SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Former three-term U.S. Senator and five-term U.S. Representative Tim Johnson has died.
Johnson had a long career in politics that took him all the way from his hometown of Vermillion, South Dakota to the nation’s capitol in Washington, D.C.
Johnson died at 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to a family spokesperson. He was 77.
He had more than 30 years of public service in state and federal government and remains the last Democrat to serve in statewide office for South Dakota. Johnson never lost an election as a candidate and won one of South Dakota’s most memorable elections by defeating Republican John Thune by more than 500 votes in 2002.
Remembering Tim Johnson
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Johnson began his political career in the state legislature back in 1979.
It became the foundation for a long and storied political career with plenty of triumphs and tragedies.
In 1987, Johnson was elected to South Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
During his tenure in Congress, Johnson supported many infrastructure projects that delivered clean drinking water to communities all across South Dakota and other states; like the Lewis and Clark Water pipeline and the Mni Wiconi Water Project that gave the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation safe and ample water supplies.
In 1996, Johnson decided to make a move and run for the U.S. Senate and narrowly defeated three-term Republican Senator Larry Pressler.
In 2002, Johnson ran for re-election and was challenged by his successor in the House, Congressman John Thune.
It was a night many of us will never forget.
The votes were slow to come in and most of us had already gone to bed thinking Thune had won the race after CBS declared Thune the winner.
But by daybreak after all the votes had been counted, it was Johnson who won by 524 votes.
We sat down with Johnson and his wife Barbara after Thune gave his concession speech.
KELOLAND News: At any point did you think ‘I’m going to lose?
Tim Johnson in 2001: No I don’t think we thought that but I was concerned for awhile there we started out with a pretty big lead and then it eroded down until we were behind for awhile, but we knew what precincts were still out there so we always knew this is still within reach.
Four years later, in December 2006, Johnson suffered a brain hemorrhage.
His recovery took nearly a year and in September of 2007, he returned to the Senate to both tributes and standing ovations.
He summed up his return like this.
Tim Johnson in 2007: It feels good and I’m ready to go.
KELOLAND’s Don Jorgensen sat down with the Senator and his wife shortly after he decided to run for re-election in 2008.
Don Jorgensen: Knowing the balance in Washington, favoring Democrats right now, I have to ask this question with a slight edge leaning toward the Democrats. Has there ever been any pressure put on you by Democratic leadership in Washington not to resign from your position?Tim Johnson: My take on it the important thing is for the state of South Dakota choose the best of the parties ideas and reject the worst of the parties’ ideas.
Don Jorgensen: Why not resign and concentrate on your health?
Tim Johnson: Well that remains to be seen if I resign, but I intend to keep on going. That’s the best therapy for me is to keep going and have goals that I can work up to.
Despite his physical condition, Johnson defeated Republican challenger Joel Dykstra with 62% of the vote.
A statement from Johnson’s family said “Tim always quipped that neither the left, nor the right, had a monopoly on all of the good ideas, but that working together, we can find common ground for the good of our country. In his work and life, Tim showed us never to give up. He will be missed. Our lives are fuller for having been loved and supported by him.”
Johnson chose not to seek re-election in 2014.
