David Natvig's entry into South Dakota Attorney General race signals what's next for Jason Ravnsborg

A late entry into the race for the Republican Party's nomination for South Dakota attorney general signals Jason Ravnsborg will not seek re-election.

Division of Criminal Investigation Director David Natvig, tapped to lead the state detective agency in 2018 by then Attorney General-elect Ravnsborg, has formally announced his intention to seek his boss' job.

"I'm a proven leader, I'm tough on crime, I'm not a politician and I will work tirelessly to make the office of the South Dakota Attorney General the best there is," the Kimball native said in a campaign video posted to Facebook on Tuesday morning.

In it, Natvig, 56, touts his time in the armed forces that preceded his 16-year tenure as Brule County States Attorney. He began his role as DCI director in January 2019, and will formally seek the party's nomination for attorney general at the Republic Party Convention next month in Watertown.

He made no mention of Ravnsborg, the embattled attorney general who next month faces an impeachment trial in the South Dakota Senate stemming from a 2020 fatal crash in which he struck and killed a pedestrian.

Previously:DCI director testifies in impeachment probe into Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg

A conviction in the Senate trial would force him from the office. Senators will also decide whether he should be permanently disqualified from seeking public office in South Dakota.

Ravnsborg hasn't stated election plans

Ravnsborg, who remains eligible to seek a second term, hasn't said publicly if he intends to seek re-election, but as recently as this winter, he'd been working convention delegates behind the scene.

Until now, former Attorney General Marty Jackley has been the only declared candidate in the race.

Neither Natvig nor Ravnsborg, seen as political allies, responded to requests for comment.

More: Jason Ravnsborg's defense team pushes for more time at attorney general's impeachment trial

Jackley, who announced his candidacy for attorney general in March 2021, issued a statement noted his 10 years of previous service as attorney general and three years as U.S. attorney for South Dakota.

"I remain committed to running a campaign on experience and my proven record as South Dakota's attorney general and U.S. attorney," the 51-year-old Sturgis native said. "I have been traveling the state talking to delegates, and I will continue to work hard to earn their support."

Since leaving office in 2019, Jackley has served as Haakon County state's attorney, as well as doing some private practice work. He's the lead attorney for South Dakota philanthropist and banking mogul T. Denny Sanford, who's the subject of an open child pornography investigation.

More: Political intrigue swirls around AG election in South Dakota after Jason Ravnsborg's impeachment

While Jackley said he would wall himself off from any cases he's involved with that also involve the attorney general's office, that connection has some GOP delegates hesitant to support Jackley at convention, a reality that Natvig will look to capitalize on.

"If we have the evidence and we have the case, I don't care who you are, we are coming after you, and we will win," Natvig said.

The South Dakota Republican Party State Convention is June 23-25 at the Watertown Event Center.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: David Natvig's AG race entry signals what's next for Jason Ravnsborg