Tim Johnson (1946–2024), longtime U.S. senator from South Dakota
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2 min readTim Johnson was a longtime U.S. senator from South Dakota who was the last Democrat to win statewide election in the state.
- Died: October 8, 2024 (Who else died on October 8?)
- Details of death: Died in Sioux Falls, South Dakota of stroke complications at the age of 77.
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Tim Johnson’s legacy
Born and raised in South Dakota, Johnson got his B.A. and M.A. at the University of South Dakota and studied at Michigan State University before earning a law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law in 1975. He entered politics not long after graduation, winning election to the state House of Representatives in 1979, then the state Senate in 1983.
After voters chose him to serve a decade in the U.S. House of Representatives, Johnson ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996, defeating Republican incumbent Larry Pressler and beginning what would be an 18-year tenure. He was the last Democrat to win statewide election in South Dakota, and he won his last race, in 2008, by wide margins, defeating state House member Joel Dykstra in a landslide. The lawmaker opted not to run again in 2014.
Johnson’s tenure was marked by a prominent health crisis: In 2006, while on a media call, he suffered a brain hemorrhage that almost took his life. Despite the setback, he returned to his duties on Capitol Hill the following year. Johnson was known as a bipartisan senator, willing to vote with Republicans when he saw fit. He was an advocate of projects focused on clean drinking water and labeling laws for meat and agricultural items, and he voted to approve the war in Iraq. Johnson was also chair of the Senate Banking Committee from 2011 to 2015, his final four years in office. The National Cooperative Business Association and National Farmers Union both honored him for his efforts.
After his time in office, Johnson retired to Sioux Falls with his wife, Barbara. The pair have three adult children: Brooks, Brendan, and Kelsey.
Tributes to Tim Johnson
Full obituary: PBS
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