Chris Nelson is the former Secretary of State of South Dakota

Secretary of State of South Dakota

The Secretary of State of South Dakota is an elected constitutional officer of the U.S. state of South Dakota.The current Secretary of State is Jason Gant.The Secretary of State's Office is composed of three divisions:...

. A Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, he was a candidate to become U.S. Representative from South Dakota's At-large congressional district

South Dakota's At-large congressional district

The South Dakota at-large congressional district covers the entire state of South Dakota. It was created in 1982, after South Dakota lost its 2nd District. From 1889 to 1913, it existed with two representatives elected statewide at-large....

 in 2010. Nelson lost to Kristi Noem

Kristi Noem

Kristi Lynn Arnold Noem is the U.S. Representative for , serving since January 2011. She is a member of the Republican Party and has been elected to the Republican Leadership for the 112th Congress as one of its two freshman representatives...

 in the Republican primary.

Nelson gained prominence as a key constitutional figure in any possible replacement of Democratic

Democratic Party (United States)

The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...

 U.S. Senator Tim Johnson, who suffered stroke

Stroke

A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...

-like bleeding in the brain caused by a congenital malformation known as arteriovenous malformation

Arteriovenous malformation

Arteriovenous malformation or AVM is an abnormal connection between veins and arteries, usually congenital. This pathology is widely known because of its occurrence in the central nervous system, but can appear in any location. An arteriovenous malformation is a vascular anomaly. It is a...

. If Johnson died or otherwise make the office "vacant" (the meaning of which is the subject of various interpretations by constitutional law experts), South Dakota law provides for the governor to name a replacement. Current Governor of South Dakota

Governor of South Dakota

The Governor of South Dakota is the head of the executive branch of the government of South Dakota. They are elected to a four year term on even years when there is no Presidential election. The current governor is Dennis Daugaard, a Republican elected in 2010....

 Mike Rounds

Mike Rounds

Marion Michael "Mike" Rounds is an American politician. Rounds served as the 31st Governor of South Dakota. Rounds was first inaugurated on January 7, 2003, having been elected on November 5, 2002, and was re-elected on November 7, 2006...

 is Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

. 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.

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