Dusty Johnson

Last updated

Jacquelyn Dice
​
(m. 1999)​
Dusty Johnson
Dusty Johnson - 117th Congress.jpg
Official portrait, 2021
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from South Dakota's at-large district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Children3
Education University of South Dakota (BA)
University of Kansas (MPA)
Website House website

Dustin Michael Johnson [1] (born September 30, 1976) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served as South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner from 2005 to 2011, when he was appointed chief of staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard, a position he held until 2014. [2] [3] [4] Between his state political career and congressional service, Johnson was the vice president of Vantage Point Solutions in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Contents

As a member of the centrist Problem Solvers Caucus, Johnson is generally considered to be a moderate Republican. During his tenure he has voted to revoke Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, keep Liz Cheney as the Republican Conference Chair, and joined all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6, 2021 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol. [5] [6] [7]

On June 30, 2025, Johnson announced he would run to be Governor of South Dakota in 2026. [8]

Early life and education

Johnson was born in Pierre, South Dakota. He graduated from T.F. Riggs High School in 1995. He graduated from the University of South Dakota with Omicron Delta Kappa honors with a BA in political science in 1999, and was a member of fraternity Phi Delta Theta. [9] He earned his MPA from the University of Kansas in 2002. [10] In 1998, Johnson was named a Truman Scholar. [11] As a Truman Scholar, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. In 2003, Johnson worked as a senior policy advisor for then-South Dakota governor Mike Rounds.

State government career

Public Utilities Commission (2004–2011)

In 2004, Johnson was elected to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. He was the youngest utilities commissioner in the nation. [10] In 2010, he won reelection. Johnson also served on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' executive board. He was appointed chair of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission in 2007, and he served in that capacity until his resignation in 2011. In 2010, he led a South Dakota delegation that included then-Governor Rounds and state regulators that met with FCC Commissioners about concerns over the FCC's National Broadband Plan and its impact on small and rural providers in South Dakota.

Daugaard administration (2011–2014)

In 2011, he resigned his PUC position to become Governor Dennis Daugaard's chief of staff, [12] a position he held for four years. As chief operating officer for much of state government, he supervised cabinet secretaries, policy advisors and many of Daugaard's projects and initiatives.

Private sector career (2014–2018)

In 2014, Johnson resigned as chief of staff, leaving the public sector to work for Vantage Point Solutions in Mitchell, South Dakota. [13] Johnson was succeeded as chief of staff by Daugaard's son-in-law, fellow Truman Scholar Tony Venhuizen. [14] Johnson resigned his position with Vantage Point Solutions in 2018 upon his accession to Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

On November 15, 2016, Johnson announced his candidacy for U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district . [15] The announcement came shortly after Kristi Noem announced she would not seek reelection to Congress in order to run in the 2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election. [15] Johnson defeated Secretary of State of South Dakota Shantel Krebs and state senator Neal Tapio in the June 5 Republican primary. He defeated Democratic nominee Tim Bjorkman, a retired circuit court judge, and two minor candidates in the November general election.

2020

2020 GOP Primary results by county .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{} Johnson 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% May 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 2020SDHouseGOP.svg
2020 GOP Primary results by county
  Johnson
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  •   80–90%
  May
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%

On February 19, 2020, Johnson announced his bid for reelection to the House. [16] On February 4, 2020, former state representative Liz Marty May announced she would challenge Johnson in the Republican primary. [17] On June 2, 2020, President Donald Trump endorsed Johnson, writing on Twitter that Johnson is a "phenomenal advocate for the people of South Dakota." [18]

Two Democrats, Brian Wirth of Dell Rapids and Whitney Raver of Custer, announced their candidacy for the House seat, [19] but neither received the required number of signatures to make the ballot. [20] According to state party chairman Randy Seiler, Wirth and Raver's canvassing efforts were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. [21] On June 2, Johnson won the Republican primary, 77%–23%. [22] He won the general election with 81% of the vote. [23]

2022

2022 GOP primary results by county: Johnson 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% Howard 50-60% 60-70% 2022 United States House of Representatives Republican primary election in South Dakota results map by county.svg
2022 GOP primary results by county:
  Johnson
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%
  •   70–80%
  Howard
  •   50–60%
  •   60–70%

On October 12, 2021, State Representative Taffy Howard announced that she would challenge Johnson in the Republican primary. [24] On June 7, 2022, Johnson defeated Howard, 59%–40%. [25]

Johnson went on to defeat Libertarian nominee Collin Duprel 77.4%–22.6%.

2024

Johnson won the Republican primary unopposed. He went on to face Democrat Sheryl Johnson, who he defeated 72%–28%.

2026 gubernatorial campaign

On June 30, 2025, Johnson announced that he would run for governor of South Dakota in 2026. [26]

Political positions

Johnson was sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 2019, and joined the Problem Solvers Caucus soon after.

Antitrust

In 2022, Johnson was one of 39 Republicans to vote for the Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022, an antitrust package that would crack down on corporations for anti-competitive behavior. [27] [28]

Border wall

On March 26, 2019, Johnson was one of 14 Republicans to vote with all House Democrats to override President Trump's veto of a measure revoking Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the southern border. [29]

2020 Presidential election

Johnson did not join the majority of Republican members of Congress who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania , a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Johnson voted to certify both Arizona's and Pennsylvania's results in the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count.

On May 19, 2021, Johnson was one of 35 Republicans who joined all Democrats in voting to approve legislation to establish the January 6, 2021 commission meant to investigate the storming of the U.S. Capitol. [30]

LGBT Rights

In 2022, Johnson voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, alongside South Dakota's two US senators, John Thune and Mike Rounds. [31] [32] Discussing his vote, Johnson indicated that he did not believe the bill provided sufficient protections for "individuals or institutions that have sincerely-held 'religious beliefs and moral convictions' about marriage", stating that “If Congress is going to codify the Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision, the religious protections need to be air tight, and they weren’t,” [31] Speaking during his 2022 reelection campaign, Johnson further addressed the issue, stating: "These things are the business of the states. In fact, the full faith and credit provision of the constitution says that if any state has those gay marriages that other states need to recognize them." "Listen, when it is in the constitution—when Speaker Pelosi is going to put up these political-show bills I think she’s got to understand she’s going to find it a lot harder to get Republican support for those.” [33]

Liz Cheney

During the second vote to oust Liz Cheney, Johnson was among the few House Republicans who voted to keep her as conference chair. [34]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

2018 Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dusty Johnson 47,032 46.8
Republican Shantel Krebs 29,44229.3
Republican Neal Tapio 23,98024.0
Total votes100,454 100
South Dakota's at-large congressional district, 2018 [42]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dusty Johnson 202,446 60.35% −3.75%
Democratic Tim Bjorkman120,81636.01%+0.11%
Independent Ron Wieczorek7,3132.18%N/A
Libertarian George D. Hendrickson4,8961.46%N/A
Total votes335,471 100.0% N/A
Republican hold
2020 Republican primary results [43]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dusty Johnson (incumbent) 71,496 76.7
Republican Liz Marty May 21,77923.3
Total votes93,275 100
South Dakota's at-large congressional district, 2020 [23]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dusty Johnson (incumbent) 321,984 80.96% +20.61%
Libertarian Randy Luallin75,74819.04%+17.58%
Total votes397,732 100.0%
Republican hold
2022 Republican primary results [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Dusty Johnson (incumbent) 70,728 59.2
Republican Taffy Howard 48,64540.8
Total votes119,373 100
South Dakota's at-large congressional district, 2022 [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dusty Johnson (incumbent) 253,821 77.42% –3.54%
Libertarian Collin Duprel74,02022.58%+3.54%
Total votes327,841 100.0%
Republican hold
South Dakota's at-large congressional district, 2024 [46]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Dusty Johnson (incumbent) 303,630 72.04% –5.38%
Democratic Sheryl Johnson117,81827.96%N/A
Total votes421,448 100.0%
Republican hold

Personal life

Johnson has been actively involved as a state advisor for South Dakota Teen Age Republicans (TARs) and its Black Hills camp leader. [47] He has served on the board of directors for the W.O. Farber Fund, Abbott House, and on the South Dakota Attorney General's Open Government Task Force. Johnson has served as an adjunct professor at Dakota Wesleyan University.

References

  1. ↑ WALKER, JON (December 4, 2004). "Twenty-Eight-Year-Old Dusty Johnson State GOP's Newest Face". Yankton Press & Dakotan. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ "PAGE BY PAGE REPORT DISPLAY FOR 201807180200572681 (Page 58 of 204)". docquery.fec.gov.
  3. ↑ "Mike Rounds - Governor of South Dakota". December 29, 2010. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Dusty Johnson – South Dakota War College". dakotawarcollege.com. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  5. ↑ "He defied Trump and still survived a GOP primary". Politico . June 10, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Mike Johnson: House to vote on new Republican nominee for Speaker". October 25, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
  7. ↑ Wegmann, Philip (April 20, 2024). "A Beleaguered Gentleman: Speaker Mike Johnson | RealClearPolitics". www.realclearpolitics.com.
  8. ↑ "Congressman Dusty Johnson announces he will run for Governor job". KNBN . June 30, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Phi Delta Theta GHQ on Instagram: "Congratulations to the many Phis across the United States who won election victories last evening. Indiana Beta (Wabash) Phi Mike Braun…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Crisis or Renaissance". puc.sd.gov. South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.
  11. ↑ "Harry S. Truman Foundation". Truman.gov.
  12. ↑ "Dusty Johnson to be Daugaard's chief of staff". mitchellrepublic.com.
  13. ↑ "Dusty Johnson to resign as Daugaard's chief of staff". usatoday.com. USA TODAY.
  14. ↑ "Venhuizen to succeed Johnson as chief of staff". argusleader.com. Argus Leader.
  15. 1 2 "Dusty Johnson planning run for Congress in 2018". KSFY.com. November 16, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Dusty Johnson kicks off reelection campaign". KNBN NewsCenter1. February 19, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Liz Marty May announces candidacy for US Congress". February 4, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  18. ↑ Huber, Makenzie (June 2, 2020). "President Trump tweets endorsements for Rounds and Johnson in South Dakota primary". Argus Leader . Retrieved August 28, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Wirth, Raver seeking U.S. House seat". August 27, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  20. ↑ "South Dakota Democrats fail to field 2020 House candidate". Dakota Broadcasting. April 8, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  21. ↑ "South Dakota Democrats will not field a U.S. House candidate in 2020". abc Dakota News Now. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Statewide races". June 2, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  23. 1 2 "General Election - November 3, 2020" (PDF). Secretary of State of South Dakota . November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  24. ↑ "South Dakota lawmaker to challenge Johnson's US House seat". Associated Press . October 12, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  25. ↑ Primary State Canvass Report sdsos.gov
  26. ↑ "Congressman Dusty Johnson announces he will run for Governor job". KNBN . June 30, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  27. ↑ "House passes antitrust bill that hikes M&A fees as larger efforts targeting tech have stalled". CNBC . September 29, 2022.
  28. ↑ "H.R. 3843 (117th): Merger Filing Fee Modernization Act of 2022 -- House Vote #460 -- Sep 29, 2022". GovTrack.us. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  29. ↑ Brufke, Juliegrace (March 26, 2019). "House fails to override Trump veto on border wall". The Hill.
  30. ↑ LeBlanc, Paul (May 19, 2021). "Here are the 35 House Republicans who voted for the January 6 commission". CNN. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  31. 1 2 "Why South Dakota's congressional delegation didn't support the Respect for Marriage Act". Argus Leader. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Johnson on 'no' vote: Same-sex marriage 'not going anywhere'". SDPB. July 20, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Johnson, Duprel spar on abortion, gay marriage in SDPB debate". SDPB. October 21, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Rep. Dusty Johnson votes to keep Liz Cheney in GOP leadership". Argusleader.com. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  35. ↑ "About Dusty Johnson". Representative Dusty Johnson. December 3, 2012. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  36. ↑ "MEMBERS". RMSP. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Featured Members". Problem Solvers Caucus. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  38. ↑ "About Climate Solutions Caucus". Climate Solutions Caucus. January 3, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  39. ↑ "CCA_Members_List" (PDF). Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Rare Disease Congressional Caucus". Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  41. ↑ "Caucus Memberships". Congressional Western Caucus. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  42. ↑ Johnson, Cheryl L. (February 28, 2019). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018". Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives . Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  43. ↑ "2020PrimaryStateCanvassReportandCertificate.pdf" (PDF). South Dakota Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  44. ↑ "2022 Primary Election Official State Canvass Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of South Dakota . June 14, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  45. ↑ "2022 General Election Official State Canvass Results" (PDF). sdsos.gov.
  46. ↑ "Unofficial Results General Election November 5, 2024". Secretary of State of South Dakota . Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  47. ↑ "TARS". penncogop.org. Pennington County GOP.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Dakota's at-large congressional district
2019–present		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Republican Main Street Caucus
2023–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
212th		Succeeded by
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