South Dakota
Will Dusty Johnson run for South Dakota Governor? When his decision might drop:
MADISON — South Dakota U.S. Rep. Johnson could be entering his home state’s race for governor as early as this summer.
Johnson told the Argus Leader in Madison June 18 he is still mulling a run for his home state’s gubernatorial role.
But the window in which a possible announcement of “Johnson for South Dakota governor” has shifted. Johnson’s Office has previously told other media outlets that he may decide whether to enter the race as late as fall.
But a campaign spokesperson for Johnson told the Argus Leader in a June 18 email that the announcement decision could be coming this summer.
“Rep. Johnson is committed to his day job representing South Dakota in the U.S. House, but is considering a run for Governor,” the spokesperson stated, but their statement did not include fall as a possible timeframe.
South Dakota’s 2026 governor race has already seen two entrants announce their intent to run.
State House Speaker Jon Hansen and state House Speaker Pro Tempore Karla Lems announced in April their run for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively, under a Republican ticket.
Aberdeen businessman and conservative activist Toby Doeden has also announced plans to run for governor in 2026, though he has not named his lieutenant governor pick.
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden, who took over for former Gov. Kristi Noem on Jan. 25 after she resigned in order to join President Donald Trump’s cabinet as Homeland Security secretary, is also expected to enter the governor’s race. Rhoden is finishing out Noem’s term, which is slated to end Jan. 4, 2027.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley is also considered a possible contender for the governor job.
Johnson has served as South Dakota’s lone congressman since Jan. 3, 2019.
Education reporter Morgan Matzen contributed to this report.