South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican who lost her party's nomination for a second term earlier this year, announced Saturday that she is endorsing Democratic nominee Terrence Davis to succeed her in the November 3 general election.

Johnson, a fourth-generation South Dakotan, has deep roots in the state. She worked for eight years in the Secretary of State's office under predecessors Chris Nelson and Shantel Krebs before winning the Republican nomination in 2022 and defeating Democrat Tom Cool in the general election. Then-Governor Kristi Noem appointed her to the post in December 2022 after the incumbent resigned.

Johnson lost the Republican nomination to state Representative Heather Baxter at the party's convention on June 27, 2026. Baxter, a conservative aligned with the South Dakota Freedom Caucus, made her platform on a push for hand-counting and paper ballots for the state's elections. Johnson, on the other hand, has continuously defended the use of ballot tabulators and expressed trust in county auditors.

Johnson issued a personal statement explaining the decision. She highlighted her more than a decade of experience in the office, first as an employee and later as secretary, as the basis for prioritizing competence over party affiliation.

"I am a Republican. Terrence is a Democrat. I understand that this decision will disappoint some people in my party and anger others," Johnson wrote. She added that she knows "the difference between campaigning for this office and carrying the responsibility of leading it."

Davis, a former state trooper with degrees in criminal justice and public policy, thanked Johnson for the support. "Secretary Johnson and I come from different political parties, and we will not agree on every issue," he said. "That is exactly why her confidence in me means so much."

Critics within the party familiar with the state and Johnson have claimed that the endorsement of the Democrat was a result of anger about being ousted from office at the convention. They argue the move stems from personal disappointment rather than a genuine evaluation of the candidates' qualifications.

The South Dakota Freedom Caucus posted on X following the announcement. In it, the organization calls "all Republicans to unite behind Secretary of State Candidate Heather Baxter" and criticized Johnson for "betraying her allegiance to her party" and "violating her duties as an elected GOP precinct committee woman."

"After Johnson's overwhelming loss at the SDGOP Convention in June, she has removed the mask and publicly revealed her true identity," the post read.

Johnson's move underscores divisions within South Dakota Republicans over election administration, with Baxter representing a more skeptical view of current voting systems. Johnson herself rose to the office by challenging and defeating the previous incumbent at the convention in 2022. That same path was turned against her at the state's 2026 GOP convention that favored conservative candidates over their moderate opponents.

Another campaign garnering attention is that of Libertarian candidate Tamara Lesnar, who will also be on the general election ballot for Secretary of State. Her bid is a longshot in a state that has never elected a Libertarian candidate to anything higher than municipal office, but her campaign is being eyed for another reason. Vote shares have typically been low single digits for Libertarian statewide candidates, but many anticipate Lesnar to draw votes almost exclusively from Baxter on election day. If the secretary of state race does become competitive, even low single digits could make all the difference in a sparsely populated state with low voter turnout.

Baxter and Davis will face off in the general election scheduled for November 3. Johnson will serve the remainder of her term that ends in January 2027. No Democrat has won a statewide election in South Dakota since 2008, and the party has not held the secretary of state office since 1979.