South Dakota State Rep Eyes Herseth Sandlin Seat

By Emily Cadei | September 3, 2009 6:18 PM | | Comments (0)

A second Republican is taking look at the 2010 House race against Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.

State Rep.Shantel Krebs confirmed to the AP Thursday that she is considering challenging the third-term congresswoman after being approached by political operatives.

"I'm keeping my options open and reviewing it," Krebs told AP. "Are the people ready? Are they frustrated enough they want a change? I think that's the question that has to be answered."

Krebs, who chairs the state House Transportation Committee, is not the only state official mulling a House campaign. Chris Nelson, South Dakota's popular two-term secretary of state, is also seriously considering a bid and would be the favorite for the nomination should he run.

Any Republican will be the underdog, however, against Herseth Sandlin, a centrist Democrat who has found a way to win re-election comfortably in South Dakota despite its conservative leanings. Her decision this summer not to run for higher office -- she'd been encouraged to run for the open governor's seat or challenge Republican Sen. John Thune in 2010 -- makes Republican prospects of picking up the seat much dimmer.

CQ Politics rates the general election contest Democratic Favored.

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Categories: House, South Dakota

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