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Sheryl Johnson's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Sheryl Johnson did not provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2024 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2024.

  • "I don't believe the government has any business interfering with a woman's reproductive rights. If we want to reduce the number of abortions then we need to educate our young people and help women have access to affordable birth control options. If we PREVENT pregnancies then we don't need to worry about abortions. Abortions have been illegal in past years. It did not stop abortions it only killed women. We need to approach abortion reduction as a public health issue." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Proof that the SD GOP doesn’t understand why it’s citizens support Roe vs Wade. It’s not about whether people think abortion is right or wrong it’s about WHO has the right to make that decision and we do NOT want politicians to make that personal choice for anyone!!" (x.com)
  • "Roe vs wade saved the lives of many women who would have died from back alley abortions. Stop judging women who have abortions and work to help improve their lives so they can make a different choice." (x.com)
  • Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? "Pro-Choice" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "One reason social security is in trouble is because over the years Congress has taken money out of the social security fund and borrowed it to fund other spending like subsidies to corporations" (x.com)
  • "This is what the GOP said about social security and Medicare. Where would our seniors be without those programs? They lifted thousands of elderly out of poverty. GOP had 4 years to address healthcare, immigration, and more but only gave rich tax breaks." (x.com)
  • "The first thing done when trump got in office was giving huge tax breaks to the richest Americans. This tax break added trillions to the deficit so spare me their concern about finances." (x.com)
  • "end citizens United & limit what companies & pacs can donate and make pacs show who all donated to them & how much. If the billionaires paid their share of taxes they wouldn’t have so much to spend to interfere in elections. Btw Ohio voted & they didn’t want what GOP offered" (x.com)
  • "we should simplify the tax code. All people/businesses pay a flat tax. No deductions of any kind. We could file on a postcard. Then rich couldn’t hire lawyers to get out of paying their fair share with deductions like $70,000 for hair or $150,00 for payoffs to pornstars" (x.com)
  • "Making billionaires pay taxes is a good thing @SenJohnThune it’s time to invest in our infrastructure and hold accountable those behind Jan 6th" (x.com)
  • "This is an Investment in our country not an expense and it can be paid for by having the wealthy pay their fair share ( or anything for that matter)" (x.com)
  • "end citizens United & limit what companies & pacs can donate and make pacs show who all donated to them & how much. If the billionaires paid their share of taxes they wouldn’t have so much to spend to interfere in elections. Btw Ohio voted & they didn’t want what GOP offered" (x.com)
  • "we should simplify the tax code. All people/businesses pay a flat tax. No deductions of any kind. We could file on a postcard. Then rich couldn’t hire lawyers to get out of paying their fair share with deductions like $70,000 for hair or $150,00 for payoffs to pornstars" (x.com)
  • "We need to rid the big money from our politics. I would be ok prohibiting out of state contributions to state ballot initiatives IF it was also prohibited from personal campaigns and also limited instate PACS otherwise out of state committees will just start in state PACS and funnel the money through there. We need more transparency so voters know who is actually behind ads and candidates. Big Money always finds away around any rules." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "end citizens United & limit what companies & pacs can donate and make pacs show who all donated to them & how much. If the billionaires paid their share of taxes they wouldn’t have so much to spend to interfere in elections. Btw Ohio voted & they didn’t want what GOP offered" (x.com)
  • Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "So because you now will be held accountable for kneeling on a mans neck until he’s dead all the cops will quit? I suspect many of the police are glad to see this type of behavior punished as the bad apples give them all a bad name. Maybe they will speak up more now." (x.com)
  • "This is why people are so angry. It gives all police a bad name. Reforms are needed" (x.com)
  • "let’s work to stop police brutality" (x.com)
  • "Suddenly they aren’t concerned about cost when it’s the military budget even though there is a lot of waste in it" (x.com)
  • "We just ended a war-you’d think they could cut the budget some. Also why do military families have to go to food handouts? When I was a navy wife I was shocked how many families had to get food stamps. The $$ is clearly going to defense contractors not the military men/women" (x.com)
  • "Investing in renewable energy can bring huge savings down the road as well as be a possible revenue source for the state." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Thanks to Biden’s build back better plan we have the money to invest in infrastructure. You did nothing but complain about it but now you gleefully take the money and try to take the credit too." (x.com)
  • "We need to vote in people who care about the environment and are willing to invest in renewable energies!" (x.com)
  • "I think about all the time they wasted on this bill to a non problem that is already dealt with by a policy of the SDHSAA. I think they just don’t know how to handle big problems like lack of affordable housing, underpaid workers and educated students fleeing our state." (x.com)
  • "This bill is another waste of time. Citizens struggle with affordable housing & childcare, medical and student loan debt but gov Noem wants us to be scared of a class teaching history from more than one viewpoint. Critical thinking is a threat to SD GOP apparently" (x.com)
  • "Wouldn’t it be a lot cheaper to provide affordable housing instead of housing them in jail?" (x.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "I always wonder why government spends over a billion dollars to help a billionaire (who obviously could finance this himself) yet refuses to invest in higher education in the form of low interest loans or even loan forgiveness to help the general population." (x.com)
  • "I’d rather bail out students than wall street bankers like we did. Why can’t they get a 1-2% interest rate like some businesses instead of 5-6%. Many of them have made regular payments for years only to still owe about what they first took out. I worked two jobs to pay my loans" (x.com)
  • "The people upset that students who took out loans won’t have to pay all of it back are the same ones who support a man who filed for bankruptcy SIX times and didn’t have to pay HIS loans back. You can’t declare bankruptcy for student loans only for businesses you mismanage." (x.com)
  • "At today’s legislative coffee Sen Sutton commented that voting was a privilege not a right explaining why she didn’t support online registration - people who want to vote will find a way she claimed. Voting is a right that should be easily available to all citizens in SD" (x.com)
  • "Ensuring that everyone has a fair right to vote and fair access to voting is a radical agenda??? If suppressing voting is the only way that GOP can win perhaps they need to look at their platform — oh that’s right, they didn’t even have a platform the last election." (x.com)
  • "Pass the John Lewis voting rights bill!" (x.com)
  • "Investing in renewable energy can bring huge savings down the road as well as be a possible revenue source for the state." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "SD needs to invest in renewable energy and stop propping up fossil fuel companies." (x.com)
  • "We absolutely should work on developing more renewable energy to free ourselves from big oil. By implementing renewable energy sources into our state buildings and schools we can see reduced energy costs down the road which will save taxpayer money. It would be an investment that would reap great dividends down the road. INVEST now for savings later!" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Democrats have been trying to reduce dependence on oil for years but the GOP has been in the pockets of oil and gas companies and have obstructed any attempt to reduce our use of fossil fuels." (x.com)
  • "SD needs to invest in renewable energy and stop propping up fossil fuel companies." (x.com)
  • "What? An oil pipeline leaked? Who would have ever thought that could happen? Now you understand why people didn’t want the pipeline going through SD in an area near an underground aquifer!!" (x.com)
  • "Why are they fighting to let a foreign company take our lands to put in a pipeline that will end up leaking, eventually poisoning our land and water for a few temporary jobs. The oil goes from Canada to the gulf then shipped to China. It’s not even for US use. It’s not worth it!" (x.com)
  • Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "I support the 2nd amendment but I also support gun safety. Background checks should be done on all gun sales to prevent them from falling into irresponsible hands and I believe all guns should be licensed." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Proud to be a Gun Sense candidate. Part of a hunting family. I respect 2A yet realize we still need to work to prevent gun violence, & promote gun safety & responsible gun ownership. NRA gives me an F because I didn't return their survey but I'm not running to represent them." (x.com)
  • Do you generally support gun-control legislation? "Yes" (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "If we expanded Medicaid this $5 million could bring in 75 million in subsidies to help the working poor without health insurance but who fall through the cracks and make too much to qualify but not enough to purchase a policy with the ACA. Keeping workers healthy helps businesses" (x.com)
  • "I’m becoming convinced that it’s time to take out the middleman who exists only to make a profit. I’d rather spend my money on taxes that support a government healthcare system that cover people than on premiums for insurance that won’t & I NEVER thought I’d favor govt healthcare" (x.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "I’ve seen this ad where an elderly woman claims government price controls on drugs would hurt older people.I guess she thinks capping insulin at $35 instead of the exorbitant rate it has risen to is bad?? Hopefully people can see through this attempt" (x.com)
  • "Shame on @RepDustyJohnson for voting against capping a unit of insulin at $35. Companies would still have over 100% markup and US would still lead in gouging its citizens for lifesaving Medicine. When are voters going to wake up and realize the GOP doesn’t care about you." (x.com)
  • "Ask the House GOP why they refused to consider the bipartisan border bill passed by the senate. Congress is more at fault than the president for the border. They make the laws!" (x.com)
  • "The border control under Biden is doing a great job! He even got Mexico to agree to pay for some updated technology security! Democrats deliver!" (x.com)
  • "This is a great accomplishment for Biden. The border patrol under his administration has caught more terror suspects in one year than Trump did his whole administration. Thank you border patrol." (x.com)
  • "Trump trying to sabotage the bi- partisan bill that could help fix the issues at the border because he doesn’t want Biden to get credit for it." (x.com)
  • "There are thousands of immigrants at our border willing to work. Time for R’s and D’s to work together and fix the immigration issues" (x.com)
  • "This is crazy - how does one tell a legal immigrant from an undocumented immigrant? I fear many innocent people are going to get hurt or killed" (x.com)
  • "maybe if we were more welcoming to immigrants we wouldn’t have such a worker shortage and need to force kids to work more" (x.com)
  • "Russia should not see any benefit for attacking Ukraine. They should have to give up all nuclear weapons to stop the sanctions. They should have to pay to rebuild Ukraine and show the real news to all their citizens. Russia has no right to "demand" anything." (x.com)
  • "Let Ukraine into NATO" (x.com)
  • "Russia had no business invading Ukraine. All countries need to stand up against tyrants." (x.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
Pro-choice a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
Yes b) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
I don't believe the government has any business interfering with a woman's reproductive rights. If we want to reduce the number of abortions then we need to educate our young people and help women have access to affordable birth control options. If we PREVENT pregnancies then we don't need to worry about abortions. Abortions have been illegal in past years. It did not stop abortions it only killed women. We need to approach abortion reduction as a public health issue.

Budget Stabilization:Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing South Dakota's budget.

No a) Do you support the creation of a state income tax in South Dakota?
Yes b) Do you support a tobacco tax increase to fund technical education institutions?
No c) Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
No d) Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
No e) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
b - as long as it can't be diverted elsewhere. c-Cutting back on state employees salaries is a slap in the face to the hard working men and women who serve our state. It would also reduce the sales tax because they would have less money to spend in our economy.
Yes a) Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
Yes b) Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
Yes c) Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
Yes d) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
Yes e) Do you support South Dakota transitioning to an open primary election system?
No f) Do you support prohibiting out-of-state contributions to state ballot initiative committees?
We need to rid the big money from our politics. I would be ok prohibiting out of state contributions to state ballot initiatives IF it was also prohibited from personal campaigns and also limited instate PACS otherwise out of state committees will just start in state PACS and funnel the money through there. We need more transparency so voters know who is actually behind ads and candidates. Big Money always finds away around any rules.
Yes a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
No b) Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
Yes c) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
Yes d) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
b- I would support medical marijuana but until more is known about the long term effects of marijuana I would have a hard time promoting anything that puts toxins into the body. c- Depends on the age of the minor and the severity of the crime. Judges should have the leeway to make that decision d- we should support legal immigration laws but still treat people in a humane manner
Yes a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
No b) Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
Yes c) Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
Yes d) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
Yes e) Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
Yes f) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of South Dakota?
No g) Do you support legalized state-sponsored sports betting in South Dakota?
a- investing in education will reap rewards in the long run. Investing in renewable energy can bring huge savings down the road as well as be a possible revenue source for the state. c - it would depend on what those regulations were. Some regulations are necessary for the safety of our citizens. I'm all for businesses making money as long as they do it in a way that is safe and fair for the other citizens of our state. e-if welfare people have to pass a drug test I believe people doing business with the state should too.
Yes a) Do you support adopting federal education standards in South Dakota?
No b) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
No c) Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from South Dakota high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
a - as long as it doesn't lower our standards or make education too cumbersome for our educators b - I would rather work to improve our public schools c-depends on when they came here. If they have been here their whole life and they and their family contributed to our economy then they should have access to in state tuition because they have contributed to sales taxes for years. They should still work on immigrating legally and gaining citizenship. We should crack down on employers that hire illegal immigrants.
Yes a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
Yes b) Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
Yes c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
We have a limited number of natural resources and we owe it to the next generation to preserve our clean water and air and land. We absolutely should work on developing more renewable energy to free ourselves from big oil. By implementing renewable energy sources into our state buildings and schools we can see reduced energy costs down the road which will save taxpayer money. It would be an investment that would reap great dividends down the road. INVEST now for savings later!
Yes a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
Yes b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
No c) Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
Yes d) Should a license be required for gun ownership?
I support the 2nd amendment but I also support gun safety. Background checks should be done on all gun sales to prevent them from falling into irresponsible hands and I believe all guns should be licensed. c- Working at the largest high school in the state I am very reluctant to allow teachers to have guns in their class because they could fall into the wrong hands. I think each school district should have the power to make that decision. Schools in isolated rural areas where police would take a while to get there might want that.
Yes a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
Yes b) Do you support Medicaid expansion through South Dakota's health care programs?
Yes c) Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
No d) Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
Yes e) Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
a -Treatment helps get addicts back to being productive citizens rather than warehousing them in prisons. b- expanding medicaid would save money in the long run by helping to prevent illnesses down the road as well as expensive ER visits when they have no insurance c- we have to have car insurance to drive, we should have health insurance BUT it needs to be affordable and we should educate people on healthier habits. d- not sure, no one should be forced to suffer. e-not sure, religious beliefs should be respected as long as public isn't endangered.
Yes a) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in South Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in South Dakota's anti-discrimination laws?
Yes c) Do you support greater efforts by South Dakota state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
We are all humans and we all should be treated equally and with respect.
I would like to expand preschool and lower class sizes. This INVESTMENT in our education system will pay dividends down the road with lower social costs because more kids will be prepared to learn when entering school. The initial investment would come from the 'slush fund'. I would consider a junk food tax on soda, candy and junk food which might even help people become healthier. A great education system will draw businesses to SD! 2) clean up the Big Sioux/other waters in our state. Expect those who 'dump' into the river to clean the water first. Buffer strips mandated

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