Challenger Sheryl Johnson calls out incumbent Dusty’s defense of Roundup and Bayer/Monsanto

Sheryl Johnson, the Democratic candidate for South Dakota’s lone seat in the House of Representatives, today criticizes Congressman Dusty Johnson’s recent statements regarding the ongoing controversy over Bayer/Monsanto’s Roundup product and its links to cancer.

Dusty Johnson’s defense, as reported by South Dakota Searchlight, employs a classic straw-man tactic, focusing narrowly on existing lawsuits while completely sidestepping the potential impact on future claims and the broader public health implications.

“It’s disheartening to see Dusty attempt to deflect the real issue here,” says Sheryl Johnson. “While he talks about consulting ‘the people affected,’ he fails to recognize the most critical stakeholders — those who have cancer as a result of exposure to Roundup. These people, many of whom are South Dakotans, deserve more than just lip service. They deserve justice and accountability.”

Dusty Johnson also argues that only the federal government should have oversight of product labeling for interstate commerce purposes, a stance that seems particularly convenient when it benefits large corporations, a consistent focus of his. This position is a stark contrast to his previous advocacy for state-level control over labeling regulations, as seen in his support for states' rights in areas like food labeling and environmental regulations.

Johnson has consistently argued that states are better equipped to understand and protect their residents’ specific needs — except, it seems, when it comes to shielding corporate interests like those of Bayer/Monsanto.

“South Dakotans are not only farmers and ranchers — they are children, parents, workers, and community members who have a right to know what dangers they might be facing,” Sheryl Johnson continued. “By advocating for federal-only oversight in this case, Dusty Johnson is effectively putting the interests of large corporations above the health and safety of our people. His selective advocacy for federal oversight raises serious questions about whose interests he’s really serving.”

Sheryl Johnson’s SD Mom for Congress campaign is built on transparency, accountability, and a commitment to putting the needs of South Dakotans first. She believes that the voices of those who have been harmed by these products should be at the forefront of any discussion about regulations and oversight, not dismissed in favor of corporate interests.

“Dusty’s priorities are clear,” Sheryl Johnson concluded. “He’s still standing with big corporations, not with the people who elected him. As your next Congresswoman, I will fight to ensure that our communities are protected from harmful products, and that those who have suffered as a result of corporate negligence receive the justice they deserve.”

Jim Peck, an Emmy-winning writer, director and producer, is the communications director for Sheryl Johnson for Congress.