Scott Heidepriem
Encyclopedia
Scott Heidepriem is a Democratic
member of the South Dakota Senate
, representing the 13th district since 2007. He was the 2010 Democratic nominee for Governor of South Dakota
.
where he studied history, political science, economics, and Latin. He graduated in 1978 with Phi Beta Kappa honors. During his undergraduate career, he was elected Student Body President. Heidepriem also received his Juris Doctorate (JD) degree in 1980 and a Master’s degree in history in 1983 from the University of South Dakota
. He also attended John F. Kennedy School of Government
at Harvard University
, where he received a Master of Public Administration
(MPA) degree. Heidepriem has been married for 24 years to Susan, and they have two children.
nomination for the United States House of Representatives
from South Dakota's At-large congressional district
, but he lost to Dale Bell. In 2006, Scott Heidepriem was elected to the South Dakota State Senate in a Sioux Falls-based district as a Democrat
, defeating two-term incumbent Republican Senator Dick Kelly by a thin 857-vote margin. Upon being sworn in, Heidepriem was unanimously elected by the Democratic caucus as the Minority Leader of the Senate. Heidepriem was narrowly re-elected to his second and final term in 2008 against State Representative
Phyllis Heineman.
. He attempted to run on an unprecedented bi-partisan ticket by picking then Republican
Ben Arndt as his running-mate. However, in late June, Arndt switched party affiliations to become a Democrat, as Secretary of State
Chris Nelson
would not certify the nomination otherwise, due to a state law requiring all candidates of a particular political party to belong to that party. Polls indicated that Heidepriem would have a difficult time winning in such a conservative state; this was validated when he lost the election with only 38.49% of the vote.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the South Dakota Senate
South Dakota Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the South Dakota State Legislature. It is made up of 35 members, one representing each legislative district, and meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre.-Composition:-Officers:-Members of the 86th Senate:...
, representing the 13th district since 2007. He was the 2010 Democratic nominee for Governor of South Dakota
Governor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
.
Personal life
After high school Heidepriem attended the University of South DakotaUniversity of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
where he studied history, political science, economics, and Latin. He graduated in 1978 with Phi Beta Kappa honors. During his undergraduate career, he was elected Student Body President. Heidepriem also received his Juris Doctorate (JD) degree in 1980 and a Master’s degree in history in 1983 from the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
. He also attended John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he received a Master of Public Administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
(MPA) degree. Heidepriem has been married for 24 years to Susan, and they have two children.
Political career
In 1986, Heidepriem ran for the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nomination for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from South Dakota's At-large congressional district
South Dakota's At-large congressional district
The South Dakota at-large congressional district covers the entire state of South Dakota. It was created in 1982, after South Dakota lost its 2nd District. From 1889 to 1913, it existed with two representatives elected statewide at-large....
, but he lost to Dale Bell. In 2006, Scott Heidepriem was elected to the South Dakota State Senate in a Sioux Falls-based district as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, defeating two-term incumbent Republican Senator Dick Kelly by a thin 857-vote margin. Upon being sworn in, Heidepriem was unanimously elected by the Democratic caucus as the Minority Leader of the Senate. Heidepriem was narrowly re-elected to his second and final term in 2008 against State Representative
South Dakota House of Representatives
The South Dakota House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Dakota State Legislature. It is made up of 70 members, two from each legislative district...
Phyllis Heineman.
2010 gubernatorial election
Heidepriem was the Democratic nominee for Governor of South DakotaGovernor of South Dakota
The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....
. He attempted to run on an unprecedented bi-partisan ticket by picking then Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Ben Arndt as his running-mate. However, in late June, Arndt switched party affiliations to become a Democrat, as Secretary of State
Secretary of State of South Dakota
The Secretary of State of South Dakota is an elected constitutional officer of the U.S. state of South Dakota.The current Secretary of State is Jason Gant.The Secretary of State's Office is composed of three divisions:...
Chris Nelson
Chris Nelson
Chris Nelson is the former Secretary of State of South Dakota. A Republican, he was a candidate to become U.S. Representative from South Dakota's At-large congressional district in 2010. Nelson lost to Kristi Noem in the Republican primary....
would not certify the nomination otherwise, due to a state law requiring all candidates of a particular political party to belong to that party. Polls indicated that Heidepriem would have a difficult time winning in such a conservative state; this was validated when he lost the election with only 38.49% of the vote.
Books
Heidepriem has written two books:- Bring on the Pioneers!, The State Publishing Co. (1978), a history of Hand County
- A Fair Chance for a Free People, Leader Printing Company (1988), a biographyBiographyA biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of Karl E. Mundt.
External links
- Senator Scott Heidepriem, Minority Leader official South Dakota Legislature site
- Scott Heidepriem for Governor official campaign site