Piepkorn, Hart, Christiansen, Hammer get Democratic-NPL endorsements
Published by KFYRTV | April 7, 2024
FARGO, N.D. (KMOT/KFYR) - While the GOP’s convention ended with a room split over the U.S. House endorsement, the Democratic-NPLs endorsements were a bit more predictable.
State Democrats endorsed Katrina Christiansen to challenge Kevin Cramer for the U.S. Senate.
Two years ago the Jamestown professor unsuccessfully challenged Sen. John Hoeven for his seat.
“I’m running to win. I’m gonna win in November and go to Washington, D.C. to represent all North Dakotans,” said Christiansen. “We’re really focused on fighting for each other, not with each other. And so, those themes, those messages that tie us together, are the ones that we’re talking about. The things that divide us, they don’t really help us.”
Marine veteran Trygve Hammer earned the party’s endorsement for the House. Hammer has also sought statewide office before, running unsuccessfully for a spot on the Public Service Commission in 2022.
“We’re defeating the image of the stereotypical Democrat here in North Dakota. I’m a Veteran. I’m a working guy, been boots on the ground and the oilfield, boots on the ground in Iraq, and I worked as a freight rail conductor, said Hammer.
As for the governorship, state Democrats are looking for a state lawmaker. Merrill Piepkorn, who has represented District 44 in the State Senate since 2016 says his team is ready to hit the campaign trail.
“What we need to do is go out and connect personally with as many people as we can. You’ve got 30-second television ads, you’ve got some yard signs, you’ve got some billboards. But I’m going to be putting on a lot of miles, trying to meet as many North Dakotans where they are,” said Piepkorn.
The party also endorsed Patrick Hart as Lieutenant Governor, setting up a Piepkorn-Hart ticket for the Democrats on the June 11 primary ballot.
The Democrats have some work to do if they want to move the needle in a state as red as North Dakota.
In 2022 no Democrat reached 30% of the vote in the statewide races.
Cara Mund received just under 38 percent of the vote as an independent challenging Kelly Armstrong in the U.S. House race.
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