Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

Last updated

Max Sandlin
​
(m. 2007)​
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
SHS Official Headshot.jpg
Official portrait, 2009
President of Augustana University
Assumed office
August 1, 2017
Children1
Parents
Relatives Ralph Herseth (grandfather)
Lorna Herseth (grandmother)
Education Georgetown University (BS, JD)

Stephanie Marie Herseth Sandlin (born December 3, 1970) is an American attorney, university administrator, and politician from the Democratic Party. She represented South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2004 until 2011. Sandlin was first elected to Congress in a special election on July 12, 2004, and was reelected three times before losing to Republican Kristi Noem in 2010. She was the youngest female member of the House, and the first woman elected to the House from South Dakota. Before her 2007 marriage to Max Sandlin, she was known as Stephanie Herseth. She is a Democrat and a member of the Herseth family of South Dakota.

Contents

Since 2017, she has served as president of Augustana University.

Early life and education

Stephanie Herseth was born on December 3, 1970, the daughter of Joyce (née Styles) and Ralph Lars Herseth, and was raised on her family's farm near Houghton. Her father's family had been active for two generations in South Dakota politics. Her paternal grandfather, Ralph Herseth, was the governor of South Dakota, and her paternal grandmother, Lorna Herseth, was South Dakota's secretary of state. Her father, Lars Herseth, served in the South Dakota State Legislature for two decades and ran for governor in 1986. Her ancestry includes German and Norwegian. [1]

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. [2]

Career prior to Congress

After law school, Herseth worked as a judicial law clerk 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, D.C., and taught at the Georgetown University Law Center.

Before her election to the House, Herseth was executive director of the South Dakota Farmer's Union Foundation and served on the board of directors of First Bank and Trust of Brookings, South Dakota.

U.S. House of Representatives

Herseth being sworn in by then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert Stephanie Herseth swearing in 2004.jpg
Herseth being sworn in by then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert

Committees

Committee assignments

During her tenure in the House, Herseth Sandlin was assigned to committees of concern to her constituency. The Agriculture Committee affects South Dakota's largest industry, and the Natural Resources Committee has jurisdiction over national forests in the Black Hills and 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 biofuels and renewable energy in rural America. [3]

Herseth Sandlin was a senior whip in the House and co-chaired the conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition. [4]

Voting record

Herseth Sandlin voted against the Affordable Health Care for America Act. [5] She said she would "not vote for the Senate bill as is" and would "not vote for a package of changes that would go through the reconciliation process." [6]

Herseth Sandlin opposed her party's leadership on some issues related to gun rights, which won her the support of the NRA Political Victory Fund. [7] [8] She is pro-choice and expressed opposition to Referred Law 6, which sought to ban abortions in South Dakota, including those for victims of incest and rape. She supported the Employment Nondiscrimination Act in 2007.

Early in the 2008 presidential election cycle, Herseth Sandlin supported Senator John Edwards. On February 26, 2008, she endorsed Barack Obama.

Political campaigns

2002

Herseth ran unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives in 2002, losing a high-profile race to Republican nominee Bill Janklow by a smaller than expected margin.

2004

After Janklow was convicted of manslaughter in a motor vehicle accident, he resigned his seat, effective January 20, 2004, triggering a special election. Herseth was the Democratic nominee, and on June 1, 2004, defeated Republican nominee Larry Diedrich with 51% of the vote. The victory gave South Dakota its first all-Democratic congressional delegation since 1937, including Senators Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson.

In the regularly scheduled election in November 2004, Herseth beat Diedrich again, with 53.4% 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 Daschle's Senate seat, it grew to more than 29,000. Both the 2004 special and general elections were close compared to most House races the country, and garnered national attention.

2006

In November 2006, Herseth defeated Republican nominee Bruce Whalen. She received the second-highest vote total for a Democratic candidate for the House in 2006. [9]

2010

Herseth Sandlin, seated between Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), joins other government officials at a speech given by then-president Barack Obama in December 2010, shortly after she lost her reelection bid President Obama and Secretary Salazar Welcome American Indian Leaders to Second White House Tribal Nations Conference (5320199055).jpg
Herseth Sandlin, seated between Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO), joins other government officials at a speech given by then-president Barack Obama in December 2010, shortly after she lost her reelection bid

Herseth Sandlin was mentioned as a possible, even likely, candidate for governor of South Dakota in 2010, [10] but announced on July 7, 2009, that she would seek reelection to the House. [10]

Before the Democratic primary, Kevin Weiland, a physician who had begun a campaign against Herseth Sandlin but 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." [11] He spoke to Democratic party leaders as well as Herseth Sandlin before making this decision. [12] The Republican nominee, State Representative 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. [12]

During the campaign, Noem also criticized Herseth Sandlin's husband, Max Sandlin, a lobbyist and former congressman. Noem said his 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. [13] [14] The Rapid City Journal editorial board wrote that Herseth Sandlin should take this concern seriously. [15] Roll Call called Noem's charges an attempt "to stoke anti-Beltway emotions". [13] Herseth Sandlin's campaign responded that she did not allow family members to lobby her or her staff. [13]

Herseth Sandlin's campaign was hampered by the state Democratic Party's inability to field a candidate against Republican nominee John Thune for U.S. Senate; "by letting him breeze to re-election, Republicans could turn all their energy and money to the House race, and state Rep. Kristi Noem was able to unseat Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, the last best hope for a Democratic future in the state." [16]

Noem defeated Herseth Sandlin in the November 2 general election with 48.14% of the vote to Herseth Sandlin's 45.9%. [17]

Post-congressional career

After losing reelection, Herseth Sandlin joined the Washington, D.C., firm of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz as a principal attorney focusing on federal laws and regulations. [18] [19] She told Roll Call that she might register to lobby Congress after the expiration of the mandatory one-year waiting period that bars former members from doing so. [20] Ultimately, she did not register as a lobbyist after the cooling-off period ended. [21]

Although Herseth Sandlin did not run in 2012, political commentators suggested that she might seek the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Tim Johnson in 2014. Ultimately, she decided not to run, citing her son and her desire to continue in her role as Legal Counsel at Raven Industries in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. [22] [23] [24]

Herseth Sandlin served briefly as an adjunct professor at the Department of Political Science at South Dakota State University. [25] In February 2017, it was announced that she would become the 24th president of Augustana University, a liberal arts college in Sioux Falls. [26]

Personal life

In March 2007, Herseth married Max Sandlin, a four-term Democratic congressman from Texas and registered lobbyist with the lobbying and public relations firm Mercury, who is 18 years her senior. [27] The couple met when Herseth first ran for Congress in 2002. [28] He was defeated for reelection in 2004. [29]

Upon her marriage, she became known as Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. [29] The couple has a son, born in 2008. [30]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Sandlin</span> American politician (born 1952)

Max Allen Sandlin Jr. is a former Democratic Congressman who served eight years (1997–2005) in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Texas District 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States Senate election in South Dakota</span>

The 2008 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 4, 2008. Primary elections were held on June 3, 2008. Incumbent Senator Tim Johnson won re-election to a third term. As of 2023, this election alongside the simultaneous House race is the last time a Democrat won a statewide election in South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of South Dakota</span> Government of the U.S. state of South Dakota

The structure of the government of South Dakota is based on that of the federal government, with three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The structure of the state government is laid out in the Constitution of South Dakota, the highest law in the state. The constitution may be amended either by a majority vote of both houses of the legislature, or by voter initiative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span>

The 2008 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2008. Voters selected a representative for their single At-Large district, who ran on a statewide ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span>

The 2010 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota took place on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Voters selected a representative for their single At-Large district, who run on a statewide ballot. On June 8, 2010, the Republicans nominated Kristi Noem, Assistant Majority Leader of the South Dakota House of Representatives and the Democrats nominated the incumbent Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. In the general election, Noem defeated Herseth Sandlin, winning 48.1 percent of the vote to 45.9 percent for Herseth Sandlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span> American election

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kristi Noem</span> Governor of South Dakota since 2019

Kristi Lynn Noem is an American politician who became the 33rd governor of South Dakota in 2019. A member of the Republican Party, she was the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district from 2011 to 2019, and a member of the South Dakota House of Representatives for the 6th district from 2007 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span>

The 2012 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota was held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the single U.S. Representative from South Dakota's At-large congressional district, comprising the entire state of South Dakota. The election coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 South Dakota's at-large congressional district special election</span>

The 2004 South Dakota's at-large congressional district special election was held on July 12, 2004 to select the successor to Republican Representative Bill Janklow who resigned on July 11, 2004, following a conviction of vehicular manslaughter 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States Senate election in South Dakota</span>

The 2014 United States Senate election in South Dakota took place on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of South Dakota, concurrently with the election of the Governor of South Dakota, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 South Dakota gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of South Dakota

The 2014 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota, concurrently with the election of South Dakota's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span>

The 2014 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota was held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014 to elect the U.S. representative from South Dakota's at-large congressional district, who would represent the state of South Dakota in the 114th United States Congress. The election coincided with the elections of a U.S. Senator from South Dakota, the Governor of South Dakota and other federal and state offices. Incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Kristi Noem won reelection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Rhoden</span> American politician

Larry Rhoden is an American politician and businessman serving as the 39th lieutenant governor of South Dakota since 2019.

Paula Hawks is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing District 9 from January 11, 2013 to January 10, 2017. Hawks grew up on a farm near Flandreau, South Dakota. Hawks is a bank training specialist and a former high school science teacher. She has three children with her husband, Steve.

Richard Blake Curd is an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate representing District 12 since June 6, 2013. Curd served non-consecutively in the South Dakota Legislature from January 2009 until January 11, 2011 in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 12 seat. He was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives for South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the 2010 election. Curd was appointed to the South Dakota Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Republican Senator J. Mark Johnston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States Senate election in South Dakota</span>

The 2016 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Dakota, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. The primaries were held June 7.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of South Dakota

The 2018 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2018, to elect the next governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican governor Dennis Daugaard was term-limited and could not seek a third consecutive term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives election in South Dakota was held on November 6, to elect the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district. The election coincided with other statewide, legislative, and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota</span>

The 2022 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 8, 2022, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Dakota. Incumbent three-term Republican U.S. Senator John Thune, who is the Senate Minority Whip, was first elected in 2004, defeating Democratic incumbent Tom Daschle, the then-Senate Minority Leader. He ran for reelection to a fourth term. The Democratic nominee was 26-year Navy, Air Force JAG Corps Veteran, and former college professor Brian Bengs. Thune was ultimately reelected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 South Dakota gubernatorial election</span> Election for the governorship of the U.S. state of South Dakota

The 2022 South Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2022, electing the governor of South Dakota. Incumbent Republican governor Kristi Noem defeated Democratic nominee Jamie Smith to win a second term.

References

  1. ↑ "sandlin". October 2, 2016. Archived from the original on October 2, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie, (1970 – )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved March 5, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Committees". Office of U.S. Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. U.S. House of Representatives. Archived from the original on March 25, 2009.
  4. ↑ Bogardus, Kevin (March 2, 2011). "Blue Dog heads to K Street". The Hill . Retrieved March 3, 2011.
  5. ↑ Final Vote Results for Roll Call 887, United States House of Representatives
  6. ↑ Woster, Kevin (March 5, 2010). "Herseth Sandlin says no to Senate health bill, reconciliation". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  7. ↑ "NRA-PVF Endorses Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for U.S. House of Representatives in South Dakota's At-Large Congressional District". nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. September 28, 2010. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  8. ↑ Waltman, Scott (October 30, 2004). "Herseth not typical S.D. politician". Herseth for Congress. Archived from the original on December 17, 2004.
  9. ↑ "Stephanie Herseth Sandlin". Who Runs Gov. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 10, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  10. 1 2 Kraushaar, Josh. Herseth Sandlin running for reelection. Politico. July 7, 2009.
  11. ↑ Woster, Kevin (March 31, 2010). "Kevin Weiland pulls out of race, won't challenge Herseth Sandlin". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  12. 1 2 Woster, Kevin. (June 13, 2010). "Historic U.S. House campaign begins". Rapid City Journal. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  13. 1 2 3 Murray, Matthew (July 26, 2010). "GOP Assails Sandlin Family Ties". Roll Call . Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  14. ↑ Montgomery, David (September 27, 2010). "Noem targets Herseth Sandlin's lobbyist husband in heated House race". Rapid City Journal . Retrieved March 7, 2011.
  15. ↑ "Sandlin's job no laughing matter". Rapid City Journal . September 30, 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2011. Herseth Sandlin's claim that transparency and disclosure are adequate doesn't cut it. She should not be laughing off this legitimate concern.
  16. ↑ Lawrence, Tom. "Lawrence: Democrats fail to qualify candidate for U.S. House race". AberdeenNews.com. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  17. ↑ Young, Steve (November 3, 2010). "Wave carries Kristi Noem". Sioux Falls Argus Leader . Gannett. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Professional Directory – Stephanie Herseth Sandlin". Washington D.C.: Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC. Archived from the original on April 2, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Joins OFW Law – Congressional Leader Joining Nation's Premier Agriculture & FDA Law Firm". Olsson Frank Weeda. March 2, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2011.
  20. ↑ Ackley, Kate (March 2, 2011). "Herseth Sandlin Looks Forward to K Street, With Eye on Lobbying". Roll Call. Congressional Quarterly. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  21. ↑ Bogardus, Kevin; Leven, Rachel (May 17, 2012). "Ex-lawmakers on K Street avoid 'Scarlet L,' shy away from registering as lobbyists". The Hill. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Daily Republic Article". Insurance News. June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  23. ↑ "Herseth Sandlin to become a Raven executive". Argus Leader. May 30, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  24. ↑ Montgomery, David (May 13, 2013). "Stephanie Herseth Sandlin not running for Senate". Argus Leader. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  25. ↑ Jonathan Ellis (April 27, 2011). "Chicoine defends SDSU post for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin". Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  26. ↑ "The 24th President of Augustana University". Augie.edu. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  27. ↑ Ackley, Kate. K Street Files: Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Heading to South Dakota Job, Roll Call , June 14, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Herseth to marry on Saturday". Rapid City Journal . Associated Press. March 26, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  29. 1 2 AP staff writer (April 1, 2007). "S.D. Representative gets married". The Associated Press. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
  30. ↑ Montgomery, David (November 8, 2010). "Politicos weigh Herseth Sandlin's future". Rapid City Journal.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Dakota's at-large congressional district
2004–2011		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Administration
2009–2011
Served alongside: Charlie Melancon, Jim Matheson (Communications), Baron Hill (Policy)		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.