Longest-serving Republican State Senator in the US Ray Holmberg sentenced to 10 years for child sex tourism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 26, 2025

FARGO ND – The longest-serving State Senator in the United States was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison today for traveling abroad to sexually abuse children.

North Dakota Democratic-NPL Communications Director Laura Dronen said, “We will never know the full extent of the lives that were ruined by Ray Holmberg, but we hope that the survivors he’s left in his wake of depravity find some sense of healing in today’s just sentencing.

Holmberg showed no real remorse for his heinous crimes. He claimed his despicable text messages about assaulting minors were effectively just locker room talk. He said he was ‘bragging’ about raping children to a child rapist. Holmberg even tried to crack jokes. It’s that same man who for decades was one of the most powerful politicians in North Dakota. The current Grand Forks legislative districts were drawn up by that man. Committee heads were chosen by that man. That man held the purse strings for our state. This has to be the most egregious abuse of power and biggest political scandal our state has ever seen.”

At the sentencing, it was revealed that Holmberg called Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem after his home was raided in November 2021. Holmberg left a voicemail saying “Wayne this is my burner phone. I’m in big trouble.” Holmberg also asked an employee from the AG’s office to whisper to Stenehjem, “Nick the thief did it again.”

Dronen said, “This case continues to raise more questions than it answers. Holmberg manipulated his constituents and many of his colleagues to conceal his true self, but there were those around him who knew what a monster he was. If there are public figures who helped him bury his crimes, the people of North Dakota deserve to know who they are.”

CONTACT:
Laura Dronen
Communications Director
laura.dronen@demnpl.com