Chris Nelson

All you want to know about Chris Nelson

For the Pro Wrestler, see Chris Nelson (wrestler).

Chris Nelson is the Secretary of State of South Dakota.

Role in Possible Replacement of U.S. Senator Tim Johnson

Nelson has gained prominence as a key constitutional figure in any possible replacement of Democratic U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, who suffered stroke-like bleeding in the brain caused by a congenital malformation known as arteriovenous malformation.^[1]

Should Johnson die or otherwise make the office "vacant" (the meaning of which is the subject of various interpretations by constitutional law experts^[2]), South Dakota law provides for the governor to name a replacement. Current South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds is Republican. Given the slim 51-49 majority to be held in the U.S. Senate by Democrats in the 110th Congress, the selection of a replacement could change the balance of power.

Nelson has told the press that there are no special restrictions on an appointment by the governor and a replacement would not have to be from the same political party.^[3]

References

External links

Biography

State Secretaries of State in the United States

AL: Beth Chapman
AK: No such office
AR: Charlie Daniels
AZ: Jan Brewer
CA: Debra Bowen
CO: Bernie Buescher
CT: Susan Bysiewicz
DE: Harriet Smith Windsor
FL: Kurt S. Browning
GA: Karen Handel

HI: No such office
ID: Ben Ysursa
IL: Jesse White
IN: Todd Rokita
IA: Michael Mauro
KS: Ron Thornburgh
KY: Trey Grayson
LA: Jay Dardenne
MD: Dennis Schnepfe
MA: Bill Galvin

ME: Matthew Dunlap
MI: Terri Lynn Land
MN: Mark Ritchie
MS: Delbert Hosemann
MO: Robin Carnahan
MT: Brad Johnson
NE: John Gale
NV: Ross Miller
NH: Bill Gardner
NJ: Nina Mitchell Wells

NM: Mary Herrera
NY: Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
NC: Elaine Marshall
ND: Al Jaeger
OH: Jennifer Brunner
OK: M. Susan Savage
OR: Bill Bradbury
PA: Pedro A. Cortés
RI: Ralph Mollis
SC: Mark Hammond

SD: Chris Nelson
TN: Riley Darnell
TX: Esperanza Andrade
UT: No such office
VT: Deborah Markowitz
VA: Katherine Hanley
WA: Sam Reed
WV: Natalie Tennant
WI: Doug LaFollette
WY: Max Maxfield

*In states without a Secretary of State, the Lt. Governor may perform some of the typical functions of a Secretary of State, but the offices are not the same.

v • d • e Current elected statewide political officials of South Dakota

U.S. Senators	Tim Johnson (D) · John Thune (R)

U.S. Representatives	Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D), Representative At-Large

State government	Mike Rounds (R), Governor · Dennis Daugaard (R), Lieutenant Governor · Chris Nelson, Secretary of State · Larry Long, Attorney General · Rich Sattgast, State Auditor · Vernon Larson, State Treasurer

Senate	Bob Gray (R), President pro tempore · David Knudson (R), Majority Leader · Scott Heidepriem, Minority Leader

House	Thomas Deadrick, Speaker · Tim Rave, Speaker pro tempore · Larry Rhoden, Majority Leader · Dale Hargens, Minority Leader

Supreme Court (appointed)	David Gilbertson, Chief Justice · Richard W. Sabers · John K. Konenkamp · Steven L. Zinter · Judith Meierhenry