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years also operated a hunting lodge and restaurant before being elected to the South Dakota House of Representatives for two terms in 2007-2010, serving as assistant leader of the Republican majority for the last two years.
• Noem drew national attention in the Republican surge of 2010, when she defeated Democratic Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, a rising star in the Democratic Party at the time.
• "My experiences running businesses and raising my family here in the state have told me that the people need a representative in Washington, D.C., that knows how they feel in their everyday life," Noem told The Associated Press.
• Varilek grew up in Tabor and Yankton before getting a bachelor's degree from Carleton College in Minnesota and master's degrees in economic development from Scotland's University of Glasgow in 1999 and Cambridge University in England in 2002. He worked as an analyst for an energy commodities brokerage and later worked briefly for Democratic Sens. Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota before joining Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson's staff in 2005.
• These are credentials the state GOP attacked in an anti-Varilek campaign video that went viral -- largely because some viewed it as strangely anti-education and, in fact, a better ad for Varilek than for Noem.
• Living in Sioux Falls with his wife and two young daughters, Varilek was Johnson's economic development director from 2007 until he entered the House race in 2011.
• "I have had to work hard my whole life like most South Dakotans have. I commit to the people of South Dakota that I will work my tail off for them in the U.S. Congress," Varilek told The Associated Press.
• Varilek frequently criticized Noem for missing many meetings of the House Agriculture Committee and other panels.
• "South Dakotans of all political backgrounds understand you've got to show up to earn your salary. She hasn't been showing up," Varilek said.
• Noem countered that she serves on many committees that often meet at the same time. She said she's had 800 meetings with constituents and has a 99 percent voting record in committees.
• "I wake up every day and decide which committee I need to go to that is in the best interests of South Dakota," she told the AP.
• The Republican congresswoman accused Varilek of following President Barack Obama on taxes, Medicare and other issues.
• Noem opposes raising tax rates, particularly in a shaky economy, but supports closing loopholes and exemptions to raise more federal revenue. Varilek favors raising taxes on families earning more than $250,000, a move he said would cut the

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