Democrat Wins Special Election in South Dakota

[NewJerseyDem]

EDIT: Changed to Washington Post story

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6987-2004Jun1.html

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Stephanie Herseth, a lawyer who left the East Coast for a career in politics in her home state, narrowly defeated a Republican former lawmaker Tuesday in a special congressional election that was closely watched by national parties looking for momentum heading into November.

Herseth will immediately fill the seat of Bill Janklow, who was convicted of manslaughter and went to jail over a deadly auto accident.

With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Herseth had 124,647 votes, or 51 percent, to Larry Diedrich's 121,719 votes, or 49 percent.

Herseth is a 33-year-old Georgetown-educated lawyer and a member of one of South Dakota's most distinguished political families. She gained name recognition after running a close race against Janklow in 2002, when the Republican moved to Congress after four terms as governor.

[Arugula Latte]

1. There's one thing to say about that:

:party: :toast: :bounce:

[VolcanoJen]

2. Latest results.. a nailbiter, but it looks solid for Herseth!

2,970 votes!! Yowch!!

00:30:06

766 of 798 precincts reporting

Herseth: 124082
Diedrich: 121112

[mike_c]

3. after Janklow, it absolutely amazes me that the good people...

...of South Dakota "narrowly defeated" Larry Diedrich rather than burying him under a landslide of whoop-ass. Why on earth does anyone with less than a high six-figure income or an IQ greater than their inseam length vote for republicans?

[0rganism]

26. It's all about social conservativism

Repub voters won't see Janklow's actions as indicative of a sickness in the GOP as a whole, instead they'll vote their intentions for further lawmaking. In this case, my guess is they're into the whole gay-hating abortion-banning thing. They may think Janklow's a sorry-ass dip, but that won't make them vote for a Democrat.

[meow2u3]

37. The social-conservative "culture war" is an elaborate scam

Most social conservatives--and some social moderates--can't see that the GOP's obsession with "family values" and religion is but a smokescreen to hide their evil intent to bilk working- and middle-class individuals and families out of their hard-earned money.

Superrich pastors, CEO's, and others wont to abuse authority--some of whom sneak their own mistresses into the abortion clinic--routinely con their unsuspecting congregation into a single-issue mentality of voting "pro-life" (read: anti-abortion) to see that the GOP's bamboozling them out of their life savings in the form of robbing them of their livelihoods by offshoring their jobs to third-world countries; etc. The same people who preach family values practice the values of "the family."

{Nevertheless, I'm pro-woman, pro-life in the broad, literal sense of the word--consistent life, because I would have been aborted if my mom had listened to her doctors. Yet I'm willing to put my disgust for abortion aside for the sake of social and economic justice and constitutional rights (the symbolic nature of "choice" is lost on me).}

[0rganism]

59. Yup, it's an elaborate and extremely effective scam

Those interested in consolidation of wealth need some way to get a solid plurality at election time. Thus, "family values" are provided as pablum to gullible voters who don't understand what they're giving away.

[recidivist]

40. Whaddya mean, "Janklow's actions?" He resigned.

Which is more than at least one other prominent pol did after killing someone with a car.

I don't know Janklow from the man in the moon and have no interest in defending him but the fact is, he's gone because he ran a stop sign (stop light?) and killed a guy on a motorcycle. I gather that Janklow had a considerable speeding record, but I also know that South Dakota is one of those big, empty places where folks have always more-or-less ignored speed limits.

So Janklow had an accident. Shit happens. I am very sorry for the man he hit and could care less about Janklow. But let's keep an automobile accident in perspective. That could have been you or me.

Or do you think Ted Kennedy should have done hard time for Chappaquidick?

[Philostopher]

42. Apparently, Janklow also had a history

Of getting family members off on DUI and dope possession charges. He had a son or son-in-law that he'd pardoned on three offenses.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=587308

[Bandit]

45. Janklow committed a CRIME

Kennedy had an accident. Janklow committed manslaughter. Kennedy did no more than Laura Bush did. Kennedy was not charged with any crime. I wonder why you fail to see the difference. Criminals are not allowed to serve in the US Congress. Janklow had to resign. It was not a voluntary action. You should get your facts together before spouting off.

[recidivist]

47. Yes, Janklow committed a crime. So did Kennedy.

Janklow was speeding and ran a stop sign or stop light. He struck and killed a man on a motorcycle. Kennedy, driving recklessly and possibly drunk, crashed off a bridge, left the scene of an accident and, even worse, failed for hours to report the accident. He presumed his lady friend was dead, but there was an air pocket in the car and she possibly lived for some time. Had Kennedy reported the accident and sought help, she might have lived.

Janklow and Kennedy both killed someone with their cars. Janklow was charged with his crime. Kennedy was not. That reflects the relative caliber of the administration of justice in South Dakota today vs. Massachusetts then.

Kennedy has always sought to excuse his actions by claiming to have been distraught and disoriented. This may have been true, but it still leaves the uncomfortable fact that, following the accident, he returned to his hotel room and for several hours burned up the phone lines consulting with various political associates. To my knowledge, none of them has ever been willing to talk, and none of them were ever put on the stand to testify -- Massachusetts justice again -- but presumably the topic of discussion was how to limit the damage or even escape entirely.

I am fairly dispassionate about this. I am neither a Chappaquiddick cultist nor a particular fan of Ted Kennedy. What he was, was a young pol stepping out with a young lady to whom he was not married, who had the misfortune to have an accident, and who in the pressure of the moment made a hideous mistake in leaving the scene and failing to report the crash. All I'm saying is that if this should not have disqualified Kennedy from his subsequent political career, we need to keep a little perspective about other politicians and their automobile accidents.

Janklow didn't leave a bleeding victim in the ditch while he huddled with advisors trying to find an escape hatch. Nor did the local political establishment give him a pass. When convicted, he resigned. For better or for worse, Anerica's recent political history might be quite different if Kennedy and Massachusetts had risen to the Janklow and South Dakota standard.

[recidivist]

49. Actually, Janklow did what Laura Bush did.

He ran a stop sign and killed someone. Janklow's case may have been worse in that he was speeding. I don't know that Laura was speeding; my impression is that she just missed the sign.

(I've sailed through a couple myself over the years and have been fortunate enough to have nothing more than one dinged fender to show for it. There but for the grace of God, etc.)

Kennedy's case is different in that alcohol, leaving the scene, and failing to report are all involved. Plus the frantic damage control consultations with advisors while Mary Jo lay abandoned and possibly alive in the car.

Which is worse in your estimation?

[0rganism]

58. Please, don't misunderstand my post

I'm not saying Janklow's fatal episode of reckless driving actually IS symptomatic of some larger GOP illness. I am saying that republican voters will not hold his actions (and yes, they were his actions) against his political party as a whole. There are issues which Diedrich was running on, and will be again in November, which have nothing to do with Janklow's accident.

[cal04]

4. You go GIRL

Stephanie Herseth, a lawyer who left the East Coast for a career in politics in her home state, narrowly defeated a Republican former lawmaker Tuesday in a special congressional election that was closely watched by national parties looking for momentum heading into November.



Herseth will immediately fill the seat of Bill Janklow, who was convicted of manslaughter and went to jail over a deadly auto accident. With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Herseth had 124,647 votes, or 51 percent, to Larry Diedrich's 121,719 votes, or 49 percent.


Herseth is a 33-year-old Georgetown-educated lawyer and a member of one of South Dakota's most distinguished political families. She gained name recognition after running a close race against Janklow in 2002, when the Republican moved to Congress after four terms as governor. Herseth now will serve out the seven months left in Janklow's term. Herseth and Diedrich will meet again in November to compete for a full two-year term. Herseth, however, will have the advantage of incumbency in holding South Dakota's lone House seat.


Her victory gave the Democrats two straight triumphs this year in special elections waged for GOP-held seats, and coincided with Democratic claims that a national tide is running their way ahead of the fall campaign. Recent polling shows support slumping for President Bush (news - web sites) as well as for the Republican majority in the House. Despite the gains in South Dakota and in Kentucky earlier this year, the Democrats must pick up 11 more seats in the general election to gain control of the House.

[napi21]

5. I keep checking on this vote. Still only 767 or 798 reporting.

I have EVERYthiNG crossed for Steph, but I won't feel secure until I see 790 of the 798 reporting. I don't know SD, but I guess I'm still afraid that there's some 30 precincts hanging out there that drug their pubs to the polls. God I hope not, but I still worry.

[NewJerseyDem]

7. Some of those precincts are overwhelmingly democratic

Shannon and Todd Counties are home to indian reservations and will give Herseth around 90% of their vote. That will at least balance out any other republican precincts.

[cal04]

8. I'll keep checking too

U.S. HOUSE RACE


CANDIDATE
TOTAL
VOTES
% OF
VOTES
PRECINCTS
REPORTING
TOTAL
PRECINCTS

STEPHANIE HERSETH - D
127330
51
777
798

LARRY DIEDRICH - R
123643
49
777
798

[Lenape85]

6. If someone like her can win in a state like SD...

...then I guess something right is brewing

[proud patriot]

9. RIGHT ON

:D

[BadGimp]

10. did they use the touch screen machines?

If they ahve many, then the GOP Thug will be the winner by lunch.

[napi21]

11. Interesting question. Did they use mostly touch screen?

Please anybody from SD??? This could help put a teeny bit of my concerns to rest if they did! Maybe the hackers aren't as good as they think they are.

[schultzee]

13. It not just the hackers, its the corrupt corporate PIGS.

[Dookus]

22. No

No electronic voting machines in SD.

[RoyGBiv]

12. Kick

:bounce: :kick: :bounce: :kick:

[davidinalameda]

14. now we just have to hold the seat in November

that's the real test

[napi21]

15. Keep holding your breath. Here's the most recent!

U.S. HOUSE RACE


CANDIDATE
TOTAL
VOTES
% OF
VOTES
PRECINCTS
REPORTING
TOTAL
PRECINCTS

STEPHANIE HERSETH - D
130186
50
783
798

LARRY DIEDRICH - R
128405
50
783
798


It's 50/50

[trogdor]

53. Shouldn't be a problem.

What are the numbers? about 275,000 votes cast? That has to be as high as turnout gets in SD. In other words, the Republicans gave it all they had, and it wasn't enough. They're through.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. CNN is reporting she won

folks the backlash is officially ON.

:toast: :beer: :bounce: :bounce:

[Pachamama]

17. Has Liar Diedrich conceded yet? This race is so close-even here site ...

doesn't show this as a victory yet....

http://www.hersethforcongress.org

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

34. Diedrich...

... wouldn't even show up at his campaign headquarters/hotel and had Randy Fredrick, head of the South Dakota GOP make some smart remarks instead. Check it out from the front page at <http://www.argusleader.com> btw, that is Steph's dad, Lars Herseth in the background of the picture.

[Pachamama]

18. The live feed from the Sec. of State of SD still shows it as 50/50...still

Herseth
50%

Diedrich
50%


789 of 798 precincts reporting
Updated 1:35am (CST)

Secretary of State Website

[villager]

19. Herseth just went ahead...

...on her website, 8 precincts left...

on edit:

I meant on percentage points:

back to 51% to 49%

[Pachamama]

20. 791 Precincts reporting as of 1:45AM...51% vs. 49%-approx. 2700 votes diff

U S HOUSE

(R) DIEDRICH LARRY 128689 49

(D) HERSETH STEPHANIE 131453 51

Liar Diedrich concede yet? Or is he going to have a re-count?

:scared:

[Pachamama]

21. As of 2AM - 3000 Vote Difference - 51% v. 49% - 3000 vote difference..

U S HOUSE
(R) DIEDRICH LARRY 128941 49 794 798
(D) HERSETH STEPHANIE 132041 51 794 798

http://www.sdsos.gov/results/statwide.shtml

[Pachamama]

23. As of 2:20AM CST - 3076 vote difference - Herseth Accepted/Diedrich ...

...still has yet to concede...he might not and instead just lurk in the shadows until next November....or will he demand a recount?

[Dookus]

24. final numbers

all precincts reporting:

U S HOUSE
(R) DIEDRICH....129292.....49%
(D) HERSETH.....132236.....51%

[Pachamama]

25. Really-as of a few min's ago, the Sec. of State website still shows 2 more

...precincts left to report....where are you getting your numbers?

[Dookus]

27. ah

my bad. I got the numbers from the secretary of state's site, but the 100% was from here:

http://66.231.15.194/CustomPages/ElectionResults/Index.cfm

These are the numbers they're reporting. Percentages the same, but the numbers slightly different.


HERSETH D 132,066 51%
DIEDRICH R 128,990 49%


I presumed they were getting their numbers from the SOS' office, so I went there and copied 'em without checking the precinct count. Sorry 'bout that.

[truthisfreedom]

28. so let's just say... she won. *^) woohoo!

[Pachamama]

29. Your right - Woohoo! You go GRRRLLLL!

:party: :bounce: :kick:

[Scooter24]

33. My God.

I'm not from SD, but keeping an eye on this election made me relive 2000 all over again. Except for the ending of course! :)

*breathe in* *breathe out*

:)

[neverborn]

30. HERSETH!!!

Thank you South Dakota, and my adorable liberal friend in SD, Angela!

Thanks to the Dems(ESPECIALLY Kos posters) that contributed to Herseth!

You guys all rock!

Now -- if SOUTH DAKOTA, a state that is banning abortion and hasn't voted Dem for over 40 years, elected HERSETH.... CHANGE IS COMING

ON EDIT: Herseth is SOOOO HOT~

[andino]

31. So, I hate to ask this, but...

Does anyone know the polling data going into the election? I was just curious to see how the numbers looked going into it.

[recidivist]

32. Herseth was up by 6 in the weekend polls.

FWIW, putting the issues aside, the horserace dynamic of this election was that Herseth -- as the 2002 candidate -- started with a significant built-in edge in name id, organization, and fundraising. She held a double digit lead for most of the campaign. The pubbies were also dispirited by the Janklow mess. That put Diedrich in a come-from-behind position right from the start. He was closing fast at the end but didn't get over the hump.

That means this will be a key race in November. Both candidates will keep right on campaigning. Herseth should get some incumbency bounce, but with the presidential election and a tight senate race in SD, this will be one to watch.

[kentuck]

35. Bush doesn't seem to be dragging down Congressional candidates

..at least, not yet. Not in any significant way. Herseth was very popular and this is a difficult race to interpret.

[dusty64]

36. This is wonderful news!

Sadly, nearly half the voters still saw fit to vote rethug even after all the shit they learned about janklow.

[demnan]

38. Great News!

A vote for Herseth is a vote against Delay and his yes-minion, Hastert.

[SlingBlade]

39. Prelude

To better things to come.
Made my day .:)

[GOPBasher]

41. A little closer!

:bounce:

[dolstein]

43. How much would she have won by if Tim Johnson had kept his mouth shut?

Just curious.

[Pachamama]

44. What did Tim Johnson say? (Missed that one....) n/t

[Arugula Latte]

48. He made a reference to the "Taliban" wing of the Repub. party

Didn't apologize, but then later said he was sorry if he offended anyone. There was some backlash about that.

[DFLforever]

51. It may have helped her!

Reminded South Dakota of why despite being Repub, they prefer to send Demcorats to Washington.

[Claire Beth]

46. Yippieeeeeeeeeee!!!!! n/t

[bearfan454]

50. Well alright.

[Pachamama]

52. Won by 2769-Shout-out to LastKnight & the rest of the SD Dems (& Repubs!)

LastKnight is a South Dakota HS Senior who along with other Dems his age got out to vote - Right on and keep up the good work!

Final #s':

U S HOUSE
(R) DIEDRICH LARRY 128722 49 798 798
(D) HERSETH STEPHANIE 131491 51 798 798

Shows how crucial every vote is....I'd love to see a further analysis of the #'s...It looks like about 85,000+ Dems voted, so she won with the help of Independents and some Republicans (she courted the Republican vote as well and had some Republican support)....

I know SD doesn't have a huge population, but I'd love to see a breakdown as it compares to other elections and the registered voters etc.

You can be sure that the Bush Co. and Republican Commitee are going to be spending lots of money in the next 6 months to defeat her in November and also Tom Daschle. Don't know everyones Financial situation but I suggest everyone on DU give $10 to both Herseth and to Daschle...every $ is crucial to make sure that they can counter the "Repuke Machine"...

[diamond14]

54. GREAT ! sounds like some young people are finally VOTING and

volunteering to "get out the vote" too....

that WILL make all the difference in the upcoming elections...and prevent the upcoming bush* draft...



if you want to volunteer for Kerry in Northern Virginia...here's our web site...come join us...help take back America and WIN VIRGINIA !!!

http://www.novaforkerry.com

YOU can do most of this in ANY community, all across America....

Get Involved!

Here's what you can do now:
Community Outreach

Many potential voters in this area are not registered to vote. Others aren’t informed about the serious choice to be made this November.

That’s where you come in. Volunteer through NoVa for Kerry’s Community Outreach work group, and get out into the community to inform people about the issues, encourage and register people to vote, and volunteer to help other Democratic organizations do the same. Community outreach has a full calendar of scheduled activities.


Outreach Projects You Can Do On Your Own:

Flyering: Wear Kerry gear at Metro stops, concerts, wherever you go. For “Kerry Gear” to wear and give away (T-shirts, hats, buttons, etc.), visit http://www.kerrygear.com/. Print and hand out flyers downloaded from JohnKerry.com .

Tabling: Get approval to set up a table at a grocery store, mall or any place with crowds of people. Wear and distibute Kerry gear. Collect names and e-mail addresses and encourage people to come to Meetups and sign up more.

Encourage people to come to Meetups. Remind them by phone a few days before regularly scheduled meetings.

Ask your recruits to sign up other volunteers.

[Pachamama]

55. Yeah, and ironically he and others on their 18th B-Day got visits from the

...local military Recruiters, not the vote...this person and friends are doing it on their own...

[Wanet]

56. Congratulations South Dakota Democrats !

I grew up in South Dakota (Brookings), although I've lived in
California for the last 14 years.  Just wanted to congratulate
the South Dakota Democrats and Congresswoman Herseth on a job
well done!  As far as the RNC pumping money and negative
advertising into the state from now until November, people
should know that South Dakotans of all political orientations
strongly dislike out of state interference in their politics. 
I'm betting that the Republican efforts to oust Ms. Herseth
and Mr. Daschle will fail.  

[nolabels]

57. Dang, where did you get that typeface?

Looks like it came of clean from a manual typewriter.

Btw they have that phraseology in SD also too I see "I'm betting"