One from GOP leaves House race

One of three Republicans competing to take on Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin has withdrawn from the race.

Piedmont Republican Thad Wasson said he is withdrawing because he feels state Rep. Blake Curd is the best candidate for the job.

Curd, a Sioux Falls surgeon, is competing for the Republican nomination against Secretary of State Chris Nelson.

“Dr. Curd brings a wealth of experience to this position,” Wasson said in a prepared statement. “He has served our nation honorably in the Air Force, he has run a successful business and met a payroll and understands the danger of government debt handed down to the next generation.”

In the statement, Curd thanked Wasson for the endorsement.

“I respect Thad’s courage to enter into the political arena, and I am also very thankful for his support. This is a clear indicator of the momentum our campaign is producing. South Dakotans are fed up with politics as usual and are ready for leadership in Washington that understands fiscal responsibility is more than just a talking point.”

A June primary will decide who gets the nomination.

When Curd and Nelson first announced their they were running, former state GOP chairman Joel Rosenthal said he thought the race, along with the gubernatorial primary, would draw the interest of voters and increase turnout for the primary.

“Both of these men are very serious candidates – very serious,” Rosenthal said.

More than 100 people attended a Nov. 3 debate featuring the three candidates in Sioux Falls.
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