Recap of Republican convention held in Watertown last week

YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- Close votes and an upset marked the nominations at the South Dakota Republican party convention last weekend in Watertown.

Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden and Attorney General candidate Marty Jackley held off challengers while incumbent Secretary of State Steven Barnett lost the nomination to newcomer Monae Johnson.

Senator Jean Hunhoff of Yankton was a delegate to the convention and says there are obvious differences of opinion.

Hunhoff says there were some complaints about how the nominating process was set up.

Coming off a narrow nomination win at the South Dakota Republican Party convention, Marty Jackley says he expects the party to rally behind his run for Attorney General.

Jackley defeated current DCI head David Natvig by a margin of fifty three to forty seven percent. Jackley agreed with calls by several candidates for party unity.

Jackley says he will be back on the campaign trail again.

While Jackley has no announced opposition, democrats hold their convention in Ft Pierre on July 8th and 9th and may come up with some statewide candidates.

Hunhoff says Monae Johnson used ongoing doubts among republicans about the 2020 election to spring the upset in the Secretary of States race.

Candidates for Treasurer, Auditor, Public Utilities Commission and School and Public Lands were unopposed.