Posted on 08/24/2015 1:02:23 PM PDT by nickcarraway
North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple announced Monday that he will not run for re-election next year, blowing the gubernatorial race wide open and intensifying speculation over whether Democratic U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp will seek the state’s highest office.
The 66-year-old Dalrymple said in a news release that he and first lady Betsy Dalrymple plan to spend more time with family, including their five grandchildren.
“It continues to be my great privilege to serve my state, service that includes 16 years as a state representative, 10 years as lieutenant governor and (the) last five-plus years as governor,” he said. “North Dakota has made incredible progress and I feel so blessed to have been part of leading our state, especially in the years since 2000, truly a golden period for North Dakota. I look forward to continuing to work hard for the people of our state over the next 16 months.”
Dalrymple, then lieutenant governor, was sworn in as governor in December 2010 to replace Gov. John Hoeven after Hoeven’s election to the U.S. Senate. Dalrymple was elected to his first four-year term in 2012, defeating Democratic state Sen. Ryan Taylor with 63 percent of the vote.
His decision opens the door for potential GOP hopefuls – Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem are often mentioned in political circles as possible candidates – and is sure to fuel speculation over whether Heitkamp will run for governor.
Heitkamp, who is recovering from hip replacement surgery last week, hasn’t ruled out a run for governor but has repeatedly said she’s concentrating on her Senate work when asked about it.
Heitkamp lost to Hoeven in the 2000 governor’s race. She could not immediately be reached for comment.
The state’s GOP-controlled Legislature passed a bill in April requiring a special election to fill a U.S. Senate vacancy, a bill seen by Democrats as an attempt to dissuade Heitkamp to run for governor because she wouldn’t be able to appoint her replacement.
North Dakota GOP chairman Kelly Armstrong, a state senator from Dickinson, said he didn’t know if Dalrymple’s decision would make it more likely that Heitkamp would run, but added, “We’ve been preparing like she’s going to get in the race until she says she’s not going to get in the race.”
Armstrong wouldn’t speculate on which Republicans might seek the GOP nod, saying only that everyone was waiting for Dalrymple’s decision and that those considering a run “will start talking to their families and decide what’s best for them and what’s best for the state.”
“We have a really deep bench, and we’ll have people who are interested in pursuing this nomination,” he said.
In a phone interview, Wrigley praised Dalrymple for his “extraordinary service” but wouldn’t comment on whether he plans to run for governor, saying it was “not the time for discussing the next election.”
“Kathleen and I look forward to announcing our plans in that regard,” he said, adding he has no time frame set for that announcement.
Stenehjem said up until 10 a.m. Monday, he was firmly convinced that Dalrymple would run again, “and I was thoroughly happy about it, because I enjoy working with him.” As for whether he’ll now run for governor, Stenehjem didn’t rule it out, but said, “I hadn’t even considered doing so because I was convinced as most people were that governor Dalrymple would run again. It’s too early to even have thought about it in light of the news.”
Armstrong said he wasn’t surprised by Dalrymple’s announcement, noting the governor had said he’d let his intentions be known in late August or early September.
“If he’s decided he wants a little personal time, neither I nor anybody else can blame him,” he said.
Hoeven issued a statement highlighting Dalrymple’s years of service to the state and saying he “has earned the appreciation and respect of all North Dakotans.”
Why would Heitkamp want to leave the Senate and run for governor?
Because Heitcamp fears losing the Senate seat to a Republican, perhaps
She hasn’t been the full tilt boogie moonbat leftist one might expect a Dumbcrap Sen. to be, though.
Heitkamp, an interesting critter. I believe her brother is Joel who I think took over from Ed Schultz on the local talk show. I could not stand any of the three.
However I now have more respect of Heitkamp than I do Hoeven. Hoeven is an illegal immigrant loving RINO. I’d be more comfortable if Hoeven would be replaced. I cannot stand this guy, or any other RINO for that matter.
But the question remains, just why would Heidi go for the governorship? I think it’s quite unlikely.
She’d go for it because she doesn’t want to serve in the minority in DC and because it’s all but expected she’ll lose reelection to Rep. Kevin Cramer in 2018.
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