A significant shift is underway in North Dakota’s political landscape as an increasing number of Republican incumbents are bypassing the traditional party endorsement process to secure their spots on the primary ballot. This trend, once considered a political rarity, has become a strategic maneuver for candidates who prefer to appeal directly to the electorate via signature petitions rather than navigating the internal politics of party conventions.
Under state law, candidates can qualify for the ballot through two primary paths: receiving an official endorsement from their district or state party, or collecting a specific number of constituent signatures. For legislative candidates, this requires signatures from 1% of their district’s population. for statewide offices, the threshold is at least 2,000 signatures. Those who qualify via petition retain the right to choose which party designation appears next to their name on the ballot.
The move away from North Dakota Republican party endorsements is not merely a matter of convenience but reflects a deepening divide within the GOP. While the party brand remains dominant in statewide contests, the willingness of established incumbents to distance themselves from the official endorsement process suggests a growing friction between the party’s institutional wing and its grassroots activists.
A New Path to the Ballot
For decades, running against or ignoring a party endorsement was virtually unheard of in North Dakota politics. However, recent cycles have proven that the endorsement is no longer a prerequisite for victory. One of the most prominent examples occurred in 2016, when Doug Burgum sought the governorship. Despite finishing third in the party’s endorsement process, Burgum bypassed the party’s preferred candidate, then-Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, to win the June primary by 20 points.
This blueprint has since been adopted by others. Robert Harms, a former Republican Party chairman and analyst for former governors Ed Schafer and John Hoeven, noted that even high-profile figures like U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer previously ran for the U.S. House without seeking the party’s formal endorsement. The success of these candidates has signaled to other incumbents that the party’s seal of approval is an asset, but not a necessity.
The current cycle highlights this trend across various levels of government. In Grand Forks, incumbent state Rep. Eric Murphy is running in District 43 without his party’s endorsement, facing challengers Jill Chandler and Mike Holmes, both of whom secured the GOP nod. Similarly, a review of legislative endorsements released by Gov. Kelly Armstrong shows that of 18 listed candidates, 12 earned their primary spots through signatures—including five incumbents.
The Convention Standoff
The tension reached a peak during the North Dakota GOP State Convention in March, where every single Republican incumbent running for statewide or national office opted not to attend. This boycott marked a historic break in tradition, as the convention typically serves as the primary venue for party unity and candidate visibility.
| Incumbent Candidate | Office | Convention Status |
|---|---|---|
| Julie Fedorchak | U.S. Representative | Absent |
| Brian Kroshus | Tax Commissioner | Absent |
| Drew Wrigley | Attorney General | Absent |
| Michael Howe | Secretary of State | Absent |
| Doug Goehring | Agriculture Commissioner | Absent |
| Sheri Haugen-Hoffart | Public Service Commissioner | Absent |
| Jill Kringstad | Public Service Commissioner | Absent |
The reaction from the party’s voting members was swift and symbolic. In a narrow 318-312 vote, convention attendees moved to remove the Republican brand from those candidates who failed to appear. While the vote was a clear signal of frustration from the grassroots, multiple party leaders and incumbents have indicated that the action carries no legal weight and cannot actually strip a candidate of their party affiliation on the ballot.
The state party did issue endorsements for a few specific races, including Alex Balazs for the U.S. House seat—who is challenging Fedorchak in the primary—and Deven Styczynski for the Public Service Commission.
An Ideological Inflection Point
Political analysts suggest this fragmentation is the result of a growing ideological schism. Rob Port, a political columnist for Forum Communications, describes the divide as a clash between “traditional” Republicans and a “populist,” far-right wing of the party. This internal struggle has created an environment where some incumbents feel that seeking an endorsement from the party’s most active—and often most ideological—members could actually alienate the broader general electorate.
This instability is further complicated by what Harms describes as “gamesmanship” at the district level. He points to instances where candidates are blocked from endorsements through technicalities, such as unpaid dues or claims that the district chair was not given proper notice. Harms shared that he experienced this personally during his 2024 state Senate run when he was allegedly denied a copy of the party bylaws, which contained a seven-day notice requirement for endorsement eligibility.
In contrast, the Democratic-NPL Party appears to be experiencing a period of relative cohesion. The party has seen an increase in candidates and has maintained a more traditional endorsement process, with the state party issuing endorsements for three statewide offices and a letter of support for Tracy Foss, a candidate for superintendent of public instruction.
Legislative Friction and the Future
The chaos within the GOP has prompted several attempts to change the rules of ballot access entirely. Last year, three separate bills were introduced in the North Dakota Legislature to address the endorsement issue. Rep. Mike Nathe proposed eliminating endorsements entirely in favor of a signature-only system, while Rep. Ben Koppelman sought to mandate that candidates obtain a party endorsement to have that party’s name appear on the ballot. A third proposal by Sen. Chuck Walen would have barred any candidate without an endorsement from appearing in the primary.
All three bills failed to pass. The result is a status quo that allows candidates to effectively “opt out” of the party’s internal vetting process while still benefiting from the Republican label in a state where the GOP holds significant power. According to the North Dakota Secretary of State, these rules ensure a level of accessibility for candidates but leave the party structure vulnerable to these kinds of bypasses.
While the Republican brand remains potent in statewide races, the internal infighting may have consequences closer to home. Harms suggests that while statewide seats are likely safe, the friction between the populist wing and incumbents could lead to the loss of several seats in the state legislature.
The next critical checkpoint for these candidates will be the upcoming primary election, which will serve as the first definitive test of whether the party’s official endorsement or the candidates’ independent signature drives carry more weight with North Dakota voters.
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