Strike another name off the open seat watch:
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) is running for re-election to her House seat, passing up an opportunity to run for governor of South Dakota.
“I wanted you to be among the first to know that today I am announcing my intention to run for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010,” Herseth Sandlin said in an e-mail to supporters.
“I strongly believe I can best serve the state by building on the work I’ve undertaken over the last five years in Congress, including effective implementation of the new Farm Bill and Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, promoting biofuels and wind energy within a comprehensive national energy strategy, and advancing key priorities for South Dakota’s economy.”
As you may know, Republican Gov. Mike Rounds is term-limited next year, so Herseth Sandlin would have been in a good position to take over the statehouse. Of course, had she run for higher office, her R+9 at-large seat would have been heavily favored to turn red. So while our chances of winning the governor’s mansion are probably pretty limited now, SD-AL is one House seat we won’t have to worry about.
She can stay in the House until Tim Johnson retires and then easily hold his seat. She’s certainly young enough to wait.
as a usd student i was hoping she’d run so there’d be a chance for at least a little balance in sd’s govt. republican legs, republican govt, i mean for god’s sake the water in aberdeen has chunks in it! govt isn’t small enough to drown here, it already did! in water you could chew!
I wish she would challenge Thune. She might have a chance at beating that awful senator.
Better national profile, better for taking one or the other Senate seat someday.