Biography

Dustin "Dusty" Johnson, born on September 30, 1976, in Pierre, South Dakota, is a Republican politician serving as the U.S. Representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district since 2019. He has been re-elected multiple times, most recently in 2024. Prior to his congressional tenure, Johnson held positions as a South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner and Chief of Staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard. He is married to Jacquelyn, and they have three children.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science: University of South Dakota, 1999.
• Master of Public Administration: University of Kansas, 2002.

Political Experience

• U.S. House of Representatives: Serving South Dakota's at-large district since 2019.
• South Dakota Public Utilities Commission: Elected in 2004, becoming the nation's youngest utilities commissioner at that time.
• Chief of Staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard: Served from 2011 to 2014.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Committee Assignments:

  • Agriculture Committee: Chair of the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development.
  • Transportation & Infrastructure Committee: Member of subcommittees on Aviation; Highways and Transit; and Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
  • Select Committee on China: Appointed to address strategic competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party.

• Caucus Memberships:

  • Republican Main Street Caucus: Chairman of a group focused on pragmatic conservative solutions.
  • Problem Solvers Caucus: Member of a bipartisan group aiming to bridge partisan divides.

• Legislative Initiatives:

  • Advocated for rural broadband expansion and agricultural policy reforms.
  • Focused on supply chain issues through ocean shipping reform and infrastructure development.

Johnson's career reflects a commitment to addressing the needs of rural communities and fostering bipartisan cooperation in Congress.