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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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Presidential Primary Update
Our DNC Committeeman, Jamie Selzler, is an appointed member of the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the DNC (RBC). He and that committee have been working very hard over the summer to draft the rules for the presidential primary that will happen next year. With more than 20 people having already indicated their intent to run for president, it is very important we have a transparent, inclusive, and fair process to be sure we select the very best nominee. One of the hardest pieces of their work was choosing which states get to go first, and setting the calendar of early primaries. They concluded that work today - to be approved by the full DNC at a meeting in August. Six states were selected for early primaries, and the calendar RBC is asking the DNC to approve looks like this:
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South Carolina, January 22, 2028
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New Hampshire, February 8, 2028
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New Mexico, February 15, 2028
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Michigan, February 22, 2028
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Virginia, February 29, 2028
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Notes from the report of RBC:
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This calendar is rigorous, fair, and efficient. It battle-tests our nominee to ensure we can take back the White House in 2028, reflects the diversity of our party and country, and is affordable, ensuring that candidates and campaigns can compete in this race.
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The Democratic Party is unified coming out of this process with the knowledge that this calendar expands the Party’s reach and will produce a nominee that is the strongest, most battle-tested in our party’s history.
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This calendar is the most diverse for an open contest in our party’s history. It speaks to our base, expands our electorate, and listens to the voters who have felt they have been left out in the past.
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This calendar was decided by an RBC that is a more diverse and democratic committee than it’s ever been before as a result of historic reforms by Chair Martin. Those reforms include an expanded committee size, with many members chosen directly by the DNC’s caucuses and councils for the first time ever – ensuring that voices from all across our party and country were represented in this decision.
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Make America Good Again Campaign
Our candidates are furiously fundraising right now, and one of the best ways we can support them is by hitting the streets and the phones to talk to voters.
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Statewide: Mondays at 6 pm - Minivan training and office hours with Andrea
Mon 6:30-8 pm Doorknocking and phonebanking - Cass County
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Tues 6-8 Doorknocking and phonebanking - Cass County
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Wed 6-8 Doorknocking and phonebanking - Cass County
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Thurs 6-8 Doorknocking and phonebanking - Cass County
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Sat 11-3 (2 shifts) Doorknocking and phonebanking - Cass County
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Sat afternoons Doorknocking and phonebanking - Minot area
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We are so excited to have 3 all organizers on staff to drive the Make American Good Again Campaign! Andrea Alfson is working in Fargo, and all of Region 8; Sarah Grossbauer will be starting July 1, covering the greater Grand Forks area; and Nicole DesRosier continues working in Minot and the western regions. They all bring so much experience to our team to make sure volunteers not only stay on track with our goals but also make sure we all have some fun along the way.
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100 Days Out Campaign
Knock on doors in any district in the state (2 hour shift)
Make calls for statewide and legislative candidates (2 hour shift)
Sign up to host a house party in August or September
Sign up to table in a public space with Commit to Vote
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Canvassing in Valley City Barnes County
1226 9th St SW Valley City, ND 58072
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- Door knocking begins at 10 AM. Please arrive at 9:15 AM to receive your ‘Turf’ (the map of houses/doors you are meant to knock on) and important canvassing instructions. We’ll meet at our Canvassing HQ in Valley City -1226 9th St SW Valley City, ND 58072. All volunteers are heavily encouraged to go door knocking with a buddy.
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- In the meantime, I encourage anyone Planning on participating to download the miniVAN app on Google Play Store or Apple Store. Then, login by creating an Action ID. If you cannot create an Action ID, then just hold tight until the big day. I’ll be there to help you set up the app.
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- Please bring bottled water, chargers, snacks, comfy sneakers, and your car. Getting great candidates elected takes a lot of work so come prepared!*
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More details will be provided later as well as on the day of the event.
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Folks, farmers are struggling to break even, input costs are skyrocketing, and our DC delegation is sitting on their hands. Vern and all Dem-NPL Statewide Candidates are ready to fight for the working people. So, it’s time to do what the District 24 Dem-NPL does best. It’s time to stand in solidarity and get some working-class candidates in office! Turning ND blue will take a village, District 24 is up to the challenge. I hope to see you all on July 25.
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Community Meet & Greet
338 Wintershow Road, Valley City
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Join us for a Community Meet & Greet on Saturday, July 25, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Sabir's Restaurant, 338 Wintershow Road, Valley City.
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Trygve Hammer – Candidate for U.S. House
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Vern Thompson – Candidate for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner
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Tim Lamb – Candidate for North Dakota Attorney General
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Scot Kelsh – Candidate for North Dakota Public Service Commission
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Following the conclusion of the canvas activities earlier that day, we'll gather for a casual opportunity to meet some of our Dem-NPL statewide candidates. Visit one-on-one and learn more about their vision for Barnes County and the State of North Dakota.
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Light snacks, water, and soda will be provided. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, hear brief remarks from each candidate, and connect in an informal setting.
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Campaign materials, brochures, yard signs, and other campaign items will be available. If you're inspired by what you hear, please consider supporting these candidates with a financial contribution to help advance their campaigns.
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Whether you're looking to learn more about the candidates, ask questions about the issues that matter most to you, or show your support, we hope you'll join us for an enjoyable afternoon of conversation, community, and civic engagement.
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People's Town Hall - Rugby
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Thu, Jul 30, 6:00pm-9:00pm CDT
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Dakota Farms Restaurant Rugby - there will be free Pizza!
308 US-2, Rugby
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Real change starts with real conversations. Hear from our candidates and have your questions answered at our People's Town Hall in Rugby!
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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North Dakota Democrats push back after Gov. Armstrong opposes free school meals measure
“Legislators have had five chances to fund school meals through regular legislation,” said Kelly Spilman, a Democratic-NPL Senate candidate from Mandan, noting a recent bill passed the House but died in the Senate by just two votes. “Session after session, it’s stalled. When your elected leaders won’t act, the constitution gives you the right to take it straight to voters.”
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Other candidates emphasized the educational and financial benefits for North Dakota families dealing with rising grocery costs. Tracy Layne Foss, a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, argued that proper nutrition is foundational to classroom performance.
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“Providing nutritious meals should be viewed as an investment in student success, just like investing in great teachers, quality curriculum, and safe schools,” Foss said.
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Some Democrats expressed alarm over Armstrong’s rhetoric regarding the potential passage of the measure. Dr. Chris Tiongson, a Fargo pediatrician and House candidate, criticized the governor for suggesting the Legislature could attempt to override the public’s decision.
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“The governor went even farther, stating that if the measure does pass, he wants the legislature to override the will of our voters,” Tiongson said. “Not on my watch. We need to elect legislators who will put kids first and honor the voice of our voters.”
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Letter: HUD has already approved our funding. Why is North Dakota still waiting?
HUD recognized that success by awarding us a three-year Fair Housing
Initiatives Program grant in 2023. We completed the first two years, and year three has already been approved for negotiation. Yet we still cannot access the funding.
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Because HUD placed the continuation funding in fiscal year 2026 appropriations, the agency is not required to obligate those funds until September 30, 2027.
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Without funding, High Plains expects to furlough four experienced staff members on July 31. For a rural state like North Dakota, there is no backup organization to continue this work.
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Congress has already appropriated the funding. HUD has already approved the grant. The only thing missing is the release of the funds before North Dakota loses its only fair housing organization.
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The cost of delay will be measured not only in furloughed employees, but in the veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, and families who will have nowhere else to turn.
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Dem-NPL Candidates and Lawmakers affirm their commitment to School Meals for All
Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction Tracy Layne Foss remarked, “As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand that students learn best when their basic needs are met. Universal school meals are one practical step toward ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of where they live or their family’s financial circumstances. Research consistently shows that proper nutrition improves a student’s ability to learn, focus, and participate in the classroom. Providing nutritious meals should be viewed as an investment in student success, just like investing in great teachers, quality curriculum, and safe schools. I believe it’s time to let the people of North Dakota decide whether this is an investment worth making.”
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North Dakota tackles AI regulation
Artificial intelligence is changing so quickly that lawmakers across the country are struggling to keep up.
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Now, North Dakota has created a new legislative committee to study whether the state needs additional safeguards, and if so, what they should look like. The committee is not writing legislation just yet, but instead members are gathering information, hearing from experts, and looking at how other states are balancing innovation with consumer protection, free speech and public trust.
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Fewer Canadian shoppers leave border businesses struggling
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The number of passengers crossing the Pembina border was down by nearly 35% in 2025 compared to 2024, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation.
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Weigel’s shop has been hit hard. She said they're getting less than half of the packages they used to and have cut their staff significantly, down from at least six workers a shift to just one.
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For Weigel, the drop in business means no bonuses or raises, which is particularly tough because her husband’s income also relies on Canadian traffic — or rather, as a Canadian truck driver, he’s part of it.
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Democratic PSC candidates criticize legal argument on pipeline safety
Democratic candidates Scot Kelsh of Fargo and John Pederson of Mayville say that interpretation ignores the concerns they've heard from landowners across North Dakota and undermines public confidence in the commission.
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"The fact that they've just been remaining silent about it tells me that they're not really doing their jobs, and we should elect somebody who is going to do the job and keep public safety a primary consideration," Kelsh said.
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Jamie Selzler discusses upcoming DNC trip and midterm election
Jamie Selzler is a DNC Committeeman from North Dakota and frequent guest host at KFGO. He’s heading to Washington, D.C. to finalize the schedule for the presidential nominating process, and shares his thoughts on the Midterm Election with Joel.
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724: 'A healer instead of just a technician'
The North Dakota Democratic-NPL had a strong recruitment season for legislative candidates. Among them is Dr. Chris Tiongson, a pediatrician seeking a seat in the state House of Representatives in Fargo-area District 41.
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Running for elected office is a daunting task. It's a lot of work and it comes with a public spotlight, and the public can be cruel, so why did Tiongson decide to take time away from his medical practice to run?
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"As I've seen over the years, almost 30 years in pediatrics now, there are so many things that are happening outside the exam room that parents and families really don't have control over that affect their health," he told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "Like pollution, poverty, housing insecurity, food insecurity, racism, bullying, all that kind of stuff. And I felt like I can have a greater impact helping the health of our community working on public policy as opposed to just one patient at a time in the exam room or one patient at a time in a in a hospital bed."
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But Tiongson says he understand the push and pull of governance, and that there "are costs to every sort of decision that you make."
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"What makes difficult decisions is when there are competing virtues that are both good, like being fiscally responsible as a government and providing for basic needs for people who need them," he told us.
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Why are Hamas victims filing lawsuits against a cryptocurrency giant in North Dakota?
While North Dakota may seem like an unlikely venue for such a case to be filed, attorneys for the plaintiffs told The Forum that Binance intentionally obscures where it conducts business and Hamas operatives deliberately made transactions that funded the attacks in places where they believed they could avoid scrutiny, like the Fargo bedroom community of Kindred, population 1,030.
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Binance's founder Changpeng Zhao "intentionally designed" the company "as a criminal enterprise to facilitate money laundering on a global scale," the lawsuit claims. "Binance pitched itself to terrorist organizations, narcotics traffickers, and tax evaders as beyond the reach of any single country’s laws or regulations."
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President of ND Farmers Union, Matt Perdue, speaks to Farm Bill on Co-op Day
It's Co-op Day at the North Dakota State Fair, and to celebrate it, Joel Heitkamp is joined by the President of North Dakota Farmers Union, Matt Perdue. They talk about the importance and benefits of cooperatives, and Matt shares his thoughts on the current Farm Bill.
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Letter: Access to guns and mental health safety
Safe storage of guns is another key factor. Often, the few critical moments between having to unlock a gun and using it can be a lifesaver. The current administration is advancing a conceal and carry mandate which would force all states to be subject to the weakest laws in the nation and could potentially invalidate ERPOs and the guardrails that safeguard all citizens, including those going through a mental health crisis. This mandate is a grave mistake.
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Letter: Are we asking enough questions about priorities?
According to the Washington Post, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told lawmakers that the U.S.-Iran war has already cost approximately $37.5 billion, and the Trump administration is asking Congress for tens of billions more.
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And while we talk about the cost of war, we also need to remember the American troops who have been killed. Behind every number is a person. A family. A mother, father, spouse, child, or friend who will never get that person back.
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Check out these posts from national Democrats
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AI Has A Hidden Debt Problem
Ed Elson is joined by Ed Zitron to explore why AI companies have racked up so much debt and how they are able to keep it off their balance sheets. Then, Karim Bousta joins to give his takeaways from Tesla’s earnings and explain why the company is still struggling with its profits. Finally, Scott Devitt returns to break down Google’s earnings and whether or not he’s concerned about the company’s negative free cash flow.
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Ed Zitron is the author of the Where’s Your Ed At newsletter and Host of the Better Offline podcast. Scott Devitt is a Senior Research Analyst at Rosenblatt Securities. Karim Bousta is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at DVx Ventures and former Vice President at both Tesla and Lyft.
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Trump Tries to Erase the Casualties of His War
But Donald Trump’s Defense Department has tried to erase these four service members from its official list of Iran war casualties.
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As the New York Times reported last night, on Wednesday, the Pentagon’s casualties website listed eighteen service members who had been killed during the war with Iran. By Thursday, the Defense Department had lowered that number to fourteen—apparently excluding Lt. Feehan, Pvt. Gonzales, Sgt. Rampersand, and Sgt. Swinton.
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A defiant Trump imposes replacement tariffs on biggest U.S. trading partners
"Donald Trump dug up a zombie law to make things even more expensive for Americans," Wyden said. "Trump's next trade scheme is ordering USTR to reconstruct his illegal global tariffs under the guise of addressing forced labor," he said, referring to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
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State AGs join legal fight against Trump’s wind farm freeze
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But in August 2025, the Department of Defense stopped signing agreements or communicating with developers, the states allege, freezing pending projects at varying stages of review.
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The attorneys general pointed to specific projects in their states that have been unable to move forward. In Washington state, Attorney General Nick Brown, a Democrat, said five projects totaling more than 1,600 megawatts are stuck in limbo.
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“The federal government claims we’re in an energy emergency and yet unlawfully stands in the way of projects seeking to harness an excellent renewable source of energy—wind,” Brown said in a news release.
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AI Data Centers Are Expanding Fast. Here's Why You Should Care
More than 30 years after taking on Pacific Gas & Electric—and winning— Erin Brockovich is still fighting for communities. This time, her focus is on one of the fastest-growing parts of the AI boom: data centers.
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In this episode of Next Question with Katie Couric, Erin explains why she’s sounding the alarm about the rapid expansion of AI data centers across the country. Since April, Erin says she’s received thousands of reports from people across the country describing rising water bills, land acquisitions, and large-scale projects moving forward without their knowledge. She calls it “Hinkley on steroids.”
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We also discuss water use, energy demand, local opposition, and Erin's belief that communities deserve more transparency, accountability, and oversight as the AI infrastructure boom accelerates.
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US measles cases reach 35-year high, for second record-breaking year in a row
Measles has continued its historic resurgence in the United States this year, with a second record-breaking year in a row. Just over halfway through 2026, the country has recorded more cases than in any other year since 1991 – surpassing a grim milestone that was just topped last year.
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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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