SIOUX FALLS — Incumbent Representative Dusty Johnson declared victory Tuesday night in the race for South Dakota's lone U.S. House seat, delivering his victory speech at 9:30 p.m.
With 522 of 691precincts reporting as of 3 a.m. Wednesday, the Republican Johnson had claimed 74% of the vote, while Democratic challenger Sheryl Johnson trailed with 26%.
The substantial margin mirrors Johnson's previous electoral success since taking office in 2019. The 47-year-old Pierre native, who now resides in Mitchell, won his last race in 2022 with 77.4% of the vote against a Libertarian challenger. This year's contest marks the first time since 2018 that Johnson has faced a Democratic opponent on the ballot.
"This is a difficult environment, but we are driven to do some good in it. And you have hired us for another two years to go try to bend the arc of history toward freedom. Thank you for that opportunity," Johnson said in his victory speech. "I know that we have work to do ... I'm here to tell you that is not easy work, but that work is going to get a whole lot easier to get done tonight because Republicans are going to win the House and the Senate and the White House. And with that potent recipe of courage, imagination, optimism and freedom, we will win."
Throughout the campaign, Johnson maintained a focus on his congressional duties, participating in only a few political events per week. His approach centered on addressing pressing national issues, including the ongoing border crisis, pending funding bills, and concerns about the Chinese Communist Party.
Johnson's campaign strategy emphasized his track record of hard work and effectiveness in Washington. The University of Virginia has recognized him as the most effective House Republican on agriculture issues and among the top five on public lands and transportation matters.
“We go out and work hard every day for South Dakota. An election is just a job interview, and the most effective way to get hired for a job is to have done it well already,” Johnson said recently in an interview with the Mitchell Republic.
Sheryl Johnson, a retired education assistant, was the Democratic candidate without a primary contest. The South Dakota Democratic Party did not hold a primary for this race, as Johnson was the only candidate to file for the nomination.
Johnson’s next two years in office will likely focus on several key issues, including border security, fiscal responsibility, and tackling the national debt. Johnson has long been a critic of what he calls “out-of-control government spending” and has worked diligently to push for stricter regulations on Chinese land ownership in the U.S.
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