After announcing his candidacy to be the next chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party last month, Canton lawmaker Kevin Jensen is withdrawing from the race.

However, his departure from the contest Monday comes with an endorsement of former Belle Fourche lawmaker Thomas Brunner, who formally declared his intention to seek the chairmanship during the GOP State Central Committee elections next weekend.

Brunner, 64, told The Dakota Scout in a phone interview that he does not believe any member of the Legislature or state government should hold the reins of the state Republican Party, which Jensen also reasoned in his withdrawal announcement.

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