Dem-NPL Reps Stand with Legislature Against Burgum Power Grab, but Disagree on Final Result

 BISMARCK, ND — On Friday, Dem-NPL Legislative Management Committee members voted along with the NDGOP representatives in a unanimous vote to challenge the governor’s purported appointment in House District 8 after the untimely death of David Andahl, which was too late for him to be removed from the ballot. 

House Minority Leader Josh Boschee said: 
 
“It’s essential for us as legislators, regardless of party, to stand up for the proper role of the legislative branch and a fair balance of power in North Dakota. The governor has overstepped his authority, and it’s our duty to unify on those grounds, even if we don’t agree on the ultimate outcome as to who will be seated in District 8. The governor does not get to pick and choose the legislature.” 
 
Dem-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said:
 
“We agree with the legislature that the governor has no authority to make this appointment, but we also agree with the governor that David Andahl was not qualified to be elected after his untimely death. As the qualified candidate with the next highest number of votes, Kathrin Volochenko should be seated as the House member for District 8. The governor tried to buy the seat in the primary, now he’s just trying to steal it when he should be focused on saving lives and livelihoods after his dismal COVID-19 response. We are consulting attorneys to determine the best path forward.”

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Biden-Harris Win, NDGOP Hold Anti-Democratic Protest

The Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said:

With record turnout across the nation, Americans sent a resounding message that we are committed to building a country that works for all of us. President Biden will live and govern by his words on the campaign trail, that he is a proud Democrat, but will be a president for all Americans. We are eager to work with this administration and anyone looking out for the best interests of North Dakotans.

The election of Sen. Kamala Harris as Vice President is an exciting and historic moment for women, for people of color, and for our nation. Her leadership and example will inspire us for generations to come.

Today, Sen. Cramer, Sen. Hoeven, and Rep. Armstrong make a dangerous statement by rallying in support of President Trump as he spews explicitly unproven attacks against election integrity across the nation. Their blatant disregard for the constitutional right of every American to make their voice heard at the ballot box is dastardly at worst and cowardly at best.

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NDGOP Leaders Must Condemn the President’s Attempt to Invalidate Ballots

BISMARCK, ND — As votes continue to be counted across the country, President Trump gave a speech tonight stating, without any evidence at all, that normal ongoing vote counting would “steal the election” from him. The president said he did not think “late votes” should be counted, which would mean legally cast North Dakota ballots that are still in the mail would not be counted.

North Dakota’s election rules, similar to those in several states, allows any vote postmarked by Nov. 2 and delivered in time for the official canvass on Nov. 9 to be valid. In several states, mail-in ballots were counted last unlike North Dakota that counted them first. 

The Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said: 

“The president’s attacks on routine and legal vote counting are deeply troubling, and we urge leaders across the aisle to join the bipartisan call that all ballots be counted in every state. Both Republicans and Democrats across the country have called out the president’s remarks as threatening the integrity of the voting process. Sen. Hoeven, Sen. Cramer, Rep. Armstrong and Gov. Burgum must condemn the president’s dangerous and baseless claim.”

 

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Burgum Makes Macabre Power Grab; Volochenko Earned a Seat at the Table

BISMARCK, ND — Early this morning, Gov. Burgum announced a purported appointment to fill the District 8 House seat in question after the untimely death of David Andahl to COVID-19. Kathrin Volochenko, one of the Dem-NPL nominees for the district, was the second top vote getter among qualified candidates, which should earn her the House seat in question.

The Dem-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said: 

“The election is not yet official, but the governor already made a macabre power grab in an attempt to keep the seat he thought he had already bought by meddling in his party’s primary. The plan appears to have been in motion for weeks while the COVID-19 crisis and hospital bed shortage grew more dire. His focus on an intra-party feud, rather than saving lives and livelihoods is disappointing and beyond the pale, even for Burgum. 

We agree with Burgum that after David Andahl died, he was no longer qualified to be elected into office. We also agree with the NDGOP legislative leadership that the governor has no authority to fill this seat. We are consulting with our legal advisors and considering the best path forward.”

Kathrin Volochenko, the second highest vote getter among qualified electors in HD-8, said:

“Thank you to everyone in our community who showed up to vote yesterday and in the last few weeks. By earning the second highest number of votes among qualified candidates, I will cherish the opportunity to represent District 8. The governor’s announcement was inappropriate, and District 8 deserves a representative who will stand up for their interests, not the governor’s.” 

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The Dem-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen’s Statement on North Dakota’s 2020 Election Results

We want to sincerely thank every North Dakotan who came out to express their voice at the ballot box yesterday and for the election workers and county auditors who made it possible to do so safely. Turnout across the state was the highest it’s been in many years, and that is always a good thing, even when the votes don’t go our way. 

We’re grateful to every Dem-NPL candidate who stepped up to run and make the voices of thousands of North Dakotans heard in the middle of a pandemic. Each candidate brought unique talent and passion to the table and we are so proud of their work. Their energy and dedication to improving the lives of North Dakotans will leave a lasting impression.

Although the results are disappointing, the Dem-NPL will always fight for working families all across the state. We will continue to hold the governor, statewide officials, and the NDGOP-controlled legislature accountable, especially as North Dakota faces the deepening public health and economic crisis.

Our representatives will continue to be focused on improving healthcare, supporting schools, and investing in infrastructure, which we know are all serious needs across North Dakota and important to working families everywhere. We’re going to keep reaching out and listening to voters, and we’re committed to earning the trust of North Dakotans across the state.

 

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Late PAC Spend Shows Burgum Trying to Buy Treasurer’s Seat, Repeating Primary

BISMARCK, ND — Just days before the election, Gov. Doug Burgum sent another $750,000 into his Dakota Leadership PAC as the PAC ups its last-minute attacks on Dem-NPL treasurer candidate Mark Haugen. Burgum largely funded Thomas Beadle’s primary, a tight race against Dan Johnston who was endorsed by President Trump. 

Now, Dakota Leadership is running attack ads against Haugen who has developed a wide ideological coalition of voters who value independence, accountability, and transparency. Haugen has earned endorsements from electrical workers, railroad workers, and firefighters, as well as Kris Cramer, a conservative activist and wife to Sen. Kevin Cramer. Haugen also earned the support of the Realtors PAC, a generally right of center organization, even though Beadle is a realtor.

The Dem-NPL Communications Director Alex Rohr said:

“Without his major patron Doug Burgum, Thomas Beadle never would have won a close primary against the Trump-backed candidate. Beadle knows it, and has already shown he’ll serve at the governor’s pleasure by supporting a vote to delay collection of oil royalties that should be benefitting public schools. Mark will be an independent voice who will represent North Dakotans, something we sorely need as Burgum, who has lost three public health officers during this pandemic, runs everyone who stands up to him out of town.”

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NDGOP Floods Mailboxes with Mystery Donor Mailers; Gov. Outsources Campaign 

BISMARCK, ND — Reports by KX News this week shed a little light on the piles of campaign mail stacking up in North Dakota mail boxes. The primary sources come from the dark money group “Brighter Future Alliance,” Gov. Burgum’s campaign, or the “Dakota Leadership PAC.” Burgum is the “Dakota Leadership PAC’s” biggest donor at just short of $3 million.

A report by KX News on Thursday showed that Burgum’s campaign and PAC have foregone the many North Dakota printers he could have used in favor of a Minnesota business. The move is in direct contradiction with his Main Street Initiative. “Brighter Future,” a group with ties to Republican campaign advertiser Odney, has spent at least $253,000, according to KX. The dark money group is not required to report their donors, meaning North Dakotans do not know who is spending hundreds of thousands to influence our elections.

The Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said:

“I’m not sure which is more disrespectful of North Dakotans: flooding their homes with misrepresentative mailers without telling them who’s paying for the attacks, or sending what could be millions of dollars to an out-of-state business during a public health and economic crisis. The NDGOP is making it clear they’re only interested in a North Dakota that works for a few while our Dem-NPL candidates are running to build an economy that works for all.” 

 

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Press Advisory: Election Planning and Press Availability

BISMARCK, ND — With Election Day days away, members of the press are invited to schedule Election Night interviews in advance. While the Dem-NPL is not planning an in-person watch party because of the pandemic, candidates and party officials will be available to press in person and through video calls in Bismarck and in Fargo. Arrangements for interviews with legislative candidates may also be made individually.

Due to the increase in mail-in ballots, which must be postmarked by November 2, but can be received before the official canvass on November 9, some races may not have a clear winner on Election Night. The same goes for the national election, which has vote-by-mail counting deadlines that vary by state. It is possible that we may not have a clear presidential nominee on the evening of November 3 or even the morning of November 4. Throughout most of United States history, we did not know who won the presidency on the night ballots were cast.

Election Day breaking news or emergency media requests for the Dem-NPL should be directed to Communications Director Alex Rohr.

Election Night

  • Dem-NPL statewide candidates will gather in Bismarck. Media may attend starting at 6:45 p.m. Masks are required and physical distancing will be practiced. Please RSVP to schedule interviews.
    • Dr. Shelley Lenz for Governor
    • Ben Vig for Lt. Governor
    • Zach Raknerud for Congress
    • Mark Haugen for Treasurer
    • Patrick Hart for Auditor
    • Casey Buchmann for Public Service Commission
  • The Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen, House Minority Leader Josh Boschee, and Rep. Karla Rose Hanson will be available for interviews starting at 6:30 p.m. at Red River Coffee in Fargo. Masks are required and physical distancing will be practiced RSVP required. No walk-in interviews allowed.
  • The Democratic-NPL Party Executive Director Michael Taylor and Communications Director Alex Rohr will be at the Kennedy Center in Bismarck, and also available for interviews throughout the day.
  • If you need assistance connecting with legislative candidates, contact Alex Rohr at [email protected].

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NDGOP Reps for 200,000 Remain Silent as Last of $1.25 Billion Relief Spent

BISMARCK, ND — The Legislative Budget section passed the final $221 million in federal CARES Act money today, the result of agencies returning previous allocations. The budget section only gets an up or down vote after the six-member Emergency Commission, all Republicans, is largely in control of the process that is closed to public debate and input. 

About 200,000 North Dakotans in 14 legislative districts are left completely unrepresented in the process that has included $0 for an Emergency Sick Leave Fund and insufficient resources for nursing homes and long term care as North Dakota continues near the top of the world in per capita COVID-19 cases. Districts: 3, 4, 6, 13, 16, 19, 21, 25, 26, 34, 41, 42, 43, 46 are not represented in the process. NDGOP legislators for these districts have failed to represent their communities by declining to advocate for a special session or any other process, that would allow their constituents to be represented in the recovery plans.

Lisa Finley-Deville, District 4 Senate candidate, said: 

“Remember, not one District 4 legislator is advocating for the people who need assistance and protection from COVID-19 the most. Native Americans are 3.5 times more likely than any other population to contract COVID-19. We can no longer be an afterthought. When will we be a priority? The state should have also added a stronger investment into first responders like EMS and fire departments early in the pandemic because they have been struggling in rural communities like ours, including Fort Berthold for a long time. We will be a priority only when we elect legislators who actually represent our communities.”

Kari Breker, District 16 Senate candidate, said: 

“There should have been an emergency special session to decide where that money went, so every district would have had a say. Our district didn’t get a voice, and none of our representatives said anything while just six men ignored a proposal for an Emergency Sick Leave Fund that would help working families stay home when they’re sick or need to quarantine without losing a paycheck. We could have used more of this money to help get the virus under control at nursing homes and long term care facilities, so we can see our family members for the holidays. But again, too few people were at the table.”

Adam Fortwengler, a District 42 House candidate, said: 

“In Grand Forks, 20% of our neighbors live in poverty, more than 10% are without health insurance, more than 10% are food insecure, 40% cannot afford a $400 emergency, and 40% can barely afford their rent or mortgage. This was all before the pandemic, which has strained the lives of working families even further as people struggle to maintain employment while keeping their families safe. But my opponents stood by silent while their party leaders short-changed our neighbors. That’s unacceptable.”

Ben W. Hanson, a District 46 House candidate, said: 

“Major budgetary decisions are still being made within days of an election with no input from the full legislature or the public. Once again, only a select few are able to even propose how North Dakota spends hundreds of millions of dollars. I called for a special session shortly after the pandemic began, but my opponents either lacked the motivation or vision to understand why we needed to act as a legislative branch before COVID could ramp up like this. That’s unacceptable. This kind of sit-by-and-wait mentality needs to change.”

 

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Emergency Commission Shorts Nursing Homes, Leaves Out Emergency Sick Leave That Would Slow Pandemic

BISMARCK, ND — The Legislative Budget Section voted today to allocate the last of the $1.25 billion in federal COVID-19 relief funds. The $221 million had been returned from agencies after previous allocations. The budget section gets only an up or down vote, but Sen. Tim Mathern moved for $16 million in oil company subsidies to be voted on separately. The virus is getting worse every day in North Dakota. According to news reports, the oil industry already has reached it’s full workforce, which was the original reason for using CARES Act money to cap abandoned wells.

Those federal funds intended for public health and economic relief could have been spent on support for nursing homes and long term care facilities for staff and infrastructure to ensure in-person visitation in time for the holidays. Nursing homes and long term care facilities have seen more than half of all infections in the state. Emergency Sick Leave is also a proven method to slow down the virus while protecting workers, families, and businesses. The Emergency Commission has declined to consider it. 

Sen. Tim Mathern said:

“The worldwide price of gas and oil determines the activity in the industry and there are other ways to spend that $16 million that are directly related to the coronavirus pandemic. The consequence of the pandemic will become much more dramatic as we go through this winter. Our first responsibility is to protect the lives and health of our citizens, and if we continue to have deaths and infections at the present rate, the entire economy across the North Dakota landscape is also going to struggle.” 

House Minority Leader Josh Boschee:

“There is no other industry or business in the state right now that we’re providing direct payments for production purposes. The support we’ve been providing to small businesses and businesses through the state in every industry have been to help them to convert their facilities, help with staffing, with sanitation, PPE, to help the public have trust in our economy to mitigate the spread of our virus. To divert funds away from addressing the public health needs of citizens while this virus is peaking every day is irresponsible. Our nursing homes and long term care facilities also need more help while they face the worst of the pandemic. As we come to the holidays, we should use some of the funds to support workers at these facilities so they can find ways to enable in-person visitation, so we can all see our loved ones safely.”
 

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Access to Affordable Healthcare Endangered During Crisis After SC Confirmation and NDGOP Inaction

BISMARCK, ND — Last night, North Dakota’s senators moved the nation toward their goal of eliminating the Affordable Care Act with the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Oral arguments over an anti-ACA lawsuit supported by NDGOP leaders, including Governor Burgum, are set for November 10. This lawsuit puts the ACA on the chopping block, along with its coverage for preexisting conditions and tens of millions of dollars in federal support for North Dakota’s hospitals, especially those in rural areas.

The lawsuit is supported by the North Dakota Republicans who have made no plan to prepare for the fall-out even as North Dakota is currently facing a hospital capacity crisis related to COVID-19. North Dakota Republicans even killed an attempt by Dem-NPL legislators to protect coverage of preexisting conditions in 2019. Prior to the ACA, only 22% of North Dakota Critical Access Hospitals had positive operating margins. By 2019, 50% had positive operating margins.

If the ACA is eliminated, North Dakota would lose:

  • Protections for coverage of preexisting conditions for tens of thousands of North Dakotans.
  • Roughly $10-20 million from a drug discount program for rural hospitals.
  • About $25 million per year in subsidies for rural hospitals as Medicaid Expansion is also eliminated.
  • Coverage for between 20,000-22,000 North Dakotans through Medicaid expansion.

The Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said:

“Senators Cramer and Hoeven put the healthcare of every North Dakotan in jeopardy by voting for a nominee that could wipe away the Affordable Care Act. That decision will cost North Dakota federal funds that are sustaining our rural hospitals, as we face a dangerous public health crisis that is straining our healthcare system and threatening our state budget. Their vote puts at risk the hundreds of North Dakotans per day now testing positive for COVID-19, as the virus and its after-effects become preexisting conditions. North Dakota Republican legislators and Gov. Burgum have made no plan for the fallout of this callous and rushed decision that could mean life or death as the pandemic ravages our state. This is irresponsible governing at its worst.”

 

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Republicans Surrender to Covid-19 as Virus Rages in North Dakota 

BISMARCK, ND — On Sunday, President Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said “we are not going to control the pandemic” as North Dakota’s COVID-19 death toll continues rising and the state’s hospitals are pushed to capacity. Meadows’ CNN interview signaled defeat by the virus much of the world has slowed or at least partly contained. The U.S. Senate has also refused to move forward with an updated public health and economic relief package. The House passed two bills that have not received a vote in the Senate.

The Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen said:

“Gov. Burgum spent much of his last press conference asking other North Dakotans to lead, a strong signal he’s not equipped for the job and doesn’t even want it anymore. Now, we’re seeing the White House surrender while their own staff faces an outbreak. Our senators haven’t even tried to reach a compromise across the aisle, so workers and small businesses can know their futures are secure and their families are safe. The true test of leadership is how you handle a crisis, and the North Dakota Republicans are showing they aren’t up to the task.”  

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