Johnson won’t endorse Rhoden or Doeden in South Dakota GOP governor's race

Former frontrunner says he’ll support whichever Republican wins nomination in July runoff; blames late campaign attacks, shifting GOP politics for primary defeat

Congressman Dusty Johnson discussed his gubernatorial campaign and the June 2 primary election results with Joe Sneve of The Dakota Scout on Thursday, June. 18, in downtown Sioux Falls. (Jay Pickthorn / For The Dakota Scout)

South Dakota’s lone Congressman Dusty Johnson won’t endorse either of the two remaining candidates in the state’s GOP primary for governor.

But the third-place finisher in the four-way Republican June 2 contest that advanced Gov. Larry Rhoden and Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden to a head-to-head runoff election next month told The Dakota Scout this week that he will support whichever Republican emerges as the party’s nominee on the November ballot.