The Hill’s Changemakers: Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) has found himself at the center of nearly every battle in the House GOP conference this year, working to unify the fractious group and shift the narrative that the current class of House Republicans is ungovernable. 

Johnson — as chair of the pragmatic Main Street Caucus — played a role in January’s Speaker fight, the push to raise the debt limit in May, and the race to fund the government in September. 

In an era when Republicans are frequently going after one another, Johnson is seeking the role of uniter. 

“I think when we’re focusing on what divides us, the House Republicans are not very effective. And so, I try to be somebody who can bridge the gap, try to make people focus on what’s achievable and where do we agree,” Johnson told The Hill in an interview. “And to the extent that we’ve had successes, you know, whether it’s been on border security, public safety, energy, spending, I think it has come because Republicans have figured out a way to work together.” 

Johnson said the “biggest changes” in the House GOP conference over the years have been its attention-grabbing methods. The South Dakota Republican, however, has kept his focus on substance and how to secure the most substantial victories. 

“There are some more colorful elements of the conference that I think are more interested in tactics that maybe are not as effective, maybe can excite the base, but I’m not interested in fighting. I’m interested in winning,” Johnson said. 

Sometimes the path to success is chaotic and convoluted, he admitted, but he tries to focus on the endgame. 

“Of course, this is messy. The founders designed the system to be messy. They didn’t want it to be super easy to pass legislation to govern the lives of Americans,” Johnson said. “But I also think, I try to be a lot less concerned about what the score of the game is in the second quarter and a lot more interested in what’s the score of the game at the end of fourth quarter.”