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South Dakota Rep. Kristi Noem to Run for Governor in 2018

Republican congresswoman will not seek re-election to the House

South Dakota GOP Rep. Kristi Noem is not seeking re-election to the House in 2018 and will instead will run for governor. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
South Dakota GOP Rep. Kristi Noem is not seeking re-election to the House in 2018 and will instead will run for governor. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

South Dakota Republican Rep. Kristi Noem announced Monday that she will run for governor in 2018 instead of seeking re-election to the House, according to the Argus Leader

Noem’s decision opens up the state’s at-large congressional seat, which she has held since 2011. She was elected to a fourth term last week by an overwhelming 28-point margin. 

“Today, I’m asking for your support to serve as the next governor of our great state,” Noem said in a video message. “Our future depends on our ability to honestly evaluate where we are today and to make the tough choices necessary to create new opportunities for families and small businesses.”

Noem said her campaign won’t kick off officially until next year but noted, “I’m all in.”

Although she’s not running for re-election to the House, Noem said she looks forward to working with President-elect Donald Trump on priorities such as overhauling the tax code, repealing and replacing the 2010 health care law and enacting a new farm bill.

“I’m excited about the progress that we can make over the next two years,” she said. “But I still believe in the spirit of citizen legislators whose temporary service helped found our nation. I ran for Congress in that spirit. I plan to work hard to push conservative solutions and to make a difference, not make a career out of Congress.”

In pitching her run for governor, Noem said, “We could use some fresh ideas from someone who’s had to hustle to make a dollar and pinch a penny to make it last. That’s been my experience my whole life as a farmer, a rancher and a small business owner.”

South Dakota’s incumbent GOP Gov. Dennis Daugaard is term-limited.

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