Senate Candidates Begin Campaign

Posted on Friday, January 4, 2008

U.S. Senate candidate Joel Dykstra kicks off his petition drive for the Republican nomination for the 2008 U.S. Senate election today.

Friends, elected officials and supporters of Dykstra will gather in Dykstra's hometown of Canton to show their support for his candidacy and to begin the process of gathering signatures and circulating nominating petitions for the Republican primary in June.

Dykstra has served in the State Legislature since 2002, and was elected Assistant House Majority Leader in 2004.

Meanwhile, Senator Tim Johnson is spending the early part of 2008 catching up with constituents.

The Democrat says his four grandkids kept him busy over the holiday and it's been fun, but he'll now start on another dimension of fun -- traveling around the state.

Johnson returns to his hometown of Vermillion today for a welcome home ceremony at Buffalo Run Winery.

Johnson's speech and mobility continue to improve since he suffered a brain hemorrhage in December 2006. He says he hasn't used his wheelchair since returning to the state just before Christmas -- opting instead for a quad cane to help him get around.