Senator Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) Will Not Run for Re-election

As expected, Sen. Tim Johnson announced that he will not seek a fourth term in the upcoming 2014 election. He indicated after 36 consecutive years in elective office – including service in the state legislature, and combined time in the U.S. House and Senate – that he and his wife are looking forward to returning to life in South Dakota and "doing other things." Johnson conceded that the brain hemorrhage he suffered in 2006 has made life more difficult, but emphasized that he never stopped working hard for the people that repeatedly elected him as their representative. Without Sen. Johnson on the ballot, the Republicans have a considerable opportunity to convert the South Dakota Senate seat to their column and must be considered the early favorites to do so. Former Gov. Mike Rounds (R) announced his candidacy just after the November election and began running full speed ahead – before Sen. Johnson's political intentions were known. A Tea Party-backed recruitment effort to encourage Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.-Ala.) to enter the Senate race will likely intensify now that the seat is officially open. For her part, the Congresswoman only states that she "isn't ruling anything out" as it relates to making the Senate race or running for re-election. Realistically, the more time that elapses without Noem taking concrete steps toward developing a Senate campaign helps Rounds become a consensus candidate. Democrat leaders are strongly looking at two people, former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin and Sen. Johnson's son Brendan, who is the South Dakota U.S. Attorney.  The former Congresswoman, however, does have her share of political baggage. She spends most of her time living and working for a Washington lobbying firm, and though the state party chairman expresses strong confidence in her, she has lost two of her five statewide races including one as an incumbent. Brendan Johnson, who will be 38 later this year, has never before sought political office. Senator Johnson becomes the tenth U.S. Senator to either leave the body or announce plans to do so since the November 2012 election. For more information, please contact David Ashinoff at (2020 547-5013 or ashinoffd@agc.org.