# Tim Johnson (South Dakota politician)

Timothy Peter Johnson (December 28, 1946 – October 8, 2024) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from South Dakota from 1997 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the United States representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 1987 to 1997 and in the state legislature from 1979 to 1987. Johnson is the last Democrat to hold statewide and/or congressional office in South Dakota. He and Stephanie Herseth are also the last Democrats to win a statewide or federal election in South Dakota.

## Early life, education and legal career

Johnson was born in Canton, South Dakota, the son of Ruth Jorinda (née Ljostveit), a homemaker, and Vandel Charles Johnson, an educator. He had Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish ancestry. Raised in Vermillion, Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1969 and a Master of Arts in 1970, both in political science, from the University of South Dakota, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
After doing post-graduate studies at Michigan State University from 1970 to 1971, a period during which he worked for the Michigan Senate, Johnson returned to Vermillion to attend the University of South Dakota School of Law and earned his Juris Doctor in 1975; he went into private practice immediately thereafter. He did not take the bar exam as he was admitted to the South Dakota bar under the state's diploma privilege.

## Early political career

Johnson served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 1979 to 1982 and in the South Dakota Senate from 1983 to 1986. He served as Clay County deputy state's attorney in 1985 during his tenure in the South Dakota Senate. He was elected to the United States House of Representatives from South Dakota's at-large congressional district in 1986. During his first term, he introduced more legislation than any other freshman member of the House. Between 1991 and 1994, he served as a regional whip for the Democratic Party. He left the House in 1997, when his Senate tenure began.

## United States Senate

Johnson's Senate career began in 1997.
In December 2006, Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage. His condition was viewed with much suspense; Democrats held a one-seat Senate majority, and had Johnson died or resigned, Governor Mike Rounds would likely have appointed a Republican to Johnson's seat, giving Republicans control of the Senate. Johnson returned to his full Senate schedule on September 5, 2007, to both tributes and standing ovations.
Johnson chose not to seek reelection in 2014.

### Committee assignments

* Committee on Appropriations
** Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
** Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
** Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
** Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies (Chairman)
** Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
** Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
* Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (chairman)
** Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development
** Subcommittee on Financial Institutions
** Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment
* Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
** Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests
** Subcommittee on Water and Power
* Committee on Indian Affairs

## Political positions

Johnson was considered a centrist Democrat.

### Infrastructure

During his tenure in Congress, Johnson supported infrastructure projects that delivered clean drinking water to communities throughout South Dakota and into surrounding states. He authored several water project bills, resulting in clean drinking water being delivered to hundreds of thousands of South Dakota families.
During his first term in the House of Representatives, Johnson authored the Mni Wiconi Project Act of 1988 (H.R. 2772, enacted into law as Public Law 100–516). The measure authorized construction of a water project serving an area of southwestern South Dakota that included the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, an area that had long suffered low water supplies and poor water quality. In subsequent years, Johnson authored legislation (H.R. 3954) to expand the Mni Wiconi Rural Water Project service area, and the expansion was incorporated into a broader bill and enacted as Public Law 103-434.
Johnson's Mid Dakota Rural Water System Act of 1991 (H.R. 616) was incorporated into a larger package of infrastructure projects and enacted into law as Public Law 102-575. The Mid Dakota Rural Water Project was completed in 2006 and serves more than 30,000 residents of east-central South Dakota.
The Fall River Rural Water Users District Rural Water System Act of 1998 (S. 744 in the 105th Congress, enacted as Public Law 105–352) authorized the Bureau of Reclamation to construct a rural water system in Fall River County of South Dakota. After years of drought, residents in the southeastern area of that county had been left without a suitable water supply, and many of them were forced to either haul water or use bottled water because of poor water quality.
The Lewis and Clark Rural Water System Act of 1999 (S.244 in the 106th Congress) authorized construction of a water delivery system spanning a broad area of southeastern South Dakota, northwestern Iowa, and southwestern Minnesota. The system joined 22 rural water systems and communities.
The authorized project was intended to bring clean, safe drinking water to 180,000 individuals throughout the Lewis and Clark service region. The Perkins County Rural Water System Act (S.2117 in the 105th Congress and S.243 in the 106th Congress, enacted as Public Law 106–136) authorized the Bureau of Reclamation to construct a rural water system in Perkins County of South Dakota.

### Agriculture

Johnson worked to enact a requirement that meat and other agricultural products be labeled for country of origin. Having first authored legislation addressing the issue in 1992 (H.R. 5855), Johnson continued the fight until a meat labeling law was enacted in 2002 as part of the Farm Bill reauthorization (Public Law 107–171). The enacted law contained language Johnson had introduced as S. 280 earlier that Congress.
For more than a decade, executive branch opposition and legal challenges delayed implementation of the labeling law.
In May 2007, Johnson received an Honored Cooperator award from the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) for his support of cooperative businesses.
In 2013, the National Farmers Union presented Johnson with its Friend of the Family Farmer award, an honor intended to recognize his commitment to helping small scale family farms remain viable.

### Tourism

Johnson authored the bill establishing the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in western South Dakota. The measure was enacted as Public Law 106–115, creating a new unit of the National Park System. At the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, visitors can learn about the Cold War and the nuclear missiles that threatened massive destruction while also serving as a deterrent to war.

### Defense

Johnson was the only seated member of Congress to have a son or daughter serving in the active duty military when the Senate voted to approve the use of force in Iraq. His oldest son, Brooks, served in the Army's 101st Airborne Division, which would surely be mobilized to fight in Iraq. Johnson ultimately voted to permit the use of force, and his son served in Iraq, having already served in other conflicts in Bosnia and Kosovo. Brooks Johnson later also served in the conflict in Afghanistan.
As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Johnson secured full and timely funding for veterans' health care for the first time in 21 years. He was among a group of legislators that successfully pressed for enactment of legislation providing advance funding for veterans' health care, thereby preventing health services for veterans from being undermined by funding delays.
When the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission recommended closure of Ellsworth Air Force Base, Johnson assisted in making the South Dakota delegation's case to keep the base open. Ultimately, the base was preserved by an 8 to 1 vote of the BRAC commission.

### Banking

As chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, Johnson pressed for confirmation and ultimately brought President Obama's nominee for CFPB chairman, Richard Cordray, to a committee vote despite Republican opposition.
The committee approved Cordray's nomination on a party-line 12–10 vote, and Cordray was ultimately confirmed by the full Senate on a 66-34 vote.

### Other

In the House, Johnson was among the minority of his party to vote in favor of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 – a welfare reform bill – and another bill to repeal the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. He was among the minority of Democrats to vote for President George W. Bush's 2001 tax cut. On January 31, 2006, Johnson was one of only four Democrats to vote to confirm Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. He also called for "broadened use" of the death penalty.
Johnson was among the minority of senators to vote against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which anti-abortion groups strongly supported. While a member of the House, he was one of only 16 congressmen to vote against the Telecom Act of 1996, which provided for deregulation and competition in the communication sector and was given firm support by Republicans, business groups, and most Democrats.
Johnson supported Obama's health reform legislation; he voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in December 2009 and for the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
In May 2010, Johnson introduced the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010, a bill that would designate over 48,000 acres (190 km$^2$) of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland as protected wilderness. The act would allow the continuation of grazing and hunting on the land and would create the first national grassland wilderness in the country.
On December 18, 2010, Johnson voted in favor of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010.

## Political campaigns
### South Dakota legislature

Johnson launched his political career in 1978, winning a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. He served in the House from 1979 until 1982. Johnson continued his legislative career by serving in the South Dakota Senate from 1983 to 1986. During this time, he also worked as Clay County deputy state's attorney in 1985.

### U.S. House of Representatives

Johnson was elected five times to represent South Dakota as the at-large member of the United States House of Representatives. He served from 1987 to 1997. During his tenure, Johnson worked on issues including agriculture, rural development, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and expanding access to healthcare.

### 1996 U.S. Senate campaign

Johnson narrowly defeated three-term Senator Larry Pressler in the 1996 U.S. Senate election. This made him the only Senate candidate that year to defeat an incumbent in a general election, during a year that saw 13 open seats.

### 2002 U.S. Senate reelection campaign

In 2002, Johnson was reelected by 524 votes over U.S. Representative John Thune, who had succeeded him in South Dakota's at-large House seat. The race was widely seen as a proxy battle between President George W. Bush, who carried South Dakota comfortably in 2000, and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. Johnson won 94% of the vote among the Oglala Sioux, South Dakota's largest tribe.

### 2008 U.S. Senate reelection campaign

Johnson sought reelection in 2008 after recovering from a serious health condition. Early polls showed him likely to defeat Republican challenger Joel Dykstra, and he did, with 62.5% of the vote. In January 2008, Johnson endorsed Barack Obama for president in the Democratic primary.

## Electoral history

South Dakota's at-large congressional district: Results 1986–1994 :
| Year | Democratic | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct |
| 1986 | Tim Johnson | 171,462 | 59.2% | Dale Bell | 118,261 | 40.8% | | | | | | | | |
| 1988 | Tim Johnson (incumbent) | 223,759 | 71.7% | David Volk | 88,157 | 28.3% | | | | | | | | |
| 1990 | Tim Johnson (incumbent) | 173,814 | 67.6% | Don Frankenfeld | 83,484 | 32.4% | | | | | | | | |
| 1992 | Tim Johnson (incumbent) | 230,070 | 69.1% | John Timmer | 89,375 | 26.9% | Ronald Wieczorek | Independent | 6,746 | 2.0% | Robert J. Newland | Libertarian | 3,931 | 1.2% |
| 1994 | Tim Johnson (incumbent) | 183,036 | 59.8% | Jan Berkhout | 112,054 | 36.6% | Ronald Wieczorek | Independent | 10,832 | 3.5% | | | | |
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1992, Ann Balakier received 2,780 votes.
South Dakota Senator (Class II): Results 1996–2008 :
| Year | Democratic | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct |
| 1996 | Tim Johnson | 166,533 | 51.32% | Larry Pressler (incumbent) | 157,954 | 48.68% | | | | |
| 2002 | Tim Johnson (incumbent) | 167,481 | 49.62% | John Thune | 166,949 | 49.47% | Kurt Evans | Libertarian | 3,071 | 0.91% |
| 2008 | Tim Johnson (incumbent) | 237,866 | 62.49% | Joel Dykstra | 142,778 | 37.51% | | | | |

## Personal life

Johnson married the former Barbara Brooks in 1969. The couple had three children — Brooks, of Millis, MA; Brendan, the former U.S. Attorney for South Dakota; and Kelsey Billion of Sioux Falls, SD — and eight grandchildren. They lived in Sioux Falls.

### Illness and death

Johnson was treated for prostate cancer in 2004 and further tests showed he was clear of the disease.
On December 13, 2006, in Washington, D.C., during the broadcast of a live radio interview, Johnson suffered bleeding in the brain caused by a cerebral arteriovenous malformation, a congenital defect that causes enlarged and tangled blood vessels. In critical condition, he underwent surgery at George Washington University Hospital to drain the blood and stop further bleeding.
Johnson then underwent a lengthy regimen of physical, occupational, and speech therapy to regain strength and mobility and restore his severely affected speech. He was left partially paralyzed on his right side, and had to use a scooter. In his 2007 State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush sent Johnson his best wishes. Johnson resumed his full schedule in the Senate on September 5, 2007.
Johnson died in Sioux Falls on October 8, 2024, at age 77, after having another stroke. His funeral service on October 18 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls was attended by hundreds of people, including several politicians who had served with Johnson. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.
* Future U.S. Senator Tim Johnson when he was Clay County Assistant State's Attorney in Vermillion, SD
* Congressman Tim Johnson (D-SD) with South Dakota farmers and Congressman Dick Gephardt (D-MO)
* Congressman Tim Johnson (D-SD) driving Ethanol 85 vehicle at the U.S. Capitol
* Sen. Johnson (second from right) answers questions after he helped prevent the closure of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Left to right: Governor M. Michael Rounds, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth, Johnson, and U.S. Senator John Thune