Stephanie Herseth
Encyclopedia
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (born December 3, 1970) is an attorney who served as the Democratic
U.S. Representative
for from 2004 until 2011. She lost her seat in Congress to Republican
Kristi Noem
on November 2, 2010. She was the youngest female member of the House, and the first woman elected to the House of Representatives from South Dakota
. Before her 2007 marriage to Max Sandlin
, she was known as Stephanie Herseth.
. Her mother is . Her father's family has been active for two generations in South Dakota politics. Her father, Lars Herseth, served in the South Dakota State Legislature for two decades and ran for Governor in 1986. Her paternal grandfather, Ralph Herseth
, was the Governor of South Dakota
, and her paternal grandmother, Lorna Herseth, was Secretary of State of South Dakota
.
Herseth graduated from Groton High School in Groton, South Dakota
. She earned her B.A. from Georgetown University
in 1993; and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center
in 1997.
to Judge Charles B. Kornmann
of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
and Judge Diana Gribbon Motz
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
. She worked in private practice as an attorney in Washington, DC and taught at the Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to her election to the House, she was Executive Director of the South Dakota Farmer's Union Foundation,and served on the board of directors for First Bank and Trust of Brookings, South Dakota
.
During her tenure in the House, Herseth Sandlin was assigned to committees of concern to her constituency in South Dakota. The Agriculture Committee affects the state's largest industry, and the Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction over national forests in the Black Hills
, as well as policies affecting the state's nine federally recognized Native American
tribes. She was selected to serve on the Select Committee on Global Warming and Energy Independence based upon her work on issues related to biofuel
s and renewable energy
in rural America.
She was a senior whip in the House of Representatives and co-chair of the Democratic conservative Blue Dog Coalition. She was also a member of the "30 Something" Working Group, a group of younger legislators who hoped to reach out to the younger voter.
and opposed her party's leadership on some issues related to gun rights, which won her the support of the National Rifle Association
. On social issues, Herseth Sandlin is pro-choice
and expressed opposition to Referred Law 6, which sought to ban all abortions in her home state, including those for victims of incest and rape. She supported the Employment Nondiscrimination Act in 2007.
Early in the 2008 presidential election
cycle, she supported Senator John Edwards. On February 26, 2008 she endorsed Barack Obama
for President of the United States
.
seat in the 2002 election, losing in a close race to Republican
Governor Bill Janklow
.
in a motor vehicle accident, and resigned his seat, effective January 20, 2004, triggering a special election. Herseth Sandlin was selected as the Democratic nominee, and on June 1, 2004 beat Republican candidate Larry Diedrich with 51 percent of the vote. The victory gave South Dakota its first all-Democratic congressional delegation since 1937, with Senators
Tom Daschle
and Tim Johnson both Democrats.
In the regularly scheduled election in November 2004, Herseth beat Diedrich with 53.4 percent of the vote. The vote margin in June was about 3,000 votes, but by the November election which included a hard-fought contest for the Senate seat held by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle
it had grown to more than 29,000. Both the 2004 special and general elections were close compared to many other House races in the rest of the United States, and garnered national attention.
in 2010
, but she announced on July 7, 2009 that she would seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to the 2010 Democratic primary, Kevin Weiland, a physician who had begun a campaign against Herseth Sandlin, but who had not yet filed to be on the ballot, called off his efforts. He said he had "concern for what the net effect would be on our political party retaining the seat in the next Congress, but also after receiving assurances from Stephanie that she will not vote to repeal the recently passed health care reform law." He had spoken to Democratic party leaders as well as to Herseth Sandlin before making this decision. Her opponent, Republican
Kristi Noem
, charged that Weiland's decision not to run was due to Herseth Sandlin trading her vote for personal gain. Herseth Sandlin strongly denied the allegation and said there was no quid pro quo
arrangement between her and Weiland.
During the campaign, Noem also criticized Herseth Sandlin's husband, Max Sandlin
. She said the lobbyist and former Congressman's list of clients included companies that had interests in legislation that would come before Congress, and suggested he would have improper influence because of his marriage. The Rapid City Journal
editorial board stated that Herseth Sandlin should take the concerns seriously. Roll Call characterized the Republican charges as an attempt "to stoke anti-Beltway emotions". Herseth Sandlin's campaign responded that she did not allow family members to lobby her or her staff.
Herseth Sandlin was defeated on November 2, 2010 by Noem. The final vote tally was 48.14 percent for Noem, and 45.9 percent for Herseth Sandlin.
firm of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz
as a principal attorney focusing on federal laws and regulations. She told Roll Call
that she might register to lobby Congress, after the expiration of the mandatory one-year waiting period which bars former Members from that activity. Herseth Sandlin can lobby the White House
and federal agencies prior to the expiration of the waiting period. In an interview with the Mitchell, South Dakota
Daily Republic
, she said such a job is the next logical step in her career, but that she is not ruling out another run for Congress in 2012. She put odds on that possibility at less than 50 percent.
Herseth Sandlin serves as an adjunct assistant professor at South Dakota State University
.
, a four-term U.S. Representative from Texas
. He was defeated in 2004 when running for re-election. The couple met when Herseth first ran for Congress in 2002. Upon her marriage, she became known as Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. They have had one child, born in 2008.
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...
U.S. Representative
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...
for from 2004 until 2011. She lost her seat in Congress to 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...
Kristi Noem
Kristi Noem
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is the U.S. Representative for , serving since January 2011. She is a member of the Republican Party and has been elected to the Republican Leadership for the 112th Congress as one of its two freshman representatives...
on November 2, 2010. She was the youngest female member of the House, and the first woman elected to the House of Representatives from South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. Before her 2007 marriage to Max Sandlin
Max Sandlin
Max Sandlin , is a lawyer, lobbyist, American politician, and former Democratic Congressman who served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Texas District 1....
, she was known as Stephanie Herseth.
Early life and education
Stephanie Herseth was born on December 3, 1970, and raised on her family's farm near HoughtonHoughton, South Dakota
Houghton is an unincorporated community in Brown County, South Dakota, United States. Although not tracked by the Census Bureau, Houghton has been assigned the ZIP code of 57449.-Notable natives:...
. Her mother is . Her father's family has been active for two generations in South Dakota politics. Her father, Lars Herseth, served in the South Dakota State Legislature for two decades and ran for Governor in 1986. Her paternal grandfather, Ralph Herseth
Ralph Herseth
Ralph E. Herseth was the 21st Governor of South Dakota from January 6, 1959 to January 3, 1961.-Background:Herseth was born in Houghton, South Dakota. to Lars Herseth and Oline Afseth Herseth. He graduated from Columbia High School, in Brown County, South Dakota. He attended Northern State...
, was the 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....
, and her paternal grandmother, Lorna Herseth, was Secretary of State of South Dakota
Secretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
.
Herseth graduated from Groton High School in Groton, South Dakota
Groton, South Dakota
Groton is a city in Brown County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,458 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Groton is located at ....
. She earned her B.A. from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1993; and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
in 1997.
Career
After law school, Herseth worked as a law clerkLaw clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to Judge Charles B. Kornmann
Charles B. Kornmann
Charles B. Kornmann is a United States federal judge.Born in Watertown, South Dakota, Kornmann received a B.A. from College of St. Thomas in 1959 and an LL.B. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1962. He was in the United States Army from 1962 to 1963, and was also a Legislative assistant to...
of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
United States District Court for the District of South Dakota
The United States District Court for the District of South Dakota is the United States District Court or the Federal district court, whose jurisdiction for issues pertaining to federal law or diversity for the state of South Dakota. The court is based in Sioux Falls with other courthouses in...
and Judge Diana Gribbon Motz
Diana Gribbon Motz
Diana Jane Gribbon Motz is a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.- Early life and education :...
on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit is a federal court located in Richmond, Virginia, with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:*District of Maryland*Eastern District of North Carolina...
. She worked in private practice as an attorney in Washington, DC and taught at the Georgetown University Law Center. Prior to her election to the House, she was Executive Director of the South Dakota Farmer's Union Foundation,and served on the board of directors for First Bank and Trust of Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. Brookings is the fourth largest city in South Dakota, with a population of 22,056 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brookings County, and home to South Dakota State University, the largest institution of higher...
.
Committees
Committee assignments
|
During her tenure in the House, Herseth Sandlin was assigned to committees of concern to her constituency in South Dakota. The Agriculture Committee affects the state's largest industry, and the Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction over national forests in the Black Hills
Black Hills
The Black Hills are a small, isolated mountain range rising from the Great Plains of North America in western South Dakota and extending into Wyoming, USA. Set off from the main body of the Rocky Mountains, the region is something of a geological anomaly—accurately described as an "island of...
, as well as policies affecting the state's nine federally recognized Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribes. She was selected to serve on the Select Committee on Global Warming and Energy Independence based upon her work on issues related to biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
s and renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
in rural America.
She was a senior whip in the House of Representatives and co-chair of the Democratic conservative Blue Dog Coalition. She was also a member of the "30 Something" Working Group, a group of younger legislators who hoped to reach out to the younger voter.
Voting record
Herseth Sandlin voted against the Affordable Health Care for America ActAffordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
and opposed her party's leadership on some issues related to gun rights, which won her the support of the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
. On social issues, Herseth Sandlin is pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
and expressed opposition to Referred Law 6, which sought to ban all abortions in her home state, including those for victims of incest and rape. She supported the Employment Nondiscrimination Act in 2007.
Early in the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
cycle, she supported Senator John Edwards. On February 26, 2008 she endorsed Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
.
2002
She ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited 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...
seat in the 2002 election, losing in a close race to 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...
Governor Bill Janklow
Bill Janklow
William John "Bill" Janklow served as the 25th Attorney General of South Dakota, before being elected as South Dakota's 27th and 30th Governor, as well as to the United States House of Representatives where he served for a little more than a year. A Republican, Janklow's career has continued as a...
.
2004
Janklow was convicted of manslaughterManslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
in a motor vehicle accident, and resigned his seat, effective January 20, 2004, triggering a special election. Herseth Sandlin was selected as the Democratic nominee, and on June 1, 2004 beat Republican candidate Larry Diedrich with 51 percent of the vote. The victory gave South Dakota its first all-Democratic congressional delegation since 1937, with Senators
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
and Tim Johnson both Democrats.
In the regularly scheduled election in November 2004, Herseth beat Diedrich with 53.4 percent of the vote. The vote margin in June was about 3,000 votes, but by the November election which included a hard-fought contest for the Senate seat held by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle
Tom Daschle
Thomas Andrew "Tom" Daschle is a former U.S. Senator from South Dakota and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
it had grown to more than 29,000. Both the 2004 special and general elections were close compared to many other House races in the rest of the United States, and garnered national attention.
2006
In November 2006, she was re-elected, defeating challenger Bruce Whalen by a margin of more than 40 points. She received the highest vote total for a Democratic candidate for the House in 2006.2010
Herseth Sandlin was mentioned as a possible candidate 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....
in 2010
South Dakota gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 South Dakota gubernatorial election will be held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 to elect the Governor of South Dakota to a four-year term...
, but she announced on July 7, 2009 that she would seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to the 2010 Democratic primary, Kevin Weiland, a physician who had begun a campaign against Herseth Sandlin, but who had not yet filed to be on the ballot, called off his efforts. He said he had "concern for what the net effect would be on our political party retaining the seat in the next Congress, but also after receiving assurances from Stephanie that she will not vote to repeal the recently passed health care reform law." He had spoken to Democratic party leaders as well as to Herseth Sandlin before making this decision. Her opponent, 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...
Kristi Noem
Kristi Noem
Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is the U.S. Representative for , serving since January 2011. She is a member of the Republican Party and has been elected to the Republican Leadership for the 112th Congress as one of its two freshman representatives...
, charged that Weiland's decision not to run was due to Herseth Sandlin trading her vote for personal gain. Herseth Sandlin strongly denied the allegation and said there was no quid pro quo
Quid pro quo
Quid pro quo most often means a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services. English speakers often use the term to mean "a favour for a favour" and the phrases with almost identical meaning include: "give and take", "tit for tat", "this for that", and "you scratch my back,...
arrangement between her and Weiland.
During the campaign, Noem also criticized Herseth Sandlin's husband, Max Sandlin
Max Sandlin
Max Sandlin , is a lawyer, lobbyist, American politician, and former Democratic Congressman who served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Texas District 1....
. She said the lobbyist and former Congressman's list of clients included companies that had interests in legislation that would come before Congress, and suggested he would have improper influence because of his marriage. The Rapid City Journal
Rapid City Journal
The Rapid City Journal is the daily newspaper of Rapid City, South Dakota.See also List of newspapers in South Dakota-External links:*...
editorial board stated that Herseth Sandlin should take the concerns seriously. Roll Call characterized the Republican charges as an attempt "to stoke anti-Beltway emotions". Herseth Sandlin's campaign responded that she did not allow family members to lobby her or her staff.
Herseth Sandlin was defeated on November 2, 2010 by Noem. The final vote tally was 48.14 percent for Noem, and 45.9 percent for Herseth Sandlin.
Post congressional career
After her defeat in the 2010 Congressional election, Herseth Sandlin joined the Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
firm of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz
Olsson Frank Weeda
Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC is an American law firm and lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C., that specializes in representing business interests in the food, drug, medical device, and agriculture industries in their dealings with the Food and Drug Administration or United States...
as a principal attorney focusing on federal laws and regulations. She told Roll Call
Roll Call
Roll Call is a newspaper published in Washington, D.C., United States, from Monday to Thursday when the United States Congress is in session and on Mondays only during recess. Roll Call reports news of legislative and political maneuverings on Capitol Hill, as well as political coverage of...
that she might register to lobby Congress, after the expiration of the mandatory one-year waiting period which bars former Members from that activity. Herseth Sandlin can lobby the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
and federal agencies prior to the expiration of the waiting period. In an interview with the Mitchell, South Dakota
Mitchell, South Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,558 people, 6,121 households, and 3,599 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,475.7 people per square mile . There were 6,555 housing units at an average density of 664.4 per square mile...
Daily Republic
Forum Communications
Forum Communications Company is a media firm based in Fargo, North Dakota. The company prints a number of newspapers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, including The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead....
, she said such a job is the next logical step in her career, but that she is not ruling out another run for Congress in 2012. She put odds on that possibility at less than 50 percent.
Herseth Sandlin serves as an adjunct assistant professor at South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
.
Personal life
Stephanie Herseth was married in March 2007 to Max SandlinMax Sandlin
Max Sandlin , is a lawyer, lobbyist, American politician, and former Democratic Congressman who served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Texas District 1....
, a four-term U.S. Representative from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. He was defeated in 2004 when running for re-election. The couple met when Herseth first ran for Congress in 2002. Upon her marriage, she became known as Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. They have had one child, born in 2008.
External links
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Professional Directory, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC