Hedger decides against run for Dorgan's North Dakota U.S. Senate seat

Another prospective Democratic candidate for North Dakota’s U.S. Senate race will not seek the party’s nomination, she announced Monday.

Kristin Hedger said the decision to not run came down to her current responsibilities as vice president of Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing, a western North Dakota company owned by her family.

“It was a very difficult decision, and I was honored to have had such good support from a number of North Dakotans,” she said. “I just came to the conclusion that the timing simply is not right.”

The news came less than a week after former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp announced she would not seek the nomination of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party.

For the past two months, Hedger had considered a challenge to Gov. John Hoeven, the presumed Republican nominee, in the November election to claim the spot Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., has held since 1992.

Hedger unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Secretary of State Al Jaeger in the 2006 election and was a former aide to Dorgan.

Dorgan announced in early January that he would not seek re-election. State Sen. Tracy Potter, D-Bismarck, is the only Democrat to announce intentions to seek the party’s nomination this year in the Senate race.

State Democrats will officially nominate their candidates during the March 25-28 convention in Fargo.

Political future

Hedger, 29, said she had strongly considered a run for Senate but decided over the weekend to not seek the nomination because she first wants to get KMM well-prepared for her potential departure.

“I have a real heartfelt and genuine commitment to making sure that KMM can realize all of the opportunities that we have on our horizon,” Hedger said, adding that there are contract possibilities for the company that will take at least a couple of years to pursue.

For now, Hedger said she wants to have a positive role in the state’s private sector and work to partner private businesses with state universities in order to better prepare young people for the future.

She also said she will work to bring “solid, solution-orientated ideas” to the forefront during the campaign season this year.

“I still want to be active in supporting particularly the new and up-and-coming leaders like Corey Mock,” Hedger said. Mock serves as a Grand Forks state representative and is the only Democrat to seek the party nomination for the Secretary of State race against incumbent Republican Jaeger.

But a future run for a political position isn’t out of the question, Hedger said, perhaps as early as 2012.

“I would not rule that out,” she said. “I would be very interested. … 2012 does look at this juncture to be a much more favorable timeline.”

When asked about a 2012 run for governor, Hedger said that could be a good office to help the state take advantage of its “tremendous opportunities in the global marketplace.”

“I think that’s an office that could bring about great progress for our state,” she said. “I’m very passionate about diversifying our economy and working to create new jobs. … That’s certainly an office that could make great strides toward that end.”

Hedger said the exact timing or office of her next political move remains up in the air, but there’s a good chance state residents will see her name on a ballot sometime in the near future.

“I just have a real, genuine love for this state,” Hedger said. “I value taking on challenges and would be honored to serve North Dakotans.”

Tags: daily updates, kristin hedger, senate, politics