office.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-dakota-republican-secretary-of-state-endorses-democrat

### 2026-09-19: Monae Johnson endorses Democrat Terrence Davis for South Dakota Secretary of State

South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican, has endorsed Democratic nominee Terrence Davis to succeed her, citing his preparedness to manage the office's responsibilities.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/monae-johnson-endorses-democrat-terrence-davis-for-south-dakota-secretary-of-state

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Cite as: South Dakota Secretary of State endorsement controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/south-dakota-secretary-of-state-endorsement-controversy