Republican South Dakota secretary of state endorses Democrat to succeed her

South Dakota's Republican secretary of state urged voters to cast their ballots for a Democrat in the November election, arguing she could not back the GOP nominee — and drawing the ire of party leadership.

Monae Johnson announced she's endorsing Democrat Terrence Davis over Republican Heather Baxter, who defeated her in the GOP convention in June, at a moment "when I believe the integrity, stability, and professionalism of this office is at stake."

"South Dakota deserves a Secretary of State who will strengthen confidence through performance rather than provocation; who will support election officials rather than burden them for political effect; who will protect voter access and election security without pretending those goals are enemies; and who will treat the office's employees, voters, candidates, and business owners with dignity," she said in a column Saturday .

Baxter has campaigned as a staunch backer of President Donald Trump's efforts to reform U.S. elections and supports "robust post-election audits" and "improved hand counting methods," per her campaign website .

Baxter's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Johnson wrote that she was endorsing Davis "with full understanding of what this endorsement may cost me" because he is the "candidate best prepared to protect the office and serve South Dakota with seriousness, steadiness, and integrity." She urged voters to "to look beyond the letter beside a candidate's name."

In a statement, Baxter told POLITICO her party affiliation was reason enough to side with her in the general election.

"In June, Republican delegates considered the record and nominated me over incumbent Secretary of State Monae Johnson, 59 percent to 41 percent. That was not confusion," she said. "That was self-government in action. The letter beside a name is not decoration. It tells voters what governing philosophy they will carry into the office that runs our elections and business services."

The Democrat thanked Johnson for her endorsement with a post on his campaign's Facebook account.

"Monae and I come from different political parties," he said. "We will not agree on every issue. That is exactly why her confidence in me means so much."

But Johnson's post was swiftly condemned by the state's Republican House speaker, Jon Hansen.

"South Dakota Republican Secretary of State, after being defeated at the Republican party convention in her reelection bid, is endorsing the Democrat candidate," he wrote on X . "Huge mistake! Do NOT hand our elections over to the Democrats! Vote REPUBLICAN Heather Baxter for Secretary of State!"