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.