The return of Lora Hubbel?
Most people thought that her June 5 primary defeat to Sen. Den Peters meant that Lora Hubbel's legislative career was done for at least the next two years.
That may have been premature.
Hubbel, who was redistricted out of her old District 11 into Peters' District 9, told me she's considering moving back into her old district to pursue the open senate seat vacated by Todd Schlekeway.
She's not certain this is something she wants to do, admitting that aside from the expense it could be perceived as carpetbagging or "crashing someone else's party" so soon after losing her primary. On the other hand, Hubbel said, moving back into the old district could be seen as a rebuke to the redistricting process that moved her away from her old constituents.
Of course, Hubbel would need to be chosen as the nominee, and there's no guarantee of that. She's obviously got some enemies among the establishment types, having made herself an outspoken critic of Gov. Dennis Daugaard's administration over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. And I'm told that some people in the activist wing of the South Dakota GOP aren't sure Hubbel is the best messenger for their cause, either -- as much as they share the same position on PPACA and intra-party enemies.
A few other current and former legislators are in the mix for the Schlekeway seat: outgoing Rep. Mark Willadsen, who also lost in the June primary, and ex-Rep. Keri Weems.
