Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, a Democrat, represented the at-large House seat from South Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2004 to 2011.

Iraq War
Sandlin voted for the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 that started 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)  Herseth retained her seat.

Money in politics
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Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * 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

Resources

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

Local blogs and discussion sites

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