Sen. Heitkamp Bows Out of ND Governor Race

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota’s Democratic freshman senator, says she will not run for governor.

Heitkamp announced her decision on her brother Joel’s show on KFGO.

In a statement, she says quote “I have a job that I love and that the people of North Dakota entrusted to me for a full six years”.

The 59 year old Heitkamp is in the middle of her first senate term which ends in 2019.

She made an unsuccessful run for governor against John Hoeven in 2000.

They now serve alongside each other in the senate.

Republican Governor Jack Dalrymple announced earlier that he will not seek re-election in 2016.