Republican who oversees South Dakota's elections endorses a Democrat in the race to succeed her – abcnews.com

Republican who oversees South Dakota’s elections endorses a Democrat in the race to succeed her  abcnews.com

South Dakota’s Republican secretary of state is breaking with her party and endorsing the Democrat running for the office SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota’s Republican secretary of state is breaking with her party and endorsing the Democrat running for the office, saying “the integrity, stability, and professionalism of this office is at stake.” Secretary of State Monae Johnson lost the nomination at the state GOP convention in June to Heather Baxter, a state lawmaker whose campaign website says she aligns with President Donald Trump and his concerns about "inaccurate voter rolls, mail in ballots, and voting machine issues.” A previous statement on Baxter's website said she supported getting rid of voting machines in favor of hand-counting ballots, which has been a theme among those pushing conspiracy theories that voting and ballot counting machines can be rigged.

Johnson said she endorsed Democratic candidate Terrence Davis because he brings law enforcement experience from his years as a state trooper, as well as an educational background in law and policy. The secretary of state’s office on Monday said Johnson would not comment beyond her statement, which was published over the weekend. “I am a Republican. Terrence is a Democrat. I understand that this decision will disappoint some people in my party and anger others,” Johnson wrote in a column published in South