Former U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, the last Democrat to hold statewide office in South Dakota, died Tuesday night. He was 77.
The cause of death was complications from a stroke, the AP reported.
"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,” Johnson’s family said in a news release. “In his work and life, Tim showed us never to give up.”
The news rocked Johnson's home state and Washington D.C., where Johnson worked for decades as a congressman and senator.
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a Republican, ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in Johnson's honor.
"I worked with Tim Johnson and appreciated that his heart was for the people of South Dakota. He was a true servant. On behalf of the State of South Dakota, our prayers go out to his entire family," she said.
Johnson represented South Dakota's single congressional district from 1987 to 1997. He narrowly defeated Republican senator Larry Pressler in 1996.
Johnson never lost a race, although he came close in 2002 when about 500 votes separated him and Republican John Thune, who had succeeded Johnson in the House of Representatives.
Johnson was known for his bi-partisan streak, voting for restrictions on late-term abortion. He also prioritized infrastructure projects to deliver clean drinking water to South Dakotans, KELO-TV reported.
In 2006, Johnson had a brain hemorrhage that took him away from Washington for nine months. He returned to the Senate to a standing ovation.
In 2015, as South Dakota shifted to the right, Johnson retired from the Senate, citing the increasingly polarized climate in Washington.
The Canton, South Dakota native served in the state legislature and worked at his own law practice before coming to Washington.
Johnson's former rival, current Senate minority whip John Thune, called Johnson an advocate for rural America.
“Known for his tenacity and work ethic, Tim was a steadfast leader who dedicated his life to serving the people of South Dakota with integrity and compassion,” Thune said in a statement. “He fought tirelessly for rural America and leaves a legacy that will have a lasting impact for years to come.”
President Biden, who served in the Senate with Johnson for about a decade, issued a statement, saying Jonhson "always put South Dakotans first."
