South Dakota's Dusty Johnson, a leading voice on American agricultural policy and fiscal responsibility, reflects on his four terms in Congress, his South Dakota gubernatorial bid, and his future plans as his time in the U.S. House draws to a close.
Johnson, often known as the "problem solver," believes the United States is underestimating the geopolitical and economic threat posed by Beijing. He thinks the country is "basically sleepwalking through this competition" and that leaders in China are constantly trying to outmaneuver the U.S.
As the former leader of the Republican Main Street Caucus, Johnson has approached his career with the goal of breaking the Washington gridlock. However, he laments that "it's a tough time to be normal," with the loudest and angriest voices dominating the national conversation.
Johnson argues that a bipartisan approach is necessary to tackle the problem of balancing budgets and reducing the national debt, a challenge that has plagued the country for generations. He believes that only by working together can the U.S. restore solvency to entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Johnson entered the 2026 South Dakota GOP gubernatorial primary as the frontrunner but ended up placing third. He acknowledges that his congressional pedigree, once seen as a boost, now appears to be an albatross due to negative ads that portrayed him as a career politician and a RINO.
Despite the outcome of the primary, Johnson remains optimistic about his future plans, citing his previous success in the business and non-profit sectors. He pledges that his work is not yet finished and that he is still filled with "plenty of piss and vinegar.
