FARGO, ND – On December 15, state Rep. Nico Rios (R-Williston) was arrested for driving under the influence. After it was reported that he called police officers racist and homophobic slurs, Rios has refused to resign.

North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn said, “You wouldn’t trust Rios in a car with your children, why would we trust him to make laws? His abusive treatment of law enforcement and his homophobic and anti-immigrant tirade were abhorrent. Rios’ refusal to resign shows just how feckless the NDGOP leadership is—they clearly have no control over their lawmakers.”

This comes after a series of scandalous behavior has been reported on from NDGOP officials including hiring an executive director who posted demeaning comments about women and minorities, equivocating and joking about allegations against former Sen. Holmberg that he traveled to Prague to rape children, and standing up for the employee who had former Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem’s emails deleted lest they be subject to an open records request.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 28, 2023

CONTACT:

Laura Dronen

Communications Director

(701) 566-0616

[email protected]

FARGO, ND – North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Chair Adam Goldwyn released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court taking up the Fifth Circuit’s decision on mifepristone—a safe and effective medication prescribed by doctors to administer more than half of the abortions in the United States and manage miscarriages:

“North Dakotans who need an abortion already face enormous hurdles. Our draconian laws—which most North Dakotans oppose—force women to travel out of state to seek care.

If the Supreme Court restricts access to this abortion medication—which is safe and effective—it will be a continued attack by Trump and Republican lawmakers to strip away reproductive rights across America. The GOP is doubling down on their extreme war on our freedoms and promising to go further. Make no mistake—Women’s reproductive rights and freedoms are at stake in 2024. While Republicans claim to be the party of less government and individual liberty, they pass laws that put the most intimate and personal decisions in our lives in the hands of politicians. The Democratic Party believes medical decisions should be between doctors and patients, not Donald Trump.”

President Biden and Vice President Harris will protect a woman’s right to choose, and they have a record of:

–Calling on Congress to codify the protections of Roe into law, restoring rights women relied on for nearly 50 years.

-Standing by the FDA’s evidence-based approval of mifepristone — and the Biden-Harris administration will continue to defend the FDA’s independent, expert authority to review, approve, and regulate a wide range of prescription drugs.

–Fighting to ensure access to emergency medical care.

-Strengthening patient privacy and access to contraception.

-Supporting a woman’s right to travel for medical care.

–Promising to veto a national abortion ban.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

December 14, 2023

CONTACT:

Laura Dronen

Communications Director

(701) 566-0616

[email protected]

Bismarck, ND – Last week, the Chief Judge for the District of North Dakota ruled that the state’s 2021 legislative redistricting plan violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by illegally diluting Native Americans’ voting strength and denying them the opportunity to elect their preferred candidates to the legislature. GOP Leaders have now chosen to appeal this Trump appointee’s decision.

“It is a mistake to appeal this decision. Judge Welte carefully considered the evidence before him, engaged in thorough legal analysis, and authored a decision consistent with the facts and long-standing precedent,” said House Minority Leader Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks). “The ruling gives the legislature a second chance to do the right thing: draw a legislative district map that ensures Native American representation and abides by the Voting Rights Act,” added Ista.

Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan (D-Fargo) remarked, “The State should accept this ruling and work without delay and without incurring additional costs to the taxpayers to adopt new districts that conform to the Voting Rights Act. Instead, the State is using a legally dubious new 8th Circuit opinion as cover for its misguided decision to appeal.” Voting rights experts from across the country have assailed a November 20 split ruling by a three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, with most experts believing an appeal of that case is inevitable. “Rather than waiting for that lengthy legal process to play out, North Dakota should take the lead and redraw our legislative maps now,” added Hogan.

The rulings in North Dakota and the 8th Circuit highlight the continued Republican assault on voting rights and fair legislative and congressional districts across the country. “Voting rights are sacred in our country. There should be broad, bipartisan support to make voting easier and more accessible and to draw legislative districts fairly. But too many Republicans in too many places are continuing an assault on voting rights, most often in ways that disproportionately impact racial minorities,” said Ista.

Hogan concluded, “Let’s not add North Dakota to this list; let’s instead adopt new legislative maps that advance Native American representation in our great state.”

The Democratic-NPL has been a leader in promoting and supporting Native American representation across the state, including current state representatives Jayme Davis (D-Rollette) and Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-Mandaree) and former elected leaders like Ruth Buffalo and Richard Marcellais. In addition to their elected positions, Davis also serves as House Minority Caucus Leader, Finley-DeVille serves as the Vice Chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL, and Buffalo is the current DNC Committeewoman for the state party. The Democratic-NPL also supports its Native American Caucus chaired by Prairie Rose Seminole.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 21, 2023

CONTACT:
Laura Dronen
Communications Director
(701) 566-0616
[email protected]

Fargo, ND – Former First Lady Grace Link to be named Honorary Chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Century Club at the 13th Annual Democratic-NPL Burdick Dinner. The dinner will feature keynote speaker, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Four & Four in Fargo.

Link was married to Art Link, who served as North Dakota’s 27th governor. He also served as a U.S. Representative from 1971 to 1973. Art Link died in 2010 at the age of 96, not long after the couple celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. Link has remained a party stalwart, continuing to attend events into her 100s, and sharing her wisdom with up-and-coming Dem-NPLers.

The Century Club supports the Democratic-NPL year-round work to build party infrastructure supporting candidate recruitment, local district and regional leadership, issue-based education, and tools for Dem-NPL success.

Bob Valeu, Executive Director of the party in 1967 and the inspiration behind this grassroots giving program said, “Art and Grace were original members of Century Club. Art was a legislator in ND when we began this program, and then he went on to Congress and became Governor of ND. Grace was his partner through it all, and she has been consistently supportive of Century Club over the years.”

Tickets to the 13th Annual Democratic-NPL Burdick are available at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/burdick2023.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 2, 2023

CONTACT:
Laura Dronen
Communications Director
(701) 566-0616
[email protected]

Fargo, ND – In response to recent reporting regarding the NDGOP Executive Director’s social media posts, North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn released the following statement:

“There was a time when the moral rot that is now at the heart of the Republican Party was shocking, but after Trump’s Access Hollywood tape, his hush money payment to an actress in pornographic films while his wife was nursing their young child, to his being found civilly liable for the rape of E. Jean Carrol, the rest of us must stop pretending that the behavior of the NDGOP Executive Director is a shock. This is the Republican Party. At this point, the voters of North Dakota have a choice—voting for Republicans affirms this kind of behavior. North Dakotans who are disgusted by these vile comments have one choice: rebuke it at the ballot box.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 26, 2023

CONTACT:
Laura Dronen
Communications Director
(701) 566-0616
[email protected]

Fargo, ND – Yesterday, the House GOP voted unanimously to elect Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House. As more about Johnson’s past positions come to light, his extreme views are raising questions.

North Dakota Democratic-NPL Chair Adam Goldwyn admonished, “Mike Johnson will be the most extreme Speaker of the House in history. This is a man who worked nefariously behind the scenes to overturn the 2020 election, has advocated for locking up LGBTQ+ Americans, wants to criminalize abortions so women give birth to ‘able-bodied workers into the economy,’ and has fought to decimate Social Security and Medicare. On top of this, Johnson is now claiming to have a mandate from God to be House Speaker. Make no mistake—Kelly Armstrong is not a moderate. Johnson’s attacks on democracy and American freedoms are appalling, and Armstrong is now walking arm and arm with this man. Democrats believe that election results should be honored, and all Americans should be free to be who they are and live the lives they want. Republicans, led by Mike Johnson, don’t believe in that freedom.”

Here’s what national news outlets are reporting on Johnson’s previously little-known record:

How new House Speaker Mike Johnson spent years fighting against gay rights

Mike Johnson’s Ties to Christian Nationalism Revealed

What are new House Speaker Mike Johnson’s record and views on abortion?

House Speaker Mike Johnson played a key role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 26, 2023

CONTACT:
Laura Dronen
Communications Director
(701) 566-0616
[email protected]