Mike Jacobs writes about the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in his column this week. He notes that the protests illustrate what a political force the tribes have come, at least when it comes to obstructing pipelines, and points out that North Dakota’s Democrats have three Native American candidates on the statewide ballot this cycle. North…
Democrats Have Three Native American Candidates For Statewide Office, Two For The Legislature
Here’s an interesting side note which may reveal something about the recruitment efforts of North Dakota Democrats this cycle. Three of the statewide candidates are Native Americans. Chase Iron Eyes of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe is already well known to SAB readers. He was endorsed at the party’s state convention earlier this month. Ruth…
With Candidate Deadline Looming Democrats Still Have A Third Of Legislative Races Unfilled
So far the North Dakota Democrats have left four statewide races without a candidate: Auditor, Treasurer, Public Service Commissioner, and Insurance Commissioner. They’ve claimed that this lack of statewide candidate recruit is because they’ve been focused on the Legislature, but there too they’ve been struggling. According to a review of campaign filings on the Secretary…
North Dakota Democrats Ripped In Newspaper Editorials For Being Irrelevant
The North Dakota Democrats are “embarrassing” says the Grand Forks Herald in an editorial today. “[T]hey seem to have written off this year’s elections already,” writes Tom Dennis: It will surprise no one when we say that the Democratic Party in North Dakota is weak. That’s exactly why the party now needs a look in…
North Dakota Democrats Seat Just 252 Delegates For State Convention
“Democrats kick off convention today with most delegates since 2008,” reads the headline to this Mike Nowtazki article published last night. It is a preview of the Democratic state convention which begins in earnest today in Bismarck. Party executive director Robert Haider fed Nowatzki some spin, I think. “Democratic-NPL Party Executive Director Robert Haider said…
As Their State Convention Begins Democrats Have Two Statewide Candidates And 42 Percent Of Legislative Races Filled
The North Dakota Democrats begin their statewide convention today in Bismarck. They’re not even the top-billed event at the facility they’re using. The main arena at the Bismarck Civic Center will feature the Shrine Circus. No, I’m not kidding. As they begin their three-day convention they have just two announced statewide candidates. State Rep. Marvin…
It’s That Time In The Election Cycle When Democrats Demand A Special Legislative Session
North Dakota Democrats demanding a special session of the Legislature has become something of an election year tradition in North Dakota. At the end of February in 2014 the Democrats asked Governor Jack Dalrymple to convene a special session of the Legislature to increase state spending. At the time Democrats argued that the state hadn’t…
Lucky For Them: North Dakota Democrats Are Not At Risk Of Losing Automatic Ballot Access
There’s no question that North Dakota Democrats are in a bad spot. Their statewide convention begins in just 17 days, the deadline for submitting candidates for the June primary vote is just 28 days away, and as I write this they’ve yet to announce a single statewide candidate. Interestingly, the Democrats have scheduled their state…
Can Democrats Put Doug Burgum Over The Top In An Open Republican Primary?
Back in January, shortly after Doug Burgum announced his campaign for governor, I wrote that years of incompetence by North Dakota Democrats might actually be a boon for him. North Dakota has no voter registration and a wide open primary ballot. Democrats can vote for Republican candidates, and with Democrats unlikely to field competitive nomination…
Hundreds Of Activists Pack Republican District Conventions Across North Dakota
In his column today Mike Jacobs alludes to some interesting outcomes for Republican legislative races in three districts across the state: In District 28, William Kretschmar—a long-serving member of the North Dakota House—was defeated. He’s regarded as too tolerant on social issues. Likewise in District 36, Alan Fehr lost to a candidate who presented himself…
