North Dakota US Senator Dorgan to retire

[dbackjon]

North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan says he will not seek re-election to the United States Senate in 2010. In a statement late this afternoon, Dorgan says he's leaving to pursue other interests. He says he'd like to do some teaching and work on energy policy in the private sector.

Read his statement at http://dorgan.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=321298

[dbackjon]

He will be sorely missed - one of the good guys in the Senate, fighting Big Pharma and other corporatists

[Ivytalk]

He saw the handwriting on the wall. He would've lost badly this fall. DONK DUSTBITER #1!

[dbackjon]

He saw the handwriting on the wall. He would've lost badly this fall. DONK DUSTBITER #1!

Nah, pissed off at RahmObama

[Ivytalk]

He saw the handwriting on the wall. He would've lost badly this fall. DONK DUSTBITER #1!

Nah, pissed off at RahmObama

His constituents sure were!

[HI54UNI]

He was a D in a red state. Recent polls had him losing by 30 points to the current governor. Between health care and cap and trade he was in a tough spot - loyalty to his party vs. his constituents. Unfortunately he and Ben Nelson chose their party first.

He'll be all right though. He'll cash in big time as an energy lobbyist.

[Hansel]

Both senators and the house rep have been donks in ND since around '86. This might change next year

[dbackjon]

Both senators and the house rep have been donks in ND since around '86. This might change next year

Well, Conrad will still be around. Pomeroy will still be tough. Long time to November.

[Baldy]

Another rat jumping off the sinking ship....

Tons more to come.

[FargoBison]

He had no chance against Hoeven, not many would considering he is a very popular Gov. that has ND running a billion dollar surplus.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

hoeven still hadn't decided on the race from near as i could tell...

if pomeroy gets in for the dems could be a hold for the dems.

hoeven's big problem is his wife doesn't want to go to dc... the rnc's been leaning on him forever to run

heidi heitkamp may also be a dem contender - she pushed hoeven to the brink in 2000 and can still raise a ton of money (by nd standards)

nd isn't as red as you might think there is a pretty serious economic liberal bent to the state

[FargoBison]

I think Pomeroy only runs if Hoeven decides against it.

I do realize that ND doesn't bleed red, the state does have some liberal tendencies.

I think Hoeven might realize that the time is finally right and I doubt calls for him to run have ever been louder at the state and national level.

If he doesn't run things will be interesting though, the republicans have struggled in finding compelling candidates.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

pomeroy passed - heitkamp will likely run for the dems - hoeven needs to shit or get off the damn pot for the gopers... there is a surprising lack of bench depth for nodak gopers

[Gil Dobie]

North Dakota isn't as conservative as people think due to their proximity to the People's Republic of Minnesota. North Dakota is more middle of the road, common sense politically, whether the policy is liberal or conservative. Many of the Minnesota Republican's would be Democrats in most states, aka Norm Coleman. An yes, they are all politicans and all crooked.

[native]

North Dakota isn't as conservative as people think due to their proximity to the People's Republic of Minnesota. North Dakota is more middle of the road, common sense politically, whether the policy is liberal or conservative. Many of the Minnesota Republican's would be Democrats in most states, aka Norm Coleman. An yes, they are all politicans and all crooked.

Is it that DFL bullshat?

[FargoBison]

Hoeven will run....

Hoeven plans Senate run, GOP official says

BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven will run for the U.S. Senate and will officially announce his candidacy tonight.

A top state Republican official told The Forum and The Associated Press that the governor will enter the race to succeed incumbent Democrat Byron Dorgan.

The official declined to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the governor's plans.

Hoeven is scheduled to speak to a meeting of Bismarck Republicans Monday night.

The 52-year-old Hoeven is in the middle of his third term, which he won in 2008 with more than 70 percent of the vote.

Republicans will formally endorse their Senate candidate at their state party convention in March.

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/265488/