South Dakota’s Republican Secretary of State, Monae Johnson, has made a notable political move by endorsing the Democratic candidate for the same office, breaking with her party. Johnson lost the Republican nomination in June to state lawmaker Heather Baxter, who has aligned her campaign with President Donald Trump on issues like concerns over voter rolls, mail-in ballots, and voting machines. Baxter had previously proposed legislation to ban automated ballot tabulating systems, but the bill did not pass. Her campaign had also supported replacing voting machines with hand-counted ballots, a stance often linked to claims that electronic systems could be manipulated. However, Baxter recently updated her website, clarifying that she cannot change how votes are tallied and trusts local officials to manage elections in their counties. Studies suggest that hand-counting paper ballots is slower and more prone to errors than using machines. Johnson explained her decision to support Democratic nominee Terrence Davis based on his background as a former state trooper and his academic training in law and policy. She emphasized that her choice was not an endorsement of the Democratic Party but a personal decision based on Davis’s qualifications. Johnson’s office did not provide further comments beyond a written statement, which she posted on a conservative blog. Davis, in turn, has stressed the need for the secretary of state’s office to be nonpartisan, ensuring it serves all residents "honestly and fairly." The impact of Johnson’s endorsement remains unclear, especially in a state where Democrats have not held a statewide office since 2015. South Dakota has strongly supported Trump in the last three presidential elections. Baxter dismissed the significance of Johnson’s move, saying it was not surprising that she would support someone who would not challenge her past actions. Baxter framed Trump’s election policies as a reinforcement of existing laws, even as Trump has pushed for more federal oversight of elections, despite constitutional responsibilities resting with states and Congress. Trump has also proposed using the Postal Service for mail-in ballots, requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, and suggesting that noncitizens may affect election results. Despite losing the 2020 election to Biden, Trump continues to claim widespread vote fraud occurred. Johnson’s support for Davis contrasts with her 2022 campaign, when she avoided confirming whether Biden had won the 2020 election and focused on "election integrity." During her time in office, she faced criticism after her department accidentally released data about voters receiving public assistance. Additionally, she faced backlash for not attending a legislative hearing on a state contract with an electronic poll book vendor, which led to a subpoena. Jim Eschenbaum, chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party, said Johnson lost support from party members after her lack of engagement. "An involved citizenry just won’t stand for that from their elected officials, period," he stated.