July 3, 2025:
President Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion “Big Beautiful Bill” includes instances of the federal government reducing the amount it pays to support social programs such as Medicaid, WIC and SNAP and shifting more of the financial responsibility to state governments.
South Dakota U.S. Congressman Dusty Johnson officially announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Governor of his home state this week (June 30, 2025). Should he be elected in 2026, Johnson would have to deal with those increased costs as he puts together a budget for the state. However, he told DRG Media Group News the possibility doesn’t change his support for the federal budget bill.
Trump says the states have become too reliant on the federal government paying for things and it’s time for the states to start paying their fair share. Johnson agrees.
Johnson says this budget is a way to start chipping away at the country’s $37 trillion debt.
Two other republicans have also declared their candidacy for governor of South Dakota in 2026. They are Toby Doeden of Aberdeen and Jon Hansen of Dell Rapids. Hansen has selected Karla Lems of Canton as his choice for lt. governor.
June 30, 2025:
South Dakota U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced his candidacy for Governor of his home state.
“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.”
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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