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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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District 22 - Run for Office Virtual 5K
District 22 is hosting its first annual virtual 5K! Registration is happening now through February 27, 2026. You can complete the 5K (3.1 miles) any time, anywhere through March 31, 2026.
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Break the distance up into smaller segments or get it done in one go. Hop on your treadmill, go outside, walk or run alone or with friends.
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Keep an eye out for in-person meet-ups if you are local to the Fargo-West Fargo area during the month of March!
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Finally Friday Social!
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Fri, Mar 13, 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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Walk in the St. Patrick’s Parade
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Sat, Mar 14, 2026 10:30 AM CST
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6th Street North and Center Ave
Moorhead
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Join us to walk in the St. Patrick’s Parade!
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Meet your District 7 Dem-NPL House Candidates
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Mon, Mar 16, 2026 2:00 PM CST
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Dunn Brothers
1401 Skyline Blvd., Bismarck
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Meet your District 7 House candidates, Dr. Jason Thoms and Tiffany Williams-Rice from 2 to 3 pm on Monday, March 16th at Dunn Brothers Coffee, 1401 Skyline Blvd, Bismarck, ND!!
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District 24 Meeting
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Tues, Mar 17, 2026 7:00 PM CST
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Enderlin Senior Center
221 3rd Ave., Enderlin
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Join us for our District meeting!
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District 11 Meeting
Wed, Mar 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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Region 2 Century Club Appreciation Event
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Tues, Apr 7, 2026 6:00 PM CST
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Parker Center
21 1st Ave. SE, Minot
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The Region 2 Century Club Appreciation Event will be April 7, 2026 at 6 pm.
Parker Center, Minot ND
-21 1st Ave SE, Minot, ND 58701
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Dickinson Area Democratic-NPL meeting
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Tues, Apr 7, 2026 6:00 PM CST
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Parker Center
21 1st Ave. SE, Minot
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The Region 2 Century Club Appreciation Event will be April 7, 2026 at 6 pm.
Parker Center, Minot ND
-21 1st Ave SE, Minot, ND 58701
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North Dakota Democrats are fired up to run for office this year!
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Districts 3, 7, 9, 11, 13, 20, 21, 31, 33, 35, 42, and 47 have all endorsed full slates, and most Districts have endorsed at least one candidate for the Legislature! If you want to run, this is the year to do it! Let us know if you are interested!
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Century Club Update from Finance Director Colin Helfenstein
WE DID IT! We officially have reached 500 Century Club members. I will say thank you, although the words alone are insufficient to fully express the gratitude we have for each and every one of you. In addition to the words, we will show our appreciation through action.
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Whether it is the Century Club membership, zoom meetings, in-person events, or even voting on election day itself, every one of you and your actions are an integral part of our collective mission to elect Dem-NPL candidates locally and statewide. The State Party will continue to drive forward through organizing, fundraising, and working every single day to break the NDGOP majority in the North Dakota State Legislature.
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A huge thank you to everyone who attended the State Convention, and signed up in the last few months. I look forward to meeting any of you I have not met already at a future appreciation event or fundraising dinner. Please reach out if you need anything in the meantime and know that this is just the beginning!
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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North Dakota Democrats endorse several statewide candidates
Former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in a convention speech held up Minnesotans who protested against immigration agents as an example for North Dakotans to follow.
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“They took to the street with whistles, they donated food and rides, and they recorded injustice and cruelty, and yes, they even did this at the expense of their lives,” she said, referencing the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents.
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Trygve Hammer tapped for another run for North Dakota US House seat
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“I will not give up the ship and I believe that we will win,” Hammer said during his convention speech.
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Hammer criticized Fedorchak repeatedly over what he sees as failures to stand up to President Donald Trump and Republican policies, such as tariffs and health care cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
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He was also critical of Fedorchak’s vote against an Iran war powers resolution that failed to pass the U.S. House this week, and said he worries that his children and their spouses serving in the military are not being represented.
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Hammer said the Trump-era phrase of “peace through strength” is not correct because “strength isn’t violence.”
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“Our strength has always been in our alliances,” he said.
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Letter: The ND Dem-NPL Convention was eye opening
The North Dakota Democrats were primarily focused on economic policy, not culture wars. In fact, when I proposed a resolution calling for the party’s support of banning individual stock trading by members of Congress, it received resounding applause and passed unanimously. For a party that has abandoned the working class, this was refreshing. They also addressed the farming crisis in America, championing real solutions like breaking up Big Ag monopolies instead of supporting useless bailouts. They were the antithesis of the ‘DNC Liberal Stereotype.’
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Letter: Ista always has been a person who says 'yes'
One of his proudest accomplishments was sponsoring legislation to provide lifetime health insurance to the families of emergency responders who die in the line of duty, inspired by the tragic loss of Grand Forks Police Officer Cody Holte. Rep. Ista has also championed the fight for universal school meals for students in North Dakota.
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For many of us, Zac’s impact has been personal as well as political. He has been a mentor, a role model and a steady voice of encouragement for young leaders stepping into public service. He has always been the person who says yes; yes to stepping up, yes to taking responsibility and yes to serving not just his district, but all North Dakotans.
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Ista has decided not to seek reelection. While we will deeply miss his leadership, we are profoundly grateful for his service and wish him and his family every happiness in the next chapter.
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Special education teachers report burnout, uncompensated work time, North Dakota survey shows
Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, D-Fargo, said she knows from her own family’s experience that the challenges mentioned by special educators are not new.
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“A special ed teacher can make all the difference in the world for a student,” Hanson said. “We need to make sure that we’re properly empowering them to do the best they can.”
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North Dakota Republican incumbents make ‘unprecedented’ move to skip state convention
The party has seen a growing divide as some elected officials distance themselves from what they see as right-wing activists controlling the endorsement process. The NDGOP had a Sunday filing deadline for candidates seeking the endorsement at its convention March 28-29 in Minot. Several other statewide candidates confirmed to the Monitor on Monday they are skipping the convention.
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Plain Talk: 'What the party says needs to happen overrides what the people say'
Thoms says his campaign will focus on issues important to him, including mental health, something he has a deeply personal experience with. "My wife died by suicide in 2020, and she had struggled throughout her entire life, but she was an amazing and wonderful person. We fought hard for her life," he said.
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Real Republicans of the Dakotas, Part 1
Some say Rick Becker is a colorful character. Some say worse things, I’m sure. Others think he’s the bees’ knees. On North Dakota’s primary election day in 2024, voters got text messages that appeared to be from me and from Julie Fedorchak. The ones that had my image encouraged Democrats to vote for Rick Becker in the Republican primary because he would be easier to defeat in the general election. The one’s that looked like they were from Fedorchak’s campaign announced that she was dropping out of the race.
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Reaction pours in to North Dakota statewide incumbents skipping GOP Convention
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Later this month, state Republicans will come to Minot for this year’s convention, ahead of the midterm elections.
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But the convention will have a noticeable absence: all of the statewide officeholders whose seats are up for election this year.
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It comes amid a growing rift over the direction of the party.
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This year’s state GOP convention will not include the seven statewide officeholders up for reelection, including Representative Julie Fedorchak.
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Trygve Hammer prepares for another run at U.S. House
“Voters are more aware this year than they have been in a long time,” he said, “and they see the tone coming out of Washington doesn’t match what is happening here.”
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U.S. Congressional candidate Trygve Hammer won the Dem-NPL nomination and speaks to war in Iran
Trygve Hammer defeated Democratic-NPL candidates Vern Thompson and Helene Neville to secure the party’s nomination for U.S. Congress at the recent convention. Trygve and Joel discuss the Farm Bill, war in Iran, Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, and more.
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Ukrainian Anastassiya Andrianova speaks to fourth anniversary of Russia-Ukraine war
Former KVRR TV news director, Jim Shaw, is filling in for Joel Heitkamp on "News and Views," and is joined in the KFGO studio by Anastassiya Andrianova. Anastassiya was born in Ukraine, and her parents and brother still live in Ukraine. She shares her thoughts on the war in Ukraine with Jim and the listeners.
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State Democratic Convention sees long-time members take center stage
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“The chaos at the federal level is creating anxiety for people. And they’re getting involved. They’ve always talked about, ‘I should do something.’ And now they’re doing it,” said Hogan.
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Hogan wasn’t the only prominent member of the Democratic Party who felt hopeful for the election season.
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Former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp was excited enough to sing during her speech.
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Heitkamp said the change for the Democratic Party will happen when they embrace being uncomfortable.
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“Too often, you have people wanting to go back to what was safe or comfortable. And if we go back, we’re about the status quo, and the status quo isn’t what got us here, in terms of one-party rule in North Dakota,” said Heitkamp.
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“Politics goes up and down. The Republicans are in for a while, and then the Democrats. You think about the long-term congressional of Dorgan and Conrad and Pomeroy, and so this is just another. We had a downtime, and we’re coming back. We are coming back,” said Hogan.
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North Dakota House Minority Leader Zac Ista will not seek re-election
Zac Ista currently serves as the House Minority Leader, representing District 43 in Grand Forks, and was elected in 2022. He recently announced that he will not be seeking re-election, and joins Joel on "News and Views" to talk about it.
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Brickner: Tiffany Williams-Rice will be an an advocate for North Dakota
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In interviewing Tiffany Williams–Rice, I found one recurring theme: Advocacy.
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This, of course, is a key component for a legislator. Indeed, she seeks to become a representative for District 7 in North Dakota. She has a history of listening to the community and then responding without any personal agenda.
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Finley-DeVille: Indigenous history is not up for an abstract policy debate
Secretary Burgum should reverse this order and engage directly with tribal nations, historians and park staff. Our national parks belong to all Americans, and their history must reflect the truth of this land and the people who have always called it home. We cannot protect what we refuse to remember. I call on former Gov. Burgum to reverse course and preserve history at our National Parks.
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McFeely: Trump’s war hits your pocketbook right here at home
But the fact is the already high cost of living is going up even more thanks to Trump’s war of choice, countering the narrative on which he was elected. He promised to end inflation and bring prices down on “day one.” Instead prices continue to rise and now that includes gasoline, too.
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Democrats say it will take more than enthusiasm to turn the tide against North Dakota Republicans
The convention had nearly 600 attendees including about 200 first-time delegates. Eighteen-year-old Carter Hass of Valley City, who will vote for the first time this year, said he was motivated to become a delegate after watching how Trump administration policies are affecting farmers.
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“I see my neighbors struggling,” Hass said in an interview. “It’s important that young people stay involved right now.”
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During the convention, Hass gave passionate remarks during the discussion on the party’s resolutions.
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“My generation is watching this convention and watching the rebirth of the North Dakota Democratic Nonpartisan League, yet simultaneously they’re watching their future fade away,” Hass said.
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Taxpayer dollars flood pregnancy centers. Oversight hasn’t followed.
Indiana state Sen. Shelli Yoder, a Democrat, said access to maternal health care in her state continues to decrease while support for crisis pregnancy centers increases. Indiana boosted its budget for the centers from $250,000 in 2021 to $2 million, then doubled it to $4 million by 2024. The state’s maternal mortality rate is among the worst in the country.
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“It’s not that these centers don’t serve a purpose. But they certainly are not a replacement for maternal health care, and they are not health care centers, and yet our state is using taxpayer money to fund them as if they are,” Yoder said. “And we are sending a message to moms, or to women, that they are health care centers, and they are not.”
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Check out these posts from national Democrats
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Trump Removes Sanctions on Russia to Help Oil Flow Amid Iran Conflict
Mr. Fishman said he did not think that easing the Russia oil sanctions would lower prices, noting that the move last week to let Russian oil be delivered to India did not have an impact. He noted that the price of Russian oil had been rising since the war in Iran started, and that it was likely that the sanctions relief could be extended indefinitely.
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“I do worry that this is effectively the destruction of the oil sanctions on Russia,” said Mr. Fishman, the author of
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BREAKING: GDP Growth Revised WAY Down
Catherine Rampell and Sam Stein are going live to talk about the revised job numbers and other economic news.
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Key background details in Epstein-Trump accuser’s FBI interview verified
The Post and Courier used public records to corroborate details of the woman’s life described in the FBI interview where she accused Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump of abusing her as a minor. Marilyn Thompson joins to discuss her reporting.
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NEW: Under Donald Trump, Americans Are Being Forced to Cut Back On Spending and Postpone Major Life Events to Afford Health Care
“Donald Trump and Republicans made health care for tens of millions of Americans even more unaffordable, as working families are sacrificing basic necessities and forgoing critical life events just to pay their medical bills. Everyday Americans are tired of paying the price of Trump’s massive cuts to their health care, while footing the bill of his disastrous war with Iran and tax cuts for billionaires. While Republicans jeopardize Americans’ lives abroad and at home, Democrats are focused on lowering costs and making life more affordable.”
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Scott Galloway Predicts a $10 Trillion Market Wipeout | Pivot
Kara and Scott break down how the Iran war is rattling oil and global markets, Anthropic suing the Pentagon, and a damning report that most major chatbots will help plan violent attacks. Then, Grammarly impersonates Kara Swisher, Barry Diller wants CNN, and Scott predicts the market could be headed for a wipeout.
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NEW DATA: Core Inflation Rises and GDP Falls As Working Families Pay More for Less
“Donald Trump’s disastrous economic agenda has crushed working families. Prices continue to rise and consumers are spending more for less — all while everyday Americans foot the bill for Trump’s tariffs, and pay for his chaotic war of choice with Iran. As Wall Street grows richer by the day, Trump continues to leave Main Street and working families behind, selling them out to enrich himself and give massive tax cuts to the wealthy.”
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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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