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Johnson, in his fourth term as South °®¶¹app's lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives, has entered the governor's race. The announcement confirms what many throughout the state have expected for months, if not years. He joins a growing field in the Republican primary slated for June of 2026.

"I think the next 20 years for South °®¶¹app could be the best in our state's history, but there are no guarantees. If we're going to get it done we're going to need a real plan," Johnson told the Journal. "We're going to need real leadership and I'm excited to build that plan and to build that team ā€” and I clearly have the track record. I've got the history of showing that I can get it done."

Johnson, 48, lives in Mitchell with his family. He was elected to the South °®¶¹app Public Utilities Commission in 2004 and left the commission in 2010 to become then-Gov. Dennis Daugaard's chief of staff. He was first elected to the House in 2018 and re-elected in 2020, 2022 and 2024.

Johnson easily won his U.S. House seat in general elections. State Sen. Taffy Howard of Rapid City challenged Johnson in the 2022 Republican primary for the seat, with Johnson winning 59%-40%. He won with 72% of the vote in the 2024 general election.

Like everyone else in the state, elected or otherwise, property taxes is among the top issues for Johnson. He said they must be cut responsibly.

"South °®¶¹app has experienced good revenue growth in recent years. If we can unlock even more of that development, we're going to have some revenue that can be directed toward property tax relief," he said. "South °®¶¹app small businesses are going to lead the way. We can do more with our tech schools and colleges to help unlock some of that commercialization. Frankly, way too many of our potential entrepreneurs are leaving the state. If those jobs, if those businesses, can be created here, that's clearly going to give us some revenue. A broader base should mean lower property tax rates."

Johnson said the state should be "laser focused" on bolstering education, keeping communities safe, making families strong and creating "better jobs."

"We need safer communities. We're going to get that done by focusing on drugs and addiction," he said, mentioning building new small businesses, new energy production and dairy expansion among the many opportunities.

Johnson opened his interview with the Journal discussing the need for "a real plan" and "real leadership." Asked what needs to change in the state, what needs to be taken in another direction, Johnson said, "I don't look at it like that. I think South °®¶¹app has an incredible foundation to build on. I think we've so much going for it. So this is really just about taking us to the next level."

South °®¶¹app House Speaker Jon Hansen and businessman Toby Doeden of Aberdeen have already announced their gubernatorial candidacies. Hansen announced Speaker Pro Tempore Karla Lems as his running mate. Gov. Larry Rhoden, who took over in January after then-Gov. Kristi Noem was confirmed as Department of Homeland Security secretary, has not announced his intentions yet.

Attorney General Marty Jackley, who lost to Noem in the 2018 Republican primary, had been rumored to be a potential governor's candidate as well. But Jackley he plans to run for Johnson's seat.

Entering the race, Johnson has around $5.9 million available in campaign financing, according to Federal Election Commission filings. He also had around $277,000 in his state committee as of the end of 2024, according to state filings. His Dusty for Governor committee was created Saturday, per state filings.

Johnson said his time in the House has provided lessons and perspective as he enters the governor's race in a South °®¶¹app dominated by a Republican Party that has seen divisions over growth, taxes, eminent domain, the new state prison and other topics. How will he bridge the divide?

"There isn't anybody in this race who's got the track record, actually bringing people together in the House. Speaker (Mike) Johnson and President (Donald) Trump have looked to me to build bridges across the colorful and sometimes raucous Republican caucus. And I've done it even when people said we couldn't do it," he said, noting working toward solutions on the border, reforming welfare, securing the border, cutting spending and other topics. "Other people can talk about bringing the Republican Party together, but I'm the only one who's got a consistent track or direct track record of getting it done."

Johnson had a kickoff event planned in Sioux Falls slated to start at 11 a.m. MT on Monday. He's hosting a kickoff event in Rapid City at 5 p.m. this evening at the David Lust Accelerator Building at Elevate Rapid City, 18 East Main St.

"It's an incredibly important part of the state," Johnson said of West River.