Republican State Sen. Casey Crabtree officially announced a bid for South Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The seat is currently held by Rep. Dusty Johnson, who is running for governor.
Crabtree works as the economic development director for Heartland Energy in Madison. He’s previously held Majority Whip and Majority Leader positions in the state Senate.
He’s led the way on state legislation, including stronger sentencing for fentanyl distribution and banning sanctuary cities in South Dakota.
Crabtree was also the prime sponsor of a highly contested 2024 bill dubbed the “Landowners’ Bill of Rights” that voters overturned in the Referred Law process last November.
He said in a statement he is "the only conservative Republican in this race who has delivered on an American First South Dakota Always agenda."
Crabtree now joins Attorney General Marty Jackley in the race for the Republican primary next June.
Across the aisle, Democrats Billy Mawhiney and Nikki Gronli are also campaigning for the seat. The general election is November 2026.
