Dem-NPL Candidate Files Supreme Court Motion to Intervene in District 8 Lawsuit 

BISMARCK, ND — The Democratic-NPL Party District 8 candidate Kathrin Volochenko filed a motion today to intervene in the Supreme Court proceeding regarding the District 8 House of Representatives seat in question after the death of David Andahl. The action was brought by Gov. Doug Burgum against Sec. of State Al Jaeger, the legislative assembly, Rep. Chet Pollert, chair of legislative management, and the District 8 GOP Committee. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Friday, November 20, at 9:00 a.m. 

Burgum announced a purported appointment to fill the seat just hours after Election Day ended, although the state legislature, the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Dem-NPL agree that he does not have the authority to do so. But Andahl was not qualified to be elected after his widely publicized death. The result is that Volochenko, who received the next highest number of votes among qualified candidates for the second District 8 House seat, should be seated.

The Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said: 

“The governor has no authority to fill this seat, and he must not be allowed to buy or steal elected offices as it suits him. Kathrin Volochenko earned the next highest number of votes among candidates qualified for election, and therefore should be seated to represent District 8. The Supreme Court will have an opportunity to hear a well-rounded argument Friday.”

Kathrin Volochenko, Dem-NPL District 8 candidate, said:
 
“This is not how I would want to end up with a seat in the North Dakota House, but as the qualified candidate with the next highest number of votes for this seat, I look forward to representing all of District 8 and our whole community to the best of my ability.” 
 

###