Johnson focusing on policy wins, not governor's mansion

Congressman eager for wins with Republican House, Senate, White House

At this point in his congressional career, Dusty Johnson is where Kristi Noem was eight years ago.

Fresh off winning a fourth congressional term in convincing fashion, Noem had a decision to make in 2016 about what her next political move would be. The governor’s seat would be opening in two more years, and she had to decide if she wanted to make a run. That’s exactly where Johnson finds himself today.

But unlike Noem, Johnson has more time. In 2016, voters also adopted a sprawling measure that included a limitation on federal campaigns like Noem’s from moving their campaign cash into state accounts – an ironic provision considering federal campaign finance laws are more stringent than the state’s. Although lawmakers later gutted the measure, it was set to go into effect almost immediately, putting the future governor at risk of losing the ability to use $1.9 million in her federal account.

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