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Welcome to the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Insider, a newsletter that features regular updates about upcoming Dem-NPL events, legislative happenings, and news that affects North Dakotans!
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Did you know the DNC hosts a morning news show called the Daily Blueprint that is livestreamed on YouTube weekdays at 9 AM CDT? You can watch it live or later on the DNC’s YouTube channel here.
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State Convention is coming!
This year's convention theme is "Unite For Our Future" - a call to action grounded in shared democratic values and collective responsibility.
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At a moment when division threatens progress, we come together - across generations, communities, and regions - to reaffirm that democracy works best when everyone has a voice and a stake in what comes next. This convention is about leadership rooted in hope, action over cynicism, and unity as the engine of lasting change. Together, we are not just defending democracy - we are building a future worthy of the next generation.
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Take the Ethics Commission Public Priorities Survey!
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The North Dakota Ethics Commission is asking citizens to complete a public priorities survey. The purpose is to assist the Commission with its strategic planning and to ensure the Commission's work reflects the values, concerns, and expectations of the people it serves. Public input helps the Commission understand which ethics issues matter most to North Dakotans, guiding decisions about education, rulemaking, and oversight priorities. By participating, citizens help promote transparency, accountability, and trust in state government.
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Finally Friday Social!
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Fri, Feb 6, 2026 6:00 PM CST
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Every Friday, come celebrate the start of the weekend with the Souris Valley Dem-NPL!
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District 15 Democratic-NPL Convention
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Saturday, February 7, 2026, 10:00 AM CST
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Community Rm, Lake Region Public Library
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423 7th St NE, Devils Lake
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Come to the District 15 Democratic-NPL Convention!
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Cass County Dem-NPL District Conventions
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Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 10 AM CST
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Districts 10, 11, 13, 16, 21, 22, 27, 41, 44, 45, 46 - Districts 11, 13, 21, 27, 41, and 45 will be able to nominate a full slate of legislative candidates.
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All Districts will be able to elect delegates to the Democratic-NPL State Convention.
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Bismarck Mandan Dem-NPL District Conventions
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Saturday, Feb 7, 2026 1:00 PM CST
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Horizon Middle School
500 Ash Coulee Dr, Bismarck
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Districts 7, 8, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 47 - Districts 7, 31, 33, 35, and 47 will be able to nominate a full slate of legislative candidates.
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All Districts will be able to elect delegates to the Democratic-NPL State Convention.
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2026 Sweetheart Gala
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February 7, 2026, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. CST
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8921 Highway 10, Bismarck
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Enjoy an evening with like-minded fellow Bismarck/Mandan Dem-NPL friends! Your ticket purchase and participation in the games and auction support the Coordinated Campaign for Bismarck-Mandan legislative candidates!
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Saturday, February 7
5-8:30 PM
Apple Creek Country Club
8921 County Road 10 (east of Bismarck)
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• 5:00 Registration and Social
• 5:30 Buffet (ham, potatoes, vegetables)
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Throughout the evening there will be games, a silent auction, entertainment, and the chance to hear from some of our candidates. A cash bar will be available. Silent auction prizes include a Studio Portrait Session with photographer Shane Balkowitsch renowned for his wet plate photography, an exclusive group “Wine and Art Night Package” from Theo Art School, Guide Hunting Expeditions, a Missouri River Pontoon Ride, and more! Cash or checks are accepted; an ATM is on site at the venue.
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Please be advised: There are two ticket tiers, but all tickets are limited so early ticket purchasing is recommended – when it’s sold out, it’s sold out!
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TICKET OPTION 1: Sweetheart
$40 each. Includes buffet and entertainment.
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TICKET OPTION 2: Soulmate & VIP Recognition
$75 each. Includes buffet, entertainment, VIP donor recognition, and a gift!
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Need a ride? Have questions? Contact Deb at debigoe@hotmail.com or 701-226-7585.
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Souris Valley Dem-NPL District Conventions
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Tuesday, Feb 10, 2026 6:00 PM
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Parker Center
21 1st Ave SE, Minot
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Parker Center (21 1st Ave SE, Minot, ND) on Tuesday, February 10th. There will be a social from 6PM – 6:30PM followed by the meeting from 6:30PM which will include the endorsement of District 3 & 5 candidates and election of state delegates.
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Dickinson Area Democratic-NPL Conventions
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Wednesday, Feb 11, 2026 7:00 PM MST
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Players Sports Bar & Grill
2050 1st Ave E, Dickinson
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Please come (especially if you would like to attend the state convention as a delegate). DON'T MISS THIS CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY!
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D21 Valentine Steak Dinner
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February 11, 2026, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. CST
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Amvets 1001 1st Ave S, Fargo
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Let's celebrate! Valetine's Day, Yea! Returning 3 Democrats to Bismarck in 2026, Yea, Yea, Yea!
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Chef Rick at Amvets will be grilling us steaks, potatoes & fixins, corn, and beans, all for $25. Pick a time you would like to come and Chef Rick will have your steak on the grill.
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Desserts will also be available for a free will donation. We need to send our 3 candidates back to Bismarck. You can make that donation here and we will add it to your ticket.
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PLEASE let us know how you want your steak cooked! We will have your tickets when you arrive at Amvets.
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WANT a reservation but pay at door. Just send an email to district21dems@gmail.com with time, #steaks, & how you want them cooked.
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District 17 - Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Democracy Needs You!
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Sat, Feb 14, 2026 10:00 AM CST
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701 Coworking Conference Room
33 S 3rd St., Grand Forks
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Come to the 701 Coworking Conference room to learn how you can support our district in recruiting candidates and support candidates with their campaigns.
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District 11 Meeting
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Wed, Feb 18, 2026 5:00 PM CST
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1325 23rd St S, Suite B, Fargo
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District 11 Democratic-NPL meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month
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District 3 and District 5 Meeting
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Sat, Feb 21, 2026 5:00 PM CST
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Come celebrate Friday with the Souris Valley Dem-NPL!
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Accountability Project 2026
In a recent letter, Sen. Kent Conrad said of Burgum, Hoeven, and Cramer, "If they cannot find the courage to stand against government abuse of American citizens, they should resign or be held in contempt by the judgment of history." We're going to continue to put pressure on our elected officials and demand that they find a backbone in this moment.
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On Friday, February 27, we're going to drop off messages from North Dakotans across the state at the offices of our Federal Delegation.
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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Former ND legislator, Vern Thompson, announces run for U.S. Congress
Joel Heitkamp is joined in the KFGO studio by Vern Thompson, an independent trucker and former state legislator. Vern Thompson announced his campaign for U.S. House on "News and Views," the second Democrat seeking to challenge Republican incumbent Julie Fedorchak.
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He plans to seek the Democratic-NPL Party’s endorsement at the state convention in Bismarck on March 6-8, where Trygve Hammer also plans to seek support from the party.
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ND Senate kills free school meals bill, but ballot measure likely to appear in November
House Minority Leader Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks) remarked, “The Republican legislature has proven time and time again that they will not pass a popular bill to feed North Dakota kids and make life more affordable for families. This was the only chance we had to put money back in people’s pockets, and the Republican-dominated Senate dropped the ball.”
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Conrad: My statement on the events in Minneapolis on Jan. 27
We are witnessing masked federal agents attacking, violently shoving, kicking and in some cases shooting and killing American citizens. That has to stop. It is wrong. It is unAmerican.
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In the past, I have had respect for Doug Burgum, John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer. I worked with them. But their complete failure to stand up to the obvious abuse of power by the Trump administration is destroying their legacies and reputations.
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If they cannot find the courage to stand against government abuse of American citizens, they should resign or be held in contempt by the judgment of history.
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Former Dem-NPL state lawmaker Vern Thompson launches campaign for US House
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Former state lawmaker Vern Thompson announced a campaign for U.S. House on Monday, the second Democrat seeking to challenge Republican incumbent Julie Fedorchak.
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Thompson, 69, an independent trucker who hauls natural gas liquids, appeared on KFGO’s News and Views with Joel Heitkamp on Monday to announce his congressional run.
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“The people deserve better,” Thompson said. “And I can holler on the sidelines, like at a ballgame, but it’s time to get off my butt and get into the game.”
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Plain Talk: Meet the truck driver running to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House
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"I just felt that she was ineffective," Thompson said of the incumbent in the race. "I think that Rep. (Julie) Fedorchak has failed her constitutional responsibilities. She's let a president run wild and nobody's going to stop him until people stand up and say enough is enough."
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"I respect Julie," he added, "but she's too timid. You have to stand up."
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Letter: We are endangering our republic; can we sustain it?
In the closing days of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Elizabeth Willing Powel, confidante of George Washington and a politically aware and active, well-educated writer who addressed current issues of politics, women's roles, education, medicine and philosophy, is remembered for her exchange with Benjamin Franklin: “Well, doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" Franklin: "A republic, if you can keep it."
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Letter: Burgum may destroy Teddy Roosevelt's legacy
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There has been a push in this administration to sell off public lands, now Secretary Burgum has ordered an “evaluation” of our country’s wildlife fefuges with the option of selling off refuge land to private bidders. This flies in the face of Theodore Roosevelts’ conservation ethic and legacy. Secretary Burgum is the instrument to destroy TR’s legacy.
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North Dakotans understand stewardship. We hunt because we respect the land and the wildlife it sustains.
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I urge Secretary Burgum to abandon this dishonorable proposal and work with sportsmen, tribes, landowners and conservationists to strengthen — not dismantle — North Dakota’s wildlife refuges.
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Port: Audit North Dakota’s Wonder Fund
The arrangement with O’Leary and the Wonder Fund is a very unusual one that involves a reality television celebrity being entrusted with tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. O’Leary is a close political ally of President Donald Trump. Burgum has since gone on to work in Trump’s cabinet as secretary of the Interior. That alone should garner extra scrutiny to ensure these dollars are being invested in ways that serve the public, and that this isn’t a bunch of politicos engaged in some mutual back scratching.
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ICE detention cases begin weaving through North Dakota courts
Global Friends Coalition, a Grand Forks nonprofit, is advising immigrants to do everything they can to stay under the radar, according to Executive Director Cynthia Shabb. The organization recommends that people make sure their headlights and taillights are working, that they follow the speed limit and stay off social media, she said.
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ND lawmakers join Day of Solidarity at MN State Capitol
Rep. Finley-DeVille (D) of District 4A of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, was on the road and joined by phone. “I and my five North Dakota colleagues that are present there, stand in solidarity with all of you gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol,” she said. “We are united by a shared belief that government power must never come at the expense of human dignity, community safety or the rule of law. What is happening in Minnesota matters to all of us. Minnesota has become a testing ground for broader, federal actions and how we respond here.”
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“The killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti are not abstract policy failures,” she continued. “They’re human tragedies that demand transparency, accountability and change.”
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Tribune editorial: Lawmakers will pay price for free meal vote
“It has been an honor to serve the people of District 11 and to work alongside dedicated colleagues on issues that directly impact the health and well-being of our communities,” Dobervich said in a press release. “After thoughtful consideration, I have decided that the end of this term is the right time for me to step away from elected office.”
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State Lawmakers Convene in Minnesota for ‘Day of Solidarity’
“This is not a partisan issue. This about the American people. This is about upholding the Constitution,” said state senator Cora Neumann from Montana.
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Joining them were a large delegation from North Dakota, including state senators Tim Mathern and Ryan Braunberger as well as representatives Gretchen Dobervich and Jayme Davis.
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Letter: Who is going to stop this?
If this madness is going to end, it’s going to end because one of President Trump’s cronies in Congress is going to stand up and say enough is enough. Hopefully sometime very soon, maybe even today, a Republican congressman is going to get his Republican pals together and say we must stop this now. The Democrats are all on board, but a Republican is going to have to stand up.
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Someone is going to have to be a hero in this mess. Are there any heroes left in Congress?
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Ag Leaders Warn of Potential "Widespread Collapse"
Aaron Krauter, former Farm Service Agency Executive Director, joins Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness to discuss the details of this letter and the current state of United States agriculture.
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State Lawmakers Convene in Minnesota for ‘Day of Solidarity’
More than 40 lawmakers from states as far away geographically as Rhode Island and Oregon gathered in St. Paul in a show of support for their Minnesota brethren, stressing that the need to change the situation in the state went beyond political lines.
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“This is not a partisan issue. This about the American people. This is about upholding the Constitution,” said state senator Cora Neumann from Montana.
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Joining them were a large delegation from North Dakota, including state senators Tim Mathern and Ryan Braunberger as well as representatives Gretchen Dobervich and Jayme Davis.
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Ballot measure discussion prompts criticism of lawmaker ‘power grab’
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Ellen Chaffee, a member of the BadAss Grandmas for Democracy, a group that spearheaded an initiated measure in 2018 to establish the state’s Ethics Commission, said it’s never been more clear that state government officials do not respect the wishes of the people.
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“You get seduced by the power and you come to own it as your own, unless you are really careful,” Chaffee said. “That’s what’s happened to them (state lawmakers). They think they’re that smart. They think they’re that right…and they think you are wrong.”
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Letter: Fargo must strengthen oversight of tax incentives
As a candidate for mayor, I strongly believe that tax incentives offered by the city must be tools that are carefully evaluated before approval and then monitored after the fact to ensure they deliver the public benefits we intend. Incentives are meant to spur development, remove blight, expand housing options, and ultimately grow our tax base. But when projects are structured or transferred in ways that negate those outcomes, our community loses out on revenue that could have supported neighborhood improvements, public safety, infrastructure, and essential city services.
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District 24 Democratic-NPL Convention Adopts 2026 Platform
The group worked through discussions and multiple amendments to reach final agreement on their 2026 district platform, which emphasized six broad goals: affordable healthcare for all; strong public schools; a thriving rural economy; protection of freedoms; safe, secure communities; and mitigation of climate change in order to secure clean water and air. Throughout the afternoon the conventioneers’ seriousness of purpose and evident passion filled the meeting room at Valley City’s Gaukler Wellness Center. Statements grieving the recent killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti clearly reflected the gravity of the nation’s current distress.
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Check out these posts from national Democrats
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ICYMI: Prices Are Skyrocketing Faster Than Expected Because of Trump’s Tariffs
“Donald Trump continues to show us just how unaffordable he can make life for everyday Americans. Despite promising to lower costs on ‘Day One,’ Trump continues to pursue his reckless trade war, and working families are footing the bill. Millions of Americans are worried about how they’re going to keep stretching their budgets to afford groceries, rent, and health care. Meanwhile, Trump and Vance can be found attending swanky fundraising dinners with their wealthy donors.”
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How to Fight For Justice in Politics with North Dakota Rep Jayme Davis
In this week’s episode, co-host Ryan Coonerty speaks with North Dakota State Representative Jayme Davis. Following the tragic events in Minnesota, Davis discusses why she still believes there is hope to fight for more honorable and humane politics. She shares how she prioritizes the protection of the most vulnerable people, her stance during this challenging time, and how lessons from her family and her desire to find the good in everything keeps her motivated to do this challenging work at a difficult time. In addition, the conversation delves into why Davis ran for public office, how she works in a bipartisan manner to make progress despite being in a superminority, and the Indian Child Welfare Act she has proposed, as well as the Feather Alert and task force she had spearheaded, to protect indigenous people. Tune in for an emotional conversation and to learn more about Rep. Davis’ vision for a brighter future.
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U.S. Manufacturing Is in Retreat and Trump’s Tariffs Aren’t Helping
The manufacturing boom President Trump promised would usher in a golden age for America is going in reverse. After years of economic interventions by the Trump and Biden administrations, fewer Americans work in manufacturing than any point since the pandemic ended.
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Farmer sentiment plunges in January amid economic concerns
Now, a month later, the president apparently has decided that $230 million from the Justice Department won’t be enough, and he also wants $10 billion from the IRS. Whether Trump intends to oversee another settlement with himself is not yet clear. Watch this space.
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Ag Leaders Warn of Risk of ‘Widespread Collapse of American Agriculture’
“The group charged that Trump administration policies ‘have caused tremendous harm to U.S. agriculture’ and are having long-term negative effects on the competitiveness of farmers and agriculture,” Hagstrom and Clayton reported. “‘Farmer bankruptcies have doubled, barely half of all farms will be profitable this year, and the U.S. is running a historic agriculture trade deficit,’ the letter stated.”
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January Job Cuts Surge; Lowest January Hiring on Record
Last month, employers announced 5,306 hiring plans, the lowest total for the month since Challenger began tracking hiring plans in 2009. Prior to last month’s total, 2023 saw the lowest January total for hiring with 5,376. It is down 13% from the 6,089 hiring plans announced in the same month last year. It is down 49% from the 10,496 hiring plans announced in December 2025.
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BREAKING: Trump Nominates Kevin Warsh as New Fed Chair
“Donald Trump knows that Americans are souring on his economy. His solution is to grab more political power by installing a puppet, Kevin Warsh, as the head of the country’s independent central bank, risking the country’s financial stability and putting Americans’ hard-earned savings at risk. Warsh is so desperate to be Fed chair that he’s willing to say or do anything to please Trump, abandoning his previous positions and reinventing himself in Trump’s image. Trump is desperately grabbing for more power and putting our economy at even graver risk in the process.”
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Mayors describe ICE presence in their cities
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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, told the room that his city has one of the highest concentrations of Venezuelans in the country.
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Johnston said it was a moral imperative for mayors to think of their constituents, harkening to the parable of the Good Samaritan – a biblical story about a man showing kindness to an injured stranger, no matter his status.
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“And that’s a question that many of us are asking a lot right now, because there’s a question of … what happens to my city?” Johnston said. “Well yes, you could lose federal funds, you could be targeted for prosecution by the Department of Justice. You could see ICE agents deployed in the streets of your city. All of those are possible.”
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2-year-old and father arrested in Minneapolis ICE raid
The Trump administration continues to claim they are going after the "worst of the worst," and using a "softer touch" on immigration. While MS NOW reporting found a second child was arrested by ICE agents in Minneapolis. MS NOW Senior National and Political Reporter Jacob Soboroff shares more on his exclusive reporting of the 2-year-old’s arrest in Minnesota. MS NOW Reporter Rosa Flores has more from San Antonio, Texas, and Politico White House Reporter Myah Ward joins Katy Tur to discuss the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
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Trump’s racist post about Obamas is deleted after backlash despite White House earlier defending it
The Republican president’s Thursday night post was deleted Friday and blamed on a staffer after widespread backlash, from civil rights leaders to veteran Republican senators, for its treatment of the nation’s first Black president and first lady. The deletion, a rare admission of a misstep by the White House, came hours after press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed “fake outrage” over the post. After calls for its removal for being racist -- including by Republicans -- the White House said a staffer had posted the video erroneously and it had been taken down.
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Homeland Insecurity
On this week’s jam-packed episode, Heidi and Joel speak with Nathan Gonzales, editor of Inside Elections, about Democrats’ prospects in the Midterm Elections and the collapse of the Trump Coalition.
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Then, Iowa State Rep. Adam Zabner gives a quick update on turnout for the state’s precinct caucuses and the frustration with the Trump Administration among the state’s Independent and centrist Republican voters.
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Finally, Heidi and Joel speak with former Arizona Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano about the failure of good law enforcement that the Department is exhibiting in Minneapolis and across the country.
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Rising Farm Debt and Financial Stress: Evidence From the Ag Economy Barometer
In January of the last seven years, the AEB surveys have included operating loan questions. The first operating loan question was as follows: Compared to last year, do you expect the size of your farm’s operating loan to be larger, smaller, or about the same? Over the last seven years, the percentage of respondents who indicated that they expected to have larger operating loans ranged from 15% in 2020 and 2024 to 27% in 2022. The survey respondents that answered “larger” increased from 18% in 2025 to 21% in 2026 (see Figure 1).
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The Unusual Working-Class Message That Turned a Deep-Red District Blue
The issues that have worked for Democrats around the country this election season—affordability and working-class stability chief among them—also worked for Taylor Rehmet, a union president and machinist who beat his Trump-backed opponent for a deep-red state Senate seat in the Fort Worth area of Texas last weekend. But his platform included something more unusual and a little retro: a promise to return vocational education to public high schools.
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Share these Dem-NPL Graphics!
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The Century Club supports our year-round work to build party infrastructure supporting candidate recruitment, local district and regional leadership, issue-based education, and tools for Dem-NPL success.
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Help us elect great Democrats up and down the ballot!
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The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is launching a new grassroots program called “Neighbor to Neighbor” where volunteers will connect with voters in your community to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for connecting with voters in 25 homes in your neighborhood or friends and family to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot about 3-4 times this year.
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Grassroots organizers are the lifeblood of the Dem-NPL! Sign up to volunteer with the Dem-NPL!
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