• SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- Republican State Rep. Stace Nelson wasn't afraid to ruffle feathers during his four years in the state House, often opposing his own party leaders.
• The former U.S. Marine now wants to take that determination to Washington to get Congress committed to cutting spending and reining in the federal government.
• "The young Marine in me relished the battle of doing the right thing," Nelson said. "The old broken down Marine in me understood that was going to be a long fight. The thing I regret is I wish I would have accepted the responsibility to run sooner."
• Nelson, 46, is one of five Republicans seeking the party's nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson.
• Also seeking the GOP nomination for the June 3 primary are former Gov. Mike Rounds, Yankton attorney and Army Reserves Maj. Jason Ravnsborg, state Sen. Larry Rhoden of Union Center and Sioux Falls physician Annette Bosworth.
• Rounds is considered the front-runner for the seat, which provides a prime pickup opportunity for Republicans needing a net gain of six seats to takeover majority control of the U.S. Senate.
• A semi-retired hobby farmer, Nelson served in the U.S. Marines in 1985-1999 and was a special agent in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in 1999-2008. He said his military background helps guide his world affairs views.
• Nelson said he wants Congress to reassert itself as the authority on war powers, and he wants foreign military aid eliminated from the national defense budget. The U.S. should also be very selective in where it sends troops, he said.
• "The only way I would vote to allow this country to engage in hostile actions across this world was if it immediately affected our national defense interests," Nelson said.
• But Nelson's real motivation in jumping in the race is to push back against what he calls out-of-control spending adding to the national debt. Congress should look at

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