South Dakota's At-large congressional district special election, 2004
Encyclopedia
The 2004 United States House of Representatives special election in South Dakota was held on June 1, 2004 to select the successor to Republican Representative Bill Janklow
who resigned on January 20, 2004 following a conviction of vehicular manslaugter after an accident that had occurred months earlier, creating an open seat and necessitating a special election. Each party held a nominating convention to choose their nominee for the special election. Republicans selected state Senator
Larry Diedrich over Barbara Everist, also a member of the South Dakota State Senate
, as their nominee while Democrats chose attorney Stephanie Herseth
, who had unsuccessfully challenged Janklow in 2002
.
The special election was closely watched by both parties in an effort to gain momentum going into the 2004 House elections. The Hill committees of both parties spent a combined total of two million dollars on advertising in South Dakota. This election was especially important considering that five months later in addition to this House seat, Democratic Senator and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle
's, who was facing a tough race against former Representative John Thune
(R), who had come within 524 votes of defeating
South Dakota's other Senator in 2002, U.S. Senate seat would also be up for election.
Herseth benefitted from her high name recognition from her previous run as well as her relation to the prominent Herseth family (one notable member of whom includes her grandfather Ralph Herseth
, a former Governor of South Dakota). However, Vice President Dick Cheney
(R) came to the Mount Rushmore
state in March to campaign for Diedrich.
Herseth ultimately narrowly prevailed over Diedrich. The both of them won their primaries held on the same day as the special election and would face off against each other in November. Some Democrats claimed this victory, as well as another one in a special election in Kentucky's 6th congressional district
months earlier, were harbingers of major Democratic victories in November. However, instead Republicans would achieve a net-gain of three seats in the House and a net-gain of four in the Senate (including a victory in South Dakota
).
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...
who resigned on January 20, 2004 following a conviction of vehicular manslaugter after an accident that had occurred months earlier, creating an open seat and necessitating a special election. Each party held a nominating convention to choose their nominee for the special election. Republicans selected state Senator
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:...
Larry Diedrich over Barbara Everist, also a member of the South Dakota State Senate
Members of the South Dakota State Senate
These tables are historical listings of state senators who served in the South Dakota Senate from statehood in 1889 until the present.-Members of the South Dakota State Senate :...
, as their nominee while Democrats chose attorney Stephanie Herseth
Stephanie Herseth
Stephanie 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...
, who had unsuccessfully challenged Janklow in 2002
United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota, 2002
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....
.
The special election was closely watched by both parties in an effort to gain momentum going into the 2004 House elections. The Hill committees of both parties spent a combined total of two million dollars on advertising in South Dakota. This election was especially important considering that five months later in addition to this House seat, Democratic Senator and 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....
's, who was facing a tough race against former Representative 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:...
(R), who had come within 524 votes of defeating
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...
South Dakota's other Senator in 2002, U.S. Senate seat would also be up for election.
Herseth benefitted from her high name recognition from her previous run as well as her relation to the prominent Herseth family (one notable member of whom includes her 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...
, a former Governor of South Dakota). However, Vice President Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
(R) came to 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 in March to campaign for Diedrich.
Herseth ultimately narrowly prevailed over Diedrich. The both of them won their primaries held on the same day as the special election and would face off against each other in November. Some Democrats claimed this victory, as well as another one in a special election in Kentucky's 6th congressional district
Kentucky's 6th congressional district
Kentucky's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Based in Central Kentucky, the district contains the cities of Lexington , Richmond, and Frankfort, the state capital....
months earlier, were harbingers of major Democratic victories in November. However, instead Republicans would achieve a net-gain of three seats in the House and a net-gain of four in the Senate (including a victory in South Dakota
United States Senate election in South Dakota, 2004
The 2004 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 2, 2004. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tom Daschle ran for re-election a fourth term, but lost to Republican John Thune.-Campaign:...
).