Posted on 07/05/2007 2:25:29 PM PDT by Jean S
South Dakota state Rep. Joel Dykstra (R) has officially entered the race for the Republican nomination to face Sen. Tim Johnson (D) in 2008.
Dykstra filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday and declared himself a “candidate for U.S. Senate.”
“I am very appreciative of the encouragement that I have received in my exploration of a run for the U.S. Senate,” Dykstra said. “My family and I are humbled by the expressions of support we have received from many people from across the state.”
Dykstra is the first major candidate to enter the race and could open the door to others who might have been hesitant to pursue bids against Johnson, who is still recovering from a brain hemorrhage suffered in December.
Johnson raised about $600,000 in the second quarter with help from his Democratic colleagues, according to a fundraising e-mail. He has a solid head start despite the health problems that have kept him away from the Senate all year.
Johnson has not indicated whether he will seek a third term in the Senate.
Other possible Republican candidates include state public utilities commissioner Dusty Johnson.
Dykstra was elected to the state House in 2002 and has served as assistant majority leader. He is from Canton, S.D., and worked for nearly 20 years in the oil industry before becoming CEO of an international business consulting company — a job he currently holds.
“It’s clear that the voters of South Dakota have become increasingly interested in the race for U.S. Senate in their state, and we are happy to see that a number of South Dakota Republicans are interested in the seat,” said Rebecca Fisher, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
The Republicans need to realize they are more likely to be running against Stephanie Herseth than Tim Johnson.
God Bless both men, for two rather different reasons.
Johnson is a good man beset by medical tragedy. I hope he recovers.
But South Dakota long has been a much “redder” state than its Senate choices would indicate, and the Democrats who’ve won elections to Senate seats from there typically “talk Red but vote Blue,” if you follow me.
John Thune ended the “Blue Streak” a couple of years ago. Here’s wishing the new GOP candidate the best — as well as Sen. Johnson.
He won't. He will never again speak or vote on the floor of the Senate. Were he a Republican, this fact would already be common discussion in the MSM.
North Dakota is like that too.
Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad do the “talk red - vote blue” kind of thing too.
On the other hand, North Dakota does have a stronger populist streak (going back to the old Non-Partisan League days) than South Dakota.
Take a look at the North Dakota Democrat Party’s web site:
They’ve co-opted the old Non-Partisan League mantra.
Him not retiring has kept Dingy Harry leader.
North Dakota Political PING for you guys...
I sincerely share that sentiment. What bothers me the most is how coldly the dems are using him. It's very unlikely that he'll ever be present in the Senate again.
Isn’t that the wrong Dakota ? ;-)
If all we can manage is 3rd tier candidates to take on a deathly ill Senator, we’re the ones with the bigger problem. Mike Rounds is the only one who can bring this seat home.
If the Governor of SD were a Rat, Johnson would have been replaced already. It’s all about power to the Dims, they don’t care about Johnson’s condition inasmuch as it keeps their butts in control of the Senate.
Of course, at this point, do we REALLY want a Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ?
Who knows? Sometimes an unknown can come out of nowhere to score an upset. It’s not typical, but the ingredients are there, especially if Hitlery is the Rodent nominee.
He’s not the first to be used like that. Max Cleland, former D-Ga., was used in somewhat the same way (although a huge difference is that Cleland SOUGHT such exploitation for his own gain; Cleland’s medical tragedies were used as the REASON WHY folks should vote for him).
I have been waiting to hear about Sen Johnson's condition. If it is as you say why is he not being replaced by the Governor?
Heard somewhere that Tim Johnson expects to be recovered enough to return to the Senate this fall. I have also heard that no one outside of this family and staff have seen him.
Anyone here from South Dakota who can provide an update on the Senator’s condition?
I am wondering is they are stalling to keep the Republicans from getting a campaign organization set up early...
South Dakota is starting to sound more and more like Chicago, where Rat voters in the Democratic primary for County Board President voted for the stroke victim whose health condition was unknown (because the bosses told them to) rather than the very much alive and healthy reform candidate.
won’t tom daschle (sp) make a grab for the seat?
Very sad about Sen. Johnson. I pray for his restoration to health. And I'm thrilled that Thune got rid of Daschle.
Hopefully, SD will elect another conservative, not just someone who has an R after their name.
And by the way, I don't believe that replacing him would be KICKING HIM when he is down.
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