Stephanie Herseth Sandlin's announcement that she will seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives suddenly turns the race for governor into a wide-open contest. And we should know soon whether a Sioux Falls lawmaker will seek the Democratic nomination now that Herseth Sandlin has ruled out a run for governor.

We caught up with Scott Heidepriem, who's in Colorado on business this week. Although he hasn't officially announced he'll toss his hat into the governor's race, Heidepriem is sounding every bit the candidate.

Herseth Sandlin's decision to run for re-election leaves a void in the governor's race that at least one of her fellow Democrats is considering filling.

"I think there was a consensus that she would have been the strongest candidate that could have been fielded, but by no means the only successful one,"  Heidepriem said.

Heidepriem says Herseth Sandlin's decision to remain in Congress opens a political opportunity for him. He plans a formal announcement soon about whether he'll run for governor.

"I don't know if it's going to be next week or not, but it's going to be very soon. I just need to get back in town and focus on a few things that are important to the campaign and get ready," Heidepriem said.

Heidepriem thinks Democrats have a good chance at capturing the governor's office next year, something they haven't done in forty years.

"I think the people of South Dakota want to see a balance in Pierre and there hasn't been a balance for some time. I don't think people really like monopolies that much in politics, in sports, or in business," Heidepriem said.

Heidepriem says Herseth Sandlin's announcement should give Democrats plenty of lead time to raise funds and launch a successful campaign for governor in 2010.

Heidepriem says he knows Herseth Sandlin's decision was a very difficult one for her to make, and that it was based on putting South Dakota interests first.