Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin previously served as the at-large Representative for South Dakota

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, a Democrat, is a former U.S. Representative for the at-large Congressional District of South Dakota, having served 2004 to 2011. (map).

Record and controversies

General information about important bills and votes for can be found in Congresspedia's articles on legislation. You can add information you find on how Stephanie Herseth Sandlin voted by clicking the "[edit]" link to the right and typing it in. Remember to cite your sources!

Iraq War

Sandlin voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started the Iraq War.

For more information see the chart of U.S. House of Representatives votes on the Iraq War.

Environmental record

For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Bio

Herseth Sandlin was born on December 3, 1970 and was raised on her family's farm near Houghton (between Hecla and Columbia). Her paternal grandfather, Ralph Herseth, was governor, her paternal grandmother, Lorna Herseth, was Secretary of State and her father, Lars Herseth, served for twenty years in the state legislature and ran for governor in 1986. Herseth Sandlin received her undergraduate, graduate, and law degrees from Georgetown University.

Congressional career

In 2002, Herseth Sandlin ran unsuccessfully for the at-large House seat, losing to Bill Janklow. In early 2004, Janklow resigned after he was convicted of manslaughter, triggering a special election. Herseth Sandlin was selected as the Democratic nominee for this special election and she beat Republican candidate Larry Diedrich with 51 percent in a close-fought election on June 1, 2004. In the November general election, Herseth Sandlin was elected to a full term with 53.4 percent of the vote. Herseth Sandlin was the first woman in state history to win a full term in Congress.

In both elections, Herseth Sandlin campaigned as an "independent voice" and has generally been moderate in the Congress. She supports abortion rights, has been vocal against cuts to veterans programs, has adovacted the use of renewable fuels like ethanol, and supports farm programs. She does, however, oppose her party's leadership, particularly on issues with which there is disagreement between conservative South Dakota and the more liberal Democratic leadership. For example, in the 2004 general election she was endorsed by the National Rifle Association, supported the President's call for a Federal Marriage Amendment, and as a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, she advocates fiscal discipline.

2006 elections

In 2006, the Republicans nominated Bruce W. Whalen, and the Libertarian Party nominated Larry Rudebusch to face Herseth Sandlin in her November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) [1] Herseth retained her seat.

2010 elections

Herseth Sandlin lost her bid for reelection in the 2010 midterms to conservative Republican Kristi Noem.

Money in politics

This section contains links to – and feeds from – money in politics databases. <crpcontribdata>cid=N00024773&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>

Links to more campaign contribution information for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org site.
Fundraising profile:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by organization/corporation:	2006 election cycle	Career totals
Top contributors by industry:	2006 election cycle	Career totals

• Revolving door profile for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• 2006 privately funded travel profile for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.
• Personal finance profile for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from the Center for Responsive Politics' OpenSecrets.org website.

Committees and affiliations

Committees

• House Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Conservation Credit Rural Development and Research
  • Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
• House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommitee on Economic Opportunity, Chair
• House Committee on Natural Resources
  • Subcommitee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

• House Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Conservation Credit Rural Development and Research
  • Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
  • Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture
• House Committee on Resources
  • Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health
• House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity - Ranking Minority Member

Coalitions and caucuses

• Member, Blue Dog Coalition

More background data

• Background information on Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from Project Vote Smart

• Interest group scorecard ratings for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from Project Vote Smart

• Voting record for Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from the Washington Post database

• Information on Stephanie Herseth Sandlin from Congress Merge

Wikipedia also has an article on Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. This article may use content from the Wikipedia article under the terms of the GFDL.

Former contact

DC Office:
331 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4101
Phone: 202-225-2801
Fax: 202-225-5823
Email: stephanie.herseth AT mail.house.gov
Web Email
Website

District Office- Aberdeen:
10 Sixth Avenue Southwest
Aberdeen, SD 57401-4148
Phone: 605-626-3440
TollFree: 866-371-8747
Fax: 605-626-3441

District Office- Rapid City:
1823 West Main Street
Suite 210
Rapid City, SD 57702-2439
Phone: 605-394-5280
Fax: 605-394-5282

District Office- Sioux Falls:
326 East 8th Street, Suite 108
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Phone: 605-367-8371
TollFree: 866-371-8747
Fax: 605-367-8373

Articles and resources

Resources

• Official website
• Campaign website
• Statement in South Dakota's 2004 Voter Guide
• Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database

Related SourceWatch articles

• Freedom's Watch

Local blogs and discussion sites

• Dakota Voice
• South Dakota Progressive
• A Moderate From South Dakota
• South Dakota Watch

Corresponding article on Wikipedia and Cause Caller. (If Cause Caller link does not work, pick from its list of senators and representatives.)

Current Office: U.S. House of Representatives
111th Congress
Leadership Position:	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees:
110th Congress
Leadership Position: None	Committees Chaired:	Committees, Ranking Member On:	Caucuses:
Committees: House Committee on Agriculture, House Committee on Agriculture/Subcommittee on Conservation Credit Energy and Research, House Committee on Agriculture/Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, House Committee on Natural Resources, House Committee on Natural Resources/Subcommittee on National Parks Forests and Public Lands, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs/Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity,
Congressional Career
First Elected to Current Office: June 1, 2004	First Took Current Office: June 3, 2004	Next Election: November 2, 2010	Term Ends:
Freshman Member? No	Previous Political Work? None or Not Available,	Other Party Membership:
District Offices:
1. 10 Sixth Avenue Southwest, Aberdeen, SD 57401-4148 Phone: 605-626-3440 / Fax: 605-626-3441 2. 1823 West Main Street, Suite 210, Rapid City, SD 57702-2439 Phone: 605-394-5280 / Fax: 605-394-5282 3. 326 East 8th Street, Suite 108, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 Phone: 605-367-8371 / Fax: 605-367-8373
Campaign Contact:
Website: Webform Email: / Email: Campaign Offices: 1. Phone: / Fax:
Zip Code Affiliations:
Misc:
Date of Birth: December 3,1970