After 24 years in the wilderness, North Dakota Republican Chairman Gary Emineth believes his party will finally succeed in sending representation to Washington in 2010.

The surprise announcement by third-term Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) that he will not seek re-election in 2010 greatly improves GOP prospects for taking the seat, though Emineth stressed that it doesn’t change much on the Republican side.

Gov. John Hoeven (R) “has been preparing to get into the race,” Emineth said, and though the chairman has not spoken with him since Dorgan’s decision was disclosed Tuesday evening, he said his expectation continues to be that “we will see Governor Hoeven in the race.”

“This just kinds of accelerates some things,” he said, adding that he expects to see an announcement in the next few weeks.