When Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan announced last week that he would not seek re-election in November, this race went from being a sure bet for Democrats to perhaps their most vulnerable Senate seat. Whether the race would just lean in Republicans’ favor or become as close to a sure bet as open seats can get would depend on whether Republican Gov. John Hoeven decided to run. Hoeven announced his candidacy on Monday, which has prompted us to move the race from the Lean Republican column to the Solid Republican column.
Democrats are recruiting challengers to the popular Governor, who is in his third term, but no one has announced yet and Hoeven’s candidacy will certainly give pause to those considering the race. Former Attorney General and 2000 gubernatorial nominee Heidi Heitkamp has told supporters that she is thinking about running, but indicated that a decision is a long way off. She also noted that the thought of spending six years in Washington “gives me great pause.” Her brother, Joel Heitkamp, a radio talk show host and a former state Senator,
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