Author: @SoDakCampaigns

With Congressman Dusty Johnson making his entrance into the race for Governor official, State Senator Casey Crabtree issued a statement today congratulating Congressman Johnson, as well as noting his own interest in running for Congress:

I’m thankful for Dusty’s work in Congress supporting South Dakota and Trump’s America First agenda. South Dakota has had giants like John Thune, Kristi Noem, and Dusty Johnson represent us in the U.S. House, and those are big shoes to fill.

My family and I have received a lot of encouragement across the state to consider a bid for this open seat. I am strongly considering this opportunity and we will look at this as a family through prayer and serious conversations. It has been an honor serving South Dakota in the State Senate, and I am thankful for the words of support and encouragement to serve our great state in Congress.

Someone should ask Drew Dennert if Toby’s hand is uncomfortable.  

Unsatisfied with referring to Dusty Johnson as “Dark and Evil” the other day, now that a real candidate has entered the race for Governor, Toby Doeden is hand-puppeting his Political Action Committee after  assigning Brown County Commissioner Drew Dennert (who appears in his many commercials) a campaign job to be his attack puppy.

Dennert/Doeden’s statement coming quickly after Dusty Johnson’s announcement, attacks Johnson on the basis that he believes that Dusty was supposed to blindly vote how Trump wanted each and every time, as opposed to doing that thing that Congresspeople are supposed to do.. reading legislation:

That’s it? It’s a rant about a single vote on border bill funding which some saw as an unconstitutional mechanism, not being a crazy person, voting for South Dakota road construction, and voting to support a congressperson in the state next door?  That was used in attacks and ignored in the last election?

You notice that we have yet to get anything concrete from Doeden other than how he intends to run South Dakota that as a CEO, I’ll tell other people to figure it out.

And now he’s using ammo that didn’t work in this last election through surrogates?

Not even a “nice try.”  Just a weak-ass one.

The Dakota News Now facebook site has Congressman Dusty Johnson’s announcement of his entrance into the race for Governor, with introductory remarks by State Rep’s Taylor Rehfeldt, State Rep. Will Mortenson, and former Governor Dennis Daugaard (Click on the link to watch).

KELOland news is covering the Dusty Johnson Gubernatorial Announcement, and alluding to the fact that it already looks like at least one of the candidates is going to be the poop-flinging ape in the race:

Doeden has already attacked Johnson in an interview with KELOLAND News. While saying he’s proud to be an “outsider,” Doeden said there will be two choices for voters: light vs. dark.

“I’m light; I’m good. Dusty’s dark; Dusty’s evil,” Doeden said June 16. “Those are going to be the two choices.”

and..

Johnson said Monday he anticipates a contentious primary.

“My politics are about addition and multiplication, not about subtraction and division,” he said. “There are certainly some angry voices out there. But I think it’s my job to push back against those angry voices. I think voters are tired of the fear and anger that is coming from small minds with small visions.”

Read the entire story here.

Here’s a facebook exchange that edged it’s way into the twilight zone, under a recent post on the Dakota Scout facebook page between Dakota Scout co-owner Joe Sneve, and someone writing as “Sam Ross” claiming to have information on a Human Trafficking gang:

If you click on the “Sam Ross” profile picture it brings up this:

This “Sam Ross” looks kind of familiar…  And if you look at her profile further, she sounds familiar as well..

Wait.. wait..  “The county auditor would not help me when criminals under the guise of being IRS Contract Investigators from Pagosa Springs, Colorado committed election fraud….”   I think we’ve heard this before:

Yep. And that would be former D17 candidate Robin Schiro. If you recall..

I think that might even be the same picture.

You know, somehow, in her “undercover alias” when she says she has information on a Human Trafficking gang, I think I would tend to take that with a grain of salt as well.

The Dakota Scout is writing today on Congressman Dusty Johnson’s entrance into the Governor’s race, as the front runner in state polling on the contest didn’t acknowledge those at the bottom of the polls, but reportedly had nice comments for the man who would be his main rival for the office, current Governor Larry Rhoden:

“I love this state,” he said in an interview with The Dakota Scout. “I think the next 20 years could be South Dakota’s best, but it’s not inevitable. I think we need a real plan. I think we need real leadership, and I’m excited to pull together that plan and pull together that team.”

and..

A spokesman for the Doeden campaign said it would issue a statement following Johnson’s announcement.

In a statement to The Dakota Scout, Hansen said his campaign represented the biggest conservative fighters on the biggest issues faced in the state.

and..

Johnson declined to address his potential opponents, other than saying he gets along well with Rhoden.

“I think a lot of things are going well in South Dakota, and I know there are some candidates that the premise of their campaign is attacking where South Dakota is at right now. That’s not me,” Johnson said. “I know South Dakota’s got challenges. I know we can do better, but South Dakota is pretty well run. Pretty gosh darn well run.”

Read the entire story here.

Not sure Dusty really needs to say anything about the also-rans at this point, other than to point out how South Dakota views them, according to recent polling:

Does the person leading at 28% need to acknowledge the guys at 2% or 4% yet? Probably not.

The Dusty Johnson for Governor campaign kicked off today with his announcement in Sioux Falls, and the release of a new campaign video encouraging South Dakotans to Dream Big:

Johnson Announces Gubernatorial Bid

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced his candidacy for Governor of South Dakota.

“It’s been the honor of my lifetime to serve South Dakota in Congress and to have the opportunity to help secure the southern border, cut trillions in wasteful government spending, and reclaim the fight against the Chinese Communist Party,” said Johnson. “But it’s time for a new chapter—a chapter that drives South Dakota to a brighter future where we build better schools and safer communities, a chapter that governs with conservative principles to create new jobs, new businesses, and new opportunities in every community, and a chapter where being a workhorse, not a show horse, still means something. Today, I announce my candidacy to be the next governor of the great state of South Dakota.”

To watch Rep. Johnson’s gubernatorial announcement video, please click here.

Johnson has served as South Dakota’s lone voice in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019. Prior to his time in Congress, Johnson was a Vice President at a South Dakota-based engineering and consulting firm specializing in rural telecommunications. Johnson also served as Chief of Staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard and served on the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. He lives in Mitchell with his wife and three sons.

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That cat is just not going to stay in the bag any longer, and it’s almost completely out! 

The Dusty Johnson for Governor Campaign Committee has filed documents with the Secretary of State which have been posted on-line, naming retired Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom as the Dusty for Governor Committee Chairman:

Dusty Johnson for Gov campaign committee by Pat Powers on Scribd

Kevin Thom had served as the Pennington County Sheriff from 2011 through his retirement in 2023, after choosing not to run in 22. Prior to that, Thom was a special agent with the South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

Congressman Johnson is scheduled to make political announcements at noon in Sioux Falls today at the Canopy by Hilton Sioux Falls Downtown, and at 5PM today at the David Lust Accelerator in Rapid City.

Attn: NYC CEOs, no state corporate income tax in South Dakota, and no personal income tax in SD for your people. Call me. https://t.co/ee33xo5bB3

— Paul TenHaken (@paultenhaken) June 29, 2025