Republican State Senator Casey Crabtree of Madison has officially filed his candidacy for South Dakota’s sole U.S. House seat, becoming the second Republican to do so following Attorney General Marty Jackley. This development comes after current Representative Dusty Johnson announced his gubernatorial campaign for 2026, leaving the congressional seat open.
Crabtree, 42, submitted his paperwork to the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday. Though he did not immediately respond to media inquiries, he previously expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, citing support from across the state and framing his potential campaign as a decision to be made through “prayer and serious conversations” with his family.
A longtime advocate for economic development, Crabtree currently serves as director at Heartland Energy and held the position of Senate Majority Leader during the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions.
The Republican primary is slated for June 2026, with the general election scheduled for November. Other GOP hopefuls include business owner James Bialota, who declared his intent to run via social media. On the Democratic side, Scott Schlagel has filed paperwork to enter the race.
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