South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson, a Republican who lost her party’s nomination for another term, is endorsing Democrat Terrence Davis in the November election. Johnson announced her support for Davis in a column published Saturday, saying the integrity and professionalism of the office were at stake. She said she could not support Republican nominee Heather Baxter, who defeated Johnson at the state Republican convention in June by a 59% to 41% vote. “South Dakota deserves a Secretary of State who will strengthen confidence through performance rather than provocation,” Johnson wrote. She said the office needs a leader who supports local election officials, protects voter access and election security, and treats employees, voters, candidates and business owners with dignity. Johnson described Davis as the candidate best prepared to run the office with “seriousness, steadiness, and integrity.” She urged voters to look beyond party labels, acknowledging that the endorsement could carry a political cost. Baxter has presented herself as a strong supporter of President Donald Trump’s efforts to change election administration. Her campaign platform calls for expanded post-election audits and improved hand-counting procedures. In a statement, Baxter said her convention victory represented a clear choice by Republican delegates and argued that her party affiliation signals the governing approach she would bring to the office. “The letter beside a name is not decoration,” Baxter said. “It tells voters what governing philosophy they will carry into the office that runs our elections and business services.” Davis thanked Johnson for the endorsement, noting that they belong to different parties and will not agree on every issue. He said that disagreement made her confidence in him especially meaningful. The endorsement quickly provoked criticism from Republican House Speaker Jon Hansen. In a post on X, Hansen called Johnson’s decision a “huge mistake” and urged voters not to give Democrats control of the secretary of state’s office. The race will determine who oversees South Dakota’s elections and other responsibilities handled by the secretary of state, including business services. Johnson’s intervention puts those administrative duties at the center of a contest also shaped by broader disputes over election security, vote counting and the role of partisan politics in election administration.