Meet Mary
Mary is a lifelong North Dakotan with deep roots in Grand Forks and a strong belief in the community she calls home.
Born and raised in Grand Forks, Mary was the tenth of eleven children in a large family. She attended both parochial and public schools before graduating from high school and continuing her education at business college.
Mary began her career in retail in Grand Forks in 1973 and worked in the industry for more than two decades. In 1999, she earned her real estate license and continued serving the community in a career that gave her a firsthand understanding of the people, families, and businesses that make North Dakota special. She retired in 2025.
Mary’s North Dakota story is also a family story. While attending business college, she asked the cute guy in her class out on a date. Fifty-four years later, they are still together and they still believe that North Dakota is the best place to live.
With a lifetime of work, family, and community experience, Mary brings a practical perspective and a deep appreciation for the people and places that make North Dakota home.
Legislative Priorities
Mary believes government should work for the people it represents. Every North Dakotan deserves the opportunity to meet their basic needs, including safe, affordable housing, access to healthcare and nutritious food, quality childcare, and a good public education for their children.
Mary is running because she believes the legislature needs more balance, more accountability, and, most importantly, a willingness to listen. She wants to make sure the voices of everyday North Dakotans are heard, not just the voices of political caucuses or special interests.
Her priorities include education, healthcare, childcare, housing, and government transparency. North Dakota has tremendous resources and opportunities, but Mary believes those benefits should reach the people who live and work here.
Affordable childcare is essential for working families and for the state’s economy. Mary supports expanding childcare programs to address both the shortage of available care and the high cost families face. She also believes we need to invest in housing so growing communities like Grand Forks can keep pace with demand. With housing costs rising and an estimated 2,400 additional homes needed in Grand Forks by 2030, communities need the resources to build the housing their residents need.
Mary believes public education must also be properly funded. When local school districts are facing significant deficits, families and students ultimately feel the consequences. Strong schools are an investment in North Dakota’s future.
Finally, Mary believes transparency and accountability must be at the heart of state government. She supports clear guidelines for negotiations surrounding large development projects, including data centers, and believes government should not enter into non-disclosure agreements that prevent citizens from understanding decisions that affect their communities. North Dakotans should not be left paying the hidden costs of development without having a voice in the process.
Above all, Mary wants her constituents to know that their voices matter. She believes elected officials have a responsibility to listen, represent their communities, and work together to find practical solutions. For Mary, bringing balance to the legislature starts with bringing the people back into the conversation.
District 43 Information
District 43, as pictured, includes a large portion of Grand Forks, is a younger and fast-moving community shaped in large part by the presence of the University of North Dakota. About 16,000 people live in the district, and the median age is just under 30, making it one of the younger areas in the state. The median household income is around $46,000. The poverty rate is higher than the state average, largely because of the number of college students living in the area. Most households have access to reliable broadband internet, and the district is made up of a mix of students, working families, and long-time residents.
Contact
Mary Adams Campaign
1942 Prairie Rose Court
Grand Forks, ND
mkadams1952@gmail.com
701-739-5520