5 takeaways from North Dakota’s political conventions

Published by North Dakota Monitor | April 8, 2024

Democratic-NPL candidates Trygve Hammer, left, and Katrina Christiansen listen to speakers at the party’s convention in Fargo on April 5, 2024. Hammer is running for U.S. House; Christiansen for U.S. Senate. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

The North Dakota Republican Party concluded its endorsing convention late Saturday, but the results don’t narrow down any of the contested primary races.

Meanwhile, the Democratic-NPL Party endorsed several candidates but did not identify contenders for all statewide races.

Here are the top five takeaways from the NDGOP and Democratic-NPL conventions held in Fargo.

Superintendent of public instruction 

NDGOP delegates voted 967 to 426 to support homeschool proponent Jim Bartlett for superintendent of public instruction over incumbent Kirsten Baesler. Bartlett advocates for putting the 10 Commandments in public schools and accused Baesler of enabling a “leftist” agenda. Bartlett, of Bottineau, taught engineering at North Dakota State University and is former executive director of the North Dakota Homeschool Association.

Baesler has led the state’s K-12 public education system since 2012 and has received support from the Republican Party before. The position is nonpartisan but candidates can seek a letter of support from a party.

In a statement after the vote, Baesler called the convention process “flawed” and said she’s confident her record will take her through the June primary to the November election.

Others who have submitted signatures to run for superintendent of public instruction in the June 11 primary are Darko Draganic, a former administrator for the University of Mary and United Tribes Technical College, and former state Sen. Jason Heitkamp, R-Wahpeton. They did not seek the party’s support at the convention.

The candidate filing deadline is Monday, April 8. The top two vote-getters in the primary will advance to the November general election. 

U.S. House 

Republican delegates endorsed political newcomer Alex Balazs of Cando for U.S. House after Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak withdrew from consideration.

Former state lawmaker Rick Becker also is running for House but was not eligible to seek the NDGOP endorsement because he ran as an independent against Sen. John Hoeven in 2022.

Becker said his supporters felt “disenfranchised” and he encouraged them to write in his name, which “spoiled” the ballots under party rules. In the first vote, more than 380 votes were spoiled and no one received the endorsement.

After Becker encouraged supporters to “try and unify,” delegates conducted a second vote with Balazs edging out Fedorchak 605-599 but falling short of the 608 votes needed to win. Fedorchak announced she would withdraw and Party Chair Sandi Sanford declared Balazs the winner.

Balazs, a military veteran and former employee of the State Department, received loud applause from the crowd during speeches for his nomination. Balazs, Fedorchak and Becker will compete in the June primary.

The winner will face military veteran Trygve Hammer of Minot, who was endorsed by Democrats Saturday.

Governor

Republicans endorsed U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong to be North Dakota’s next governor, succeeding Gov. Doug Burgum. Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller also plans to run in the June primary but did not seek the party’s endorsement. 

Armstrong did not name Miller in his speech to delegates, but said he would be the most “accessible, transparent and authentic” candidate. Miller, who has positioned herself as a political outsider, spent the weekend campaigning in Oakes and Steele.

Delegates also endorsed Armstrong’s running mate, state Rep. Michelle Strinden, R-Fargo.

Last week, Miller announced her running mate, Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen. Miller and Teigen are first-time political candidates.

The Democratic-NPL Party, meanwhile, endorsed state Sen. Merrill Piepkorn of Fargo to run for governor. Delegates also endorsed lieutenant governor candidate Patrick Hart, a former party chair who ran for state auditor in 2020, losing to Republican Josh Gallion.

Other statewide races

Republican Kevin Cramer is seeking another term in the U.S. Senate and received the party’s endorsement Saturday. The Democratic-NPL Party endorsed Katrina Christiansen, who ran against Hoeven two years ago, to challenge Cramer in November.

Republican Josh Gallion, who played a video endorsement from Donald Trump, received his party’s support to run for a third term as state auditor. Democrats endorsed Grand Forks attorney Tim Lamb to challenge him in November.

NDGOP delegates endorsed Public Service Commission Chair Randy Christmann for another term. The Democratic-NPL Party endorsed Tracey Wilkie of Fargo to challenge him in November.

Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread and State Treasurer Thomas Beadle, both Republicans, received their party’s endorsement Friday. The Democrats did not endorse candidates for those offices.

Resolutions

Democrats debated adopting a resolution that would have supported an Israeli military pullout from Gaza and a two-state solution for peace between Palestinians and Israel. A vote to add the resolution was defeated after delegates raised concerns that it could divide the party.

The Democratic-NPL Party included in its platform opposition “to the collection and storage of carbon and other waste products in our state.” The platform also supports abortion access and calls for creating a more humane and efficient immigration system.

The NDGOP had 15 proposed resolutions to consider, including an anti-abortion resolution that calls for criminal penalties for “anyone who kills a pre-born human.” The North Dakota Catholic Conference and other anti-abortion groups signed letters distributed at the convention urging delegates to vote no to criminalizing women for getting abortions. 

Delegates also received flyers from the Lignite Energy Council urging them to support the state’s coal industry by voting no to a resolution that condemns the use of eminent domain for CO2 pipelines. 

Delegates did not debate the resolutions, but had the opportunity to vote on each one individually through a ballot. Votes were submitted late Saturday and results are anticipated on Monday.