Former state trooper plans run as Democrat for secretary of state

Terrence Davis has declared his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for South Dakota secretary of state in 2026.

A 39-year-old former state trooper plans to seek the office of South Dakota secretary of state for the Democratic Party.

If the party chooses him at its nominating convention next year, Terrence Davis could face Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson in the general election.

Johnson was elected in 2022, and has announced her intention to seek reelection.

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In South Dakota, the secretary of state oversees elections, maintains voter registration records, and catalogs and manages campaign finance reporting for state office-seekers and political action committees. It also catalogs businesses and corporate filings, among other duties.

Davis, a Sioux Falls resident and Tennessee native, sent an announcement on his candidacy this week. The married father of one spent a year working for the South Dakota Highway Patrol, from 2021-2022, and another five working as a state trooper in Tennessee. He currently works for East River Legal Services in Sioux Falls, and is pursuing a doctoral degree in law and public policy through Liberty University.

He pledged to bring “transparency” and “accountability” to the office, and to deliver “more efficient, accessible services with the respect South Dakotans deserve.” Davis’ announcement also said he would make voting “both secure and accessible, especially for rural communities.”

“When people deny elections, fail to protect your privacy, they silence your voice. Incompetence is just as dangerous — it threatens our democracy and the future of South Dakota,” Davis said in his news release.

The quote does not name Johnson, but references criticisms of her work in office and statements made prior to taking it.

During the 2022 election, Johnson declined to say if the results of the 2020 presidential election, won by Joe Biden, were fair and legitimate.

Last month, Johnson’s office publicly released a list of registered voters that included confidential information on how they registered, including during applications for public assistance programs. The voter rolls were made available at no cost to the public pursuant to a state law that took effect July 1, but Johnson, after reporting by Searchlight and other media, apologized for including the confidential information and retracted it from the database.

Johnson did not immediately return emails requesting comment on Davis’ criticisms.