Former Lt. Gov. Steve Kirby (R) told The Associated Press last week that he is strongly considering running for Senate this year.

A telephone message left for Kirby on Monday was not returned. Kirby currently is working at Bluestem, a Sioux Falls-based capital investment firm he co-founded.

His entry into the race would provide the Republicans with the high-profile candidate they’ve been looking for to challenge Sen. Tim Johnson (D), who is favored to beat whichever of the current Republican candidates emerges from the June 3 primary.

Kirby is wealthy and would be able to spend a considerable amount of his own money on a campaign, if he chose to.

Currently running the GOP primary are state Rep. Joel Dykstra and businessman Sam Kephart.
— David M. Drucker.