Christopher Baumgartner
Christopher Baumgartner The Democratic primary for this office on June 2, 2026, was canceled. com.
Campaign site
“I'm running for the state Legislature because I want to bring real, practical fixes to Pierre, on things like teacher pay, healthcare access, and government accountability, instead of more empty talk. Rapid City and South Dakota raised me. I was taught a long time ago in Scouts to leave your campsite in better condition than how you found it, and that's what I want to do here: make South Dakota just a bit better than how it currently is. I've spent my life here, and I know what it needs because I've lived it.”
(SDPB 2026 Meet the Candidates) “I'm tired of watching Pierre waste session after session on culture war fights instead of solving real problems. Republicans have controlled this state for over 30 years, and two generations of South Dakotans have now grown up under this same pattern: instead of tackling the issues that actually affect people's lives, teacher pay, healthcare access, housing costs, Pierre keeps manufacturing outrage over problems that don't really exist here.”
(SDPB 2026 Meet the Candidates) “A few stand out. Teacher pay is at the top of the list. We can't keep asking educators to do more with less and expect to keep good teachers in South Dakota classrooms. I've heard from parents about classes swelling to as many as 45 students, and even if that's not the district wide norm, it's a sign of real strain on our schools that Pierre needs to take seriously. Rural healthcare and EMS funding gaps are another urgent one; too many West River communities are one bad call away from not having an ambulance show up in time.”
(SDPB 2026 Meet the Candidates)David Johnson
Johnson ( Republican Party ) was a member of the South Dakota State Senate, representing District 33. He left office on January 14, 2025. David Johnson served in the U.S. Navy. Johnson earned a degree from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and an M.B.A. from the University of South Dakota. His career experience includes owning Johnson Tree Company. Johnson was assigned to the following committees:
· Ballotpedia (secondary source)
Campaign site
“I promised to be an effective, principled leader in the State Senate. I promised to work collaboratively with other legislators to protect and defend our constitutional rights and to improve our quality of life here in SD.”
(Candidate Campaign Website) “Honored and celebrated our military and veterans (6 Years on Veterans Affairs Committee, last 4 years as Chair of Senate Military & Veterans Affairs Committee)”
(Candidate Campaign Website)