U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong has emerged victorious in the Republican primary for North Dakota governor, while Julie Fedorchak won the rambunctious GOP race for the House seat Armstrong will vacate. Both candidates are now in a strong position for the November general election in the conservative state. Armstrong defeated Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller in the gubernatorial race to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum, who did not seek reelection.
Fedorchak, a longtime public utilities regulator, won a five-way contest for the House seat. If elected, she would be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the House. The GOP primaries are crucial in North Dakota, where Republicans have dominated state politics for decades. The voter-approved initiative to bar individuals from running for Congress if they turn 81 during their term was another significant outcome of the primary.
Armstrong, who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, is now gearing up for the general election against Democratic state Sen. Merrill Piepkorn. Meanwhile, Fedorchak will face military veteran Trygve Hammer in the House race.
The primaries also saw controversy, with negative ads and misleading messages being circulated. Despite this, candidates are now focusing on the general election. The next governor will have a challenging task of managing state finances and priorities, including tax cuts and property tax reform. Overall, the primary results set the stage for an intense general election campaign in North Dakota.
Source
Photo credit apnews.com