Probe puts South Dakota election chief's breakup with voter integrity buffs on display

Deep fractures within GOP formed since 2022 election exposed with Legislature's subpoena of Secretary of State Monae Johnson

Secretary of State Monae Johnson celebrated her Nov. 8, 2022, election victory with SD Canvassing’s Rick Weible and Gretchen Weible, who served as Johnson’s campaign manager in her first run for the office. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

Years of shifting alliances, grassroots GOP infighting and election integrity disputes came to a head at the South Dakota Capitol this month.

Secretary of State Monae Johnson faced not just a state investigative panel when she complied with a subpoena demanding she testify before the Government Operations and Audit Committee last month, but a cadre of former allies who helped usher the former election integrity activist into office three years ago.

South Dakota's medical marijuana divide erupts amid ‘show committee’ claims

A political ghost | Forged in service | Prison push autopsy | Fundraising concession | Reasoning to run | Gov. Larry Rhoden