Johnson, Rhoden camp confirm behind-the-scenes runoff alliance
South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson deployed campaign staff, voter data and donor network in support of governor's GOP nomination
Gov. Larry Rhoden’s decisive victory in South Dakota’s first-ever Republican gubernatorial runoff was aided by a previously undisclosed deployment of U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson’s political operation.
Both Johnson and the governor’s campaign have confirmed publicly for the first time that Johnson’s field staff, voter data and campaign resources were enlisted in Rhoden’s runoff effort against opponent Toby Doeden.
“I had some great field staff and some great data and we were able to deploy both of those to be helpful to Larry,” Johnson told The Dakota Scout of his off-radar involvement in the GOP primary election during the eight weeks that followed his third-place finish in the June 2 election behind Doeden and Rhoden.
