Four years after far-right Republicans helped elect Monae Johnson as South Dakota secretary of state, she’s backing a Democrat to replace her.
kAm%96 4C@DD\A2CEJ 6?5@CD6>6?E :D F?FDF2=] qFE E96 >@C6 :?E6C6DE:?8 DE@CJ :D 9@H y@9?D@? 8@E E@ E9:D A@:?E[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6362E]@C8^Qm'@E6362Ek^2m C6A@CED]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? @FDE65 2 v~! :?4F>36?E :? a_aa H:E9 DFAA@CE 7C@> 24E:G:DED H9@ 5:DECFDE65 6=64EC@?:4 G@E6\4@F?E:?8 >249:?6D 2?5 H2?E65 $@FE9 s2<@E2 E@ C6=J >@C6 962G:=J — @C 6?E:C6=J — @? 92?5\4@F?E:?8] w6C @H? C96E@C:4 H2D A=6?EJ D<6AE:42=[ E@@]k^Am
kAmx? 2 7F?5C2:D:?8 =6EE6C E92E DAC:?8[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^52<@E2H2C4@==686]4@>^H9J\5@6D\>@?26\;@9?D@?\7@C\D@D\H2?E\>J\E9@F89ED\@?\G244:?2E:@?\2?5\23@CE:@?^Qmy@9?D@? HC@E6k^2m E92E “2== 24C@DD p>6C:42 H6’G6 D66? BF6DE:@?23=6 C6DF=ED :? ?2E:@?2=[ DE2E6[ 2?5 =@42= 6=64E:@?D]” pD<65 E92E 72== H96E96C y@6 q:56? =68:E:>2E6=J H@? E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@?[ D96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<6=@=2?5]4@>^<6=@=2?5\4@>\@C:8:?2=^D64C6E2CJ\@7\DE2E6\42?5:52E6\@?\3:56?\a_a_\H:?\:>\?@E\8@:?8\E@\24<?@H=6586\E92E^QmH@F=5 ?@E D2J J6Dk^2mi “x’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 24<?@H=6586 E92E]” p7E6C D96 H@?[ D96 D2:5 “k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D@FE952<@E2D62C49=:89E]4@>^a_aa^``^ab^?6H\D64C6E2CJ\@7\DE2E6\=@@<:?8\92?5\4@F?E\32==@ED\2F5:E\6249\6=64E:@?^Qm2?JE9:?8 42? 36 924<65k^2m[” 4:E:?8 H2C?:?8D 7C@> “x% A6@A=6[ >:=:E2CJ A6@A=6[” 2?5 7=@2E65 C6DEC:4E:?8 E96 FD6 @7 G@E6\4@F?E:?8 >249:?6D]k^Am
kAmqFE @?46 y@9?D@? 3642>6 C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C CF??:?8 6=64E:@?D 96CD6=7[ 96C G:6HD DE2CE65 E@ 492?86] qJ a_ac[ D96 H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D@FE9\52<@E2\G@E:?8\>249:?6D\32==@ED\92?5\4@F?E:?8\3g3`_`6eg6`a`4h23e`d_edhg_h53daaQmAF3=:4=J 6IAC6DD:?8 4@?7:56?46k^2m :? E23F=2E@CD 2?5 D2J:?8 $@FE9 s2<@E2’D 6=64E:@? DJDE6> 925 D2768F2C5D “3F:=E :? E9C@F89@FE E96 AC@46DD]” p?5 E9:D DF>>6C[ y@9?D@? E@=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D@FE952<@E2D62C49=:89E]4@>^a_ae^_e^af^DE2E6D\E@A\6=64E:@?\@77:4:2=\=@D6D\?@>:?2E:@?\E@\492==6?86C\H9@\DFAA@CED\92?5\4@F?E:?8^Qm#6AF3=:42? 4@?G6?E:@? 56=682E6Dk^2m[ “x ECFDE E96 4@F?EJ 2F5:E@CD E@ 5@ E96:C ;@3D[ 2?5 x 7F==J DFAA@CE E96 FD6 @7 D64FC6[ E6DE65 32==@E E23F=2E@CD]”k^Am
kAmu@C>6C !6??DJ=G2?:2 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6 z2E9J q@@4<G2C[ 2 s6>@4C2E[ D2:5 D96 92D D66? E96 D2>6 6G@=FE:@? A=2J @FE 2>@?8 A@== H@C<6CD 2?5 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=Di !6@A=6 D@>6E:>6D 86E :?G@=G65 :? 6=64E:@?D 3642FD6 E96J 2C6 D<6AE:42= @7 9@H E96J H@C<] %96? E96J 5:D4@G6C E92E E96 AC@3=6>D E96J 6IA64E65 E@ 7:?5 2C6 ?@E E96C6 2?5 E92E D@>6 @7 E96 7:I6D E96J :>28:?65 2C6 ?@E H@C<23=6]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 2 3C2G6 E9:?8 E@ 25>:E[” q@@4<G2C D2:5] $96 D2:5 D96 4@F=5 ?@E C642== 2?@E96C 6I2>A=6 @7 2 DE2E6H:56 6=64E:@? @77:4:2= 5@:?8 D@]k^Am
kAm|@C6 4@>>@? 2C6 =@42= G6CD:@?D @7 E96 D2>6 DE@CJ] k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ |:496==6 qFC49:== — 2 #6AF3=:42? 2?5 DFAA@CE6C @7 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A — H6?E E@ H@C< 7@C *2G2A2: r@F?EJ[ pC:K@?2[ :? a_a_ 27E6C 23D@C3:?8 >2?J @7 %CF>A’D 4=2:>D 23@FE C:8865 6=64E:@?D] ~? 96C 7:CDE 52J[ D96 H2E4965 H@C<6CD DE@A H96? EH@ A2CED @7 E96 @A6C2E:@? H6C6 @77 3J 2 D:?8=6 32==@E[ E96? D62C49 F?E:= E96J 7@F?5 EH@ 32==@ED DEF4< E@86E96C] “x H2D 2? 6=64E:@? D<6AE:4[ 7@C DFC6[” D96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@G6C?:?8]4@>^>2?286>6?E\2?5\25>:?:DEC2E:@?^2?\2C:K@?2\@77:4:2=D\C@25\7C@>\6=64E:@?\D<6AE:4\E@\6=64E:@?\5676?56CnFE>0D@FC46l492E8AE]4@>QmE@=5 v@G6C?:?8 |282K:?6k^2m =2DE >@?E9] (2E49:?8 E96 AC@46DD “G6CJ 9F>3=J H@<6” 96C FA] %@52J[ D96 D6CG6D 2D @?6 @7 E96 4@F?EJ’D E@A 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D]k^Am
kAmx? !6??DJ=G2?:2[ C68:DE6C65 #6AF3=:42? y2J $49?6:56C D:8?65 FA E@ H@C< 6=64E:@?D 27E6C a_a_[ DE:== DFDA:4:@FD E92E E96C6 925 366? “D96?2?:82?D]” p7E6C D6CG:?8 2D 2 A@== H@C<6C 2?5 EC2:?:?8 E@ 364@>6 2 ;F586 @7 6=64E:@?D[ 96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6362E]@C8^A6??DJ=G2?:2^a_ab^``^_`^A6??DJ=G2?:2\6=64E:@?\;F586\A@==:?8\A=246\5FE:6D^QmE@=5 '@E6362Ek^2m E92E D66:?8 E96 D2768F2C5D 7:CDE92?5 492?865 9:D G:6H]k^Am
kAmx? r2=:7@C?:2’D $92DE2 r@F?EJ[ %@> %@==6C E@@< @G6C 2? 6=64E:@?D @77:46 E92E 925 DA6?E J62CD 2E E96 46?E6C @7k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6362E]@C8^a_ad^_b^`c^D92DE2\4@F?EJ\42=:7@C?:2\42E9J\52C=:?8\2==6?\6=64E:@?\a_a_\4@?DA:C24J\E96@CJ^Qm A@DE\a_a_ 4@?DA:C24J 7:89EDk^2m] w6 2CC:G65 H:E9 ?@ 6=64E:@? 6IA6C:6?46[ D<6AE:42= @7 G@E:?8 >249:?6D 2?5 H:==:?8 E@ 4@?D:56C 92?5\4@F?E:?8 — @C 6G6? F?56CE2<6 2 =682= 7:89E H:E9 E96 DE2E6 @G6C :E] u@FC >@?E9D =2E6C[ 27E6C “86EE:?8 F?56C?62E9 E96 9@@5” @7 E96 DJDE6>[ 96k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]<B65]@C8^?6HD^`a_``fcb^2\72C\C:89E\42=:7@C?:2\4@F?EJ\2AA@:?E65\9:>\C68:DEC2C\?@H\9:D\6=64E:@?\G:6HD\92G6\492?865Qm D2:5 9:D G:6HD 925 492?865k^2mi w2?5\4@F?E:?8 H2D D=@H 2?5 6IA6?D:G6[ H9:=6 AC@A6C=J CF? >249:?6D H6C6 72DE 2?5 244FC2E6]k^Am
kAm%96D6 DE@C:6D 2C6 ?@E 23@FE A6@A=6 492?8:?8 E96:C A@=:E:4D] %96J 2C6 23@FE H92E 92AA6?D H96? 2 42>A2:8? AC@>:D6 364@>6D 2? 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 AC@3=6>]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? 2AA62CD E@ 92G6 4@?7C@?E65 E92E 82A 62C=J]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 y@9?D@?’D 7:CDE >2;@C AC@;64ED H2D EFC?:?8 96C 42>A2:8? AC@>:D6 @7 A@DE\6=64E:@? 2F5:ED :?E@ D@>6E9:?8 4@F?E:6D 4@F=5 24EF2==J 42CCJ @FE] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5C8?6HD]4@>^a_ab^_g^b_^D64C6E2CJ\@7\DE2E6\9@=5D\E9:C5\2?5\7:?2=\DF>>6C\DEF5J\>66E:?8^Qm$96 49@D6 y6??:76C |@CC6==[k^2m H9@ CF?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6=64E:@?D8C@FA]4@>^E62>^;6??:76C^Qm%96 t=64E:@?D vC@FAk^2m[ E@ 96=A =625 E96 H@C<[ 56DA:E6 4C:E:4:D> 7C@> D@>6 @7 E96 4@?D6CG2E:G6 24E:G:DED H9@ 925 96=A65 AFE y@9?D@? :? @77:46]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? 2=D@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>J=C4]D5=68:D=2EFC6]8@G^2A:^s@4F>6?ED^pEE249>6?E^aeahgd]A57Qm2DD6>3=65 2 E62>k^2m @7 A6@A=6 H9@ 925 2=C625J E2<6? @AA@D:?8 D:56D @? 6=64E:@? A@=:4J] u@C 6I2>A=6[ 24E:G:DE ':4<J qF9C 925 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>J=C4]D5=68:D=2EFC6]8@G^2A:^s@4F>6?ED^|:?FE6D^acf`ee]A57n*62Cla_abQmE6DE:7:65 :? 72G@Ck^2m @7 32??:?8 C2?<65\49@:46 G@E:?8[ H9:=6 s6>@4C2E:4 DE2E6 #6A] z2>6C@? }6=D@? H2D @?6 @7 ;FDE 7:G6 w@FD6 >6>36CD H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>J=C4]D5=68:D=2EFC6]8@G^2A:^s@4F>6?ED^y@FC?2=^ad_ehg]A57n*62Cla_abQmG@E65 282:?DEk^2m E96 32?] ~G6C E9C66 >66E:?8D[ E96 8C@FA H@C<65 @FE 9@H E96 2F5:ED H@F=5 7F?4E:@? 2?5 6G6?EF2==J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^5C8?6HD]4@>^a_ab^_g^b_^D64C6E2CJ\@7\DE2E6\9@=5D\E9:C5\2?5\7:?2=\DF>>6C\DEF5J\>66E:?8^Qm4@?5F4E65 2 >@4< 2F5:Ek^2m]k^Am
kAm%96 DJDE6> E96J 96=A65 :>A=6>6?E C6BF:C65 4@F?E:6D E@ 92?5 4@F?E 32==@ED :? dT @7 AC64:?4ED 2?5 4@>A2C6 E96> H:E9 >249:?6 C6DF=ED] (96? 4@F?E:6D 42CC:65 @FE E9@D6 2F5:ED :? a_ac[ E96 C6DF=ED C6A62E65=J 4@CC@3@C2E65 E96 E23F=2E@CD] “%96 244FC24J 2?5 EC2?DA2C6?4J 56>@?DEC2E65 3J E9:D AC@46DD 9:89=:89E E96 DEC6?8E9 @7 @FC 6=64E:@? DJDE6>[” y@9?D@? D2:5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D5D@D]8@G^23@FE\E96\@77:46^2DD6ED^!C6DDTa_#6=62D6D^v6?6C2=t=64E:@?!@DEt=64E:@?pF5:E#6DF=ED]A57Qm:? 2 DE2E6>6?Ek^2m 2??@F?4:?8 E96 C6DF=ED]k^Am
kAmw2?5\4@F?E:?8 925 364@>6 2 H2J E@ 4@CC@3@C2E6 E96 >249:?6D C2E96C E92? 2? 2C8F>6?E 7@C 6=:>:?2E:?8 E96>]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E96 24E:G:DED H9@ 96=A65 6=64E y@9?D@? :? a_aa C6>2:?65 F?4@?G:?465] %9:D DF>>6C[ E96J 324<65 DE2E6 #6A] w62E96C q2IE6C[ H9@D6 42>A2:8? 925 42==65 7@C 92?5\4@F?E65 A2A6C 32==@ED 2?5 6=:>:?2E:?8 >249:?6D[ 7@C D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6 :?DE625] #6AF3=:42? 4@?G6?E:@? 56=682E6D 49@D6 q2IE6C @G6C y@9?D@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D@FE9\52<@E2\>:5E6C>D\D64C6E2CJ\@7\DE2E6\h6gad23fc4`dd3_eh_56fb7fg33b5756QmdhT E@ c`Tk^2m] y@9?D@? :D ?@H 324<:?8 s6>@4C2E %6CC6?46 s2G:D :? E96 86?6C2= 6=64E:@?[ H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^D@FE952<@E2D62C49=:89E]4@>^a_ae^_e^`b^2?E:\E649\AFD9\:?7=F6?46D\D64C6E2CJ\@7\DE2E6\C246\2D\4@?G6?E:@?D\>2<6\DE2E6\@77:46C\?@>:?2E:@?D^QmD2JD 96 ECFDEDk^2m $@FE9 s2<@E2’D 4FCC6?E 6=64E:@? DJDE6> 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]52<@E2?6HD?@H]4@>^a_ae^_h^`e^D64C6E2CJ\DE2E6\42?5:52E6D\;@4<6J\@A6?\D62E^Qm@AA@D6Dk^2m DE2E6H:56 92?5\4@F?E:?8 2D E96 AC:>2CJ >6E9@5 @7 E2==J:?8 32==@ED] k^Am
kAmx? 6IA=2:?:?8 96C 6?5@CD6>6?E[ y@9?D@? HC@E6 E92E D96 ?@H <?@HD “E96 5:776C6?46 36EH66? 42>A2:8?:?8 7@C E9:D @77:46 2?5 42CCJ:?8 E96 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @7 =625:?8 :E]” %96 ;@3[ D96 HC@E6[ C6BF:C6D “E96 9F>:=:EJ E@ =:DE6? E@ AC@76DD:@?2=D” 2?5 “2 H:==:?8?6DD E@ C6G:6H ?6H :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 492?86 4@FCD6 H96? E96 6G:56?46 DFAA@CED 5@:?8 D@]”k^Am
kAm}62C=J a__ 42?5:52E6D H9@ 92G6 AC@>@E65 72=D6 @C F?DFAA@CE65 4=2:>D 23@FE 6=64E:@?D 2C6 @? E96 32==@E E9:D 72== 7@C r@?8C6DD @C DE2E6H:56 @77:46[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H:C65]4@>^DE@CJ^9F?5C65D\@7\6=64E:@?\56?:6CD\H:==\36\@?\E96\32==@E\E9:D\?@G6>36C^QmC6A@CED (:C65k^2m] $@>6 2C6 D66<:?8 ;@3D E92E H@F=5 AFE E96> >F49 4=@D6C E@ E96 >249:?6CJ @7 6=64E:@?D E96>D6=G6D]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@?’D DE@CJ DF886DED E92E AC@I:>:EJ 42? 5@ D@>6E9:?8 2? 2C8F>6?E D@>6E:>6D 42??@Ei C6A=246 2DDF>AE:@?D H:E9 E96 E65:@FD[ E649?:42= C62=:EJ @7 9@H 6=64E:@?D 24EF2==J H@C<]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6362E]@C8^?2E:@?2=^a_ae^_h^ag^>@?26\;@9?D@?\E6CC6?46\52G:D\D@FE9\52<@E2\D64C6E2CJ\@7\DE2E6^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G@E6362E]@C8Qmk6>m'@E6362Ek^6>mk^2mk6>m 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am
