BISMARCK, N.D. — The lone congressman from North Dakota is vying for the position of governor in a state known for its strong Republican leadership that has persisted for nearly thirty years.
U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong is set to compete against Democratic state Senator Merrill Piepkorn and independent candidate Michael Coachman in the upcoming general election this Tuesday.
Armstrong emerged victorious in a Republican primary held in June, defeating Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller. The winner of the Republican primary typically has a significant advantage in the November elections due to the Republican majority in the state. Since 1992, the governor’s seat has consistently been held by members of the Republican Party, and the last time a Democrat won a statewide office in North Dakota was in 2012, with Heidi Heitkamp’s Senate victory.
At 48, Armstrong has a background that includes six years in the state Senate until 2018, when he won his first of three elections for North Dakota’s sole U.S. House seat, including a recent campaign against former Miss America 2018, Cara Mund. As an attorney, he has also held roles as a state senator and chairman of the state GOP. His investments include ventures within the oil and gas sectors, specifically in a family-owned enterprise. Should he be elected governor, he would join the three-member state Industrial Commission, overseeing various energy operations within the state.
During his tenure in Congress, Armstrong has publicly supported former President Donald Trump during two attempts at impeachment, endorsed federal protections for same-sex and interracial marriage, and was included in a proposal by former House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy for a panel to investigate the January 6 Capitol attack, though McCarthy later refrained from appointing panel members.
Armstrong also did not back efforts to dispute the 2020 presidential election results.
If he attains the governorship, Armstrong has stated that he would resign his House position a few weeks prior, allowing him to start as governor on December 15. This move would further narrow the Republicans’ already slender majority in the House during the concluding weeks of the current Congressional session.
Should he win, Armstrong would return to the state Capitol, collaborating with many familiar lawmakers. While Republicans hold dominance in the legislature, recent divisions within the party have created tensions.
Merrill Piepkorn, 75, has represented a Fargo district in the state Senate since 2016 and is part of a diminishing Democratic caucus, which holds four out of 47 seats. He presides over a company involved in television, film, and radio production, along with live event production. Piepkorn’s current Senate term ends this year.
Michael Coachman, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is known for his regular candidacy for various offices.
The eventual victor will take office on December 15, replacing two-term Republican Governor Doug Burgum, who opted not to pursue a third term. Burgum, a successful software entrepreneur, was considered as a potential vice presidential candidate for Trump but ultimately lost out to U.S. Senator JD Vance of Ohio.
Recent governors of North Dakota have typically hailed from business and banking backgrounds, and if successful, Armstrong would be the first congressional member in over five decades to ascend to the role of governor.
North Dakota’s financial situation is robust, with healthy revenues and reserve levels. As of September, the state boasted a low unemployment rate of 2.3%, ranking just behind South Dakota and Vermont, according to U.S. labor statistics.
Nevertheless, the new governor, along with state legislators, may encounter challenging issues once the biennial legislative session kicks off.
On the ballot, voters will determine the fate of a proposal aimed at eliminating the existing property tax. Additionally, legislators may need to address a judge’s ruling that invalidated the state’s abortion ban. Labor shortages and pressing needs for child care remain critical topics.
North Dakota’s incoming governor will be the first to operate under the new term limits approved by voters in 2022, which restrict governors to two terms, although Burgum could have sought reelection. Republican dominance in the legislature is expected to continue, with hot-button topics such as gender identity, book bans, tax reductions, workforce demands, and electronic gambling taking precedence in the 2023 legislative session.