Incumbent South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson is facing a challenge from within her own party in the next election.
State Rep. Heather Baxter on Monday announced plans to run for secretary of state.
Baxter represents District 34 in Rapid City. The 2025 session was her first term in office.
In her candidacy announcement, Baxter described herself as a Christian conservative and an “avid advocate of election reform" who is aligning her vision with President Donald Trump's platform on election integrity.
“Our elections must reflect the will of the people,” Baxter stated. “As secretary of state, I will bring fresh leadership to the fight for accessibility, accountability, and security to ensure every South Dakotan’s voice is heard and every vote is counted publicly and accurately.”
Last session, she introduced several election-related bills, including one requiring the secretary of state to make voter registration records available for free. That bill came under scrutiny after the secretary of state released private information for some voters when the list was first published online. Baxter told SDPB the issue was not with the bill, but rather with how the secretary of state's office handled the rollout. Johnson went on to take full responsibility for the release of information.
Baxter will square off against Johnson in the Republican State Convention next summer. In South Dakota, candidates for several statewide races — including secretary of state — are selected by delegates in party conventions. The winner goes on to represent the party in the November election.
Johnson herself unseated an incumbent Republican in the 2022 convention running on a platform of election integrity.
One Democratic candidate, Sioux Falls resident Terrence Davis, has announced plans to run for secretary of state.
