Dusty Johnson’s political operation. Johnson never publicly endorsed Rhoden, who defeated the Aberdeen businessman in the July 28 election by more than 40 points. Rhoden campaign manager Ian Fury acknowledged Johnson quietly aligned his political operation with the Union Center rancher in what turned out to be a historically lopsided victory. Instead, the failure to mobilize support from the primary’s fourth-place finisher created a larger obstacle for the Doeden campaign. “Avid Hansen supporters became avid supporters of the governor.”