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  "description": "A claim from an ad attacking South Dakota gubernatorial candidate Dusty Johnson claims the House representative spent more on chartered flight than any of his cohorts.",
  "path": "/dusty-south-dakota-chartered-flights-governor-primary/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-21T12:13:39.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.sdnewswatch.org",
  "tags": [
    "this one.",
    "Congressional Perks: Congress spends on pricey airfare, lodging and private jets",
    "Taxpayers fuel pricey private flights for Gillibrand, Schumer, other senators",
    "Defend US PAC ad",
    "South Dakota News Watch",
    "Gigafact",
    "on the tipline",
    "Donate",
    "Share your thoughts on this story",
    "sdnewswatch.org"
  ],
  "textContent": "## Yes.\n\nSouth Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson was reimbursed for private flights more than any member of House from 2019 until June 2025, according to an analysis from the nonprofit news organization The Center Square.\n\nThe outlet examined House disbursement during that time and found that Johnson was reimbursed $63,000 for six years of charter flights, almost $45,000 more than the next representative.\n\nThe claim was made in an ad by Defend US PAC ahead of the South Dakota Republican primary for governor on June 2.\n\nDusty Johnson spokeswoman Kristin Blakely said at the time that the large district makes chartered flights necessary.\n\n\"About once a year he charters a plane to conduct official business, after receiving the necessary approval …” she said.\n\nSouth Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds spent $380,000 in private flights over a one-year span from October 2021 to September 2022 — the most of any senator. Sen. John Thune was fifth, with $59,991.\n\n_This fact brief responds to conversations such as_ this one.\n\n## Sources\n\nThe Center Square, Congressional Perks: Congress spends on pricey airfare, lodging and private jets\n\nNewsweek, Taxpayers fuel pricey private flights for Gillibrand, Schumer, other senators\n\nGoogle Ads Transparency Center, Defend US PAC ad\n\n_**Clarification:** This story has been updated to emphasize the difference in timeframes from the House's private plane data reimbursements to the Senate's._\n\n* * *\n\nSouth Dakota News Watch partners with Gigafact to publish fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context. Send questions or feedback to _news@sdnewswatch.org_. Submit a question for us to answer on the tipline.\n\n****Support fact briefs.**** Help us fight misinformation by supporting fact briefs that refute or confirm a claim with supporting information and additional evidence and context.\n\n\n                            Donate\n                        \n\nShare your thoughts on this story\n\n_**South Dakota News Watch** is an independent nonprofit. Read, donate and subscribe for free at _sdnewswatch.org_.**Contact freelance reporter Michael Klinski:** michael.klinski@sdnewswatch.org._",
  "title": "Fact brief: Did Dusty Johnson lead the House in charter-flight expenses?",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-21T23:14:40.626Z"
}