United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota, 2002
Encyclopedia
The 2002 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota took place on Tuesday, November 5, 2002. Voters selected a representative for their single At-Large district
, who ran on a statewide ballot.
Republican incumbent John Thune
retired to make a bid for the U.S. Senate
, thus leaving the seat open. Popular then-Governor Bill Janklow
(R) prevailed over Law clerk
Stephanie Herseth, albeit by a much closer than expected margin.
and his advisers.
, a former Governor of South Dakota).
Throughout the campaign, Janklow emphasized his experience and commitment to seeing that the United States was protected from terrorism
, while Herseth emphasized the economic issues of South Dakota.
A controversy occurred in regard to an attack ad that was created by the National Republican Congressional Committee
which questioned Herseth's roots in the Mount Rushmore
state. It pointed to the fact that she had not registered to vote in her home state until the year before, and prior to that had voted in Maryland
in 2000. Herseth accused the ad of being "both inaccurate and offensive." Though Russ Levsen, her spokesman, acknowledged that she had voted in Maryland and reregistered to vote in South Dakota in 2001, however, he pointed to the fact that she had previously been registered in her home state at the age of eighteen and had voted in five elections between 1989 and 1998. The NRCC pulled the ad within less than forty-eight hours in response to the bipartison criticisms of both candidates. The ad was subsequently replaced with one that promoted Janklow's credentials.
Though Republicans were unsuccessful in defeating Tim Johnson during the concurrent Senate election, however they did succeed in defending South Dakota's U.S. House seat.
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....
, who ran on a statewide ballot.
Republican incumbent John Thune
John Thune
John Randolph Thune is the junior U.S. Senator from South Dakota and a member of the Republican Party. He previously served as a U.S. Representative for .-Early Life, Education:...
retired to make a bid for the U.S. Senate
United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2002
The 2002 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 5, 2002. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Johnson won re-election to a second term by a margin of 524 votes.-Results:-Candidates:*Kurt Evans , teacher...
, thus leaving the seat open. Popular then-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...
(R) prevailed over Law clerk
Law 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...
Stephanie Herseth, albeit by a much closer than expected margin.
Candidates
- Bill JanklowBill JanklowWilliam 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...
, incumbent Governor of South DakotaGovernor of South DakotaThe 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.... - Larry Pressler, former U.S. Senator
- Timothy Amdahl, South Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Roger Hunt, South Dakota State RepresentativeSouth Dakota House of RepresentativesThe 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...
- Bert Tollefson
Campaign
With Thune Opting to run for the Senate, a competitive race for the Republican nomination occurred. Among the five candidates pursuing the nomination, the most notable included former Senator Larry Pressler and Governor Bill Janklow, the latter of who was personally recruited to run by President George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and his advisers.
Results
Candidates
- Stephanie HersethStephanie HersethStephanie Herseth Sandlin 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...
, attorney - Rick Weiland, former aide to Senator Tom DaschleTom DaschleThomas 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....
- Dick Casey
- Denny Pierson
Campaign
Democrats made a stronger effort to win the seat than in the previous election cycles with the popular Thune choosing to challenge incumbent Senator Tim Johnson rather than seek re-election. Democrats touted Stephanie Herseth, a Law Clerk and member of the prominent Herseth family (which includes several individuals who have been active in South Dakota politics, such as her grandfather Ralph HersethRalph 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...
, a former Governor of South Dakota).
Results
Campaign
Despite Janklow's high popularity as Governor, the race was unexpectedly close. Herseth proved to be skillful fund raiser and as a result was able to stay close to her opponent in campaign funds. The polls confirmed the closeness of the race, showing the both of them consistly with single digits of each other throughout the election.Throughout the campaign, Janklow emphasized his experience and commitment to seeing that the United States was protected from terrorism
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, while Herseth emphasized the economic issues of South Dakota.
A controversy occurred in regard to an attack ad that was created by the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
which questioned Herseth's roots in the Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota, in the United States...
state. It pointed to the fact that she had not registered to vote in her home state until the year before, and prior to that had voted in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 2000. Herseth accused the ad of being "both inaccurate and offensive." Though Russ Levsen, her spokesman, acknowledged that she had voted in Maryland and reregistered to vote in South Dakota in 2001, however, he pointed to the fact that she had previously been registered in her home state at the age of eighteen and had voted in five elections between 1989 and 1998. The NRCC pulled the ad within less than forty-eight hours in response to the bipartison criticisms of both candidates. The ad was subsequently replaced with one that promoted Janklow's credentials.
Though Republicans were unsuccessful in defeating Tim Johnson during the concurrent Senate election, however they did succeed in defending South Dakota's U.S. House seat.