MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — After a hard-fought Republican gubernatorial primary, Dusty Johnson of Mitchell has conceded.
He put out an official statement on the race early Wednesday morning. “It has been the honor of my lifetime to represent South Dakota in Congress these past eight years,” said Johnson. “While I am disappointed in the outcome, I am committed to helping Republican candidates get elected in November.”
No candidate in Tuesday’s primary got 35% of the vote, so the top two candidates now have a runoff election on July 28th. Toby Doeden garnered 31% of the vote, followed by incumbent governor Larry Rhoden at 25% and Johnson at 23%.
Johnson is currently the only U.S. Representative for the state of South Dakota. His term is over in Washington, D.C. at the end of the 2025 lame duck session in December.