If the state party conventions are a measure of enthusiasm of political activists in the state, Republicans seem to have a major advantage. I’m attending the NDGOP state convention in Grand Forks today, and a party official confirmed to me that they now have over 1,600 delegates registered. To put that in context, the North…
North Dakota Democrats Are So Jealous of the NDGOP’s Delegate Count It’s Kinda Hilarious
The NDGOP has (in a disappointing development) Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke as their keynote speaker for the convention this weekend. They also have enough registered delegates to fill their venue at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks to capacity. So much so the party has to close Zinke’s speech to the public so…
Tom Campbell Campaign Gets Bailed Out by NDGOP Decision Allowing Paid for Delegates to Avoid Disclosure
Last night at a candidate forum put on by the Cass County United Republicans Committee state Senator Tom Campbell, a candidate for the U.S. House, claimed his campaign has paid for very few delegates to attend the NDGOP’s state convention. He also claimed that those delegates paid for were college students he intended to help…
Former Congressman Rick Berg Elected as New NDGOP Chairman
When state Senator Kelly Armstrong launched his campaign for the U.S. House he had to step down from his position as chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. Since then Vice Chairman Jim Poolman has been serving as the acting chairman, but today the party’s state committee met to select a new chairman. That chairman…
Campbell Campaign Won’t Say if They’re Paying for Delegates to Attend State Convention
The NDGOP convention next month is a little more high stakes than usual thanks to a contested race for the House endorsement. There are five candidates in that race, but two real front runners, state Senators Tom Campbell and Kelly Armstrong. The latter Senator has said on the record that he will abide by the…
Kelly Armstrong: North Dakotans Deserve Better Than Senator Heitkamp’s Fear Mongering
The irony is not lost on me that Senator Heitkamp touts one of her number one reasons for not supporting historic tax relief is her “concern” of adding $1.5 trillion to the national deficit over the next decade. What she leaves out of that statement is the fact that under President Obama, she supported policies…
NDGOP Chairman Rips White Supremacist Who Endorsed Senate Candidate, Criticizes Forum for Publishing Letter
Fargo-based white supremacist Pete Tefft (who prefers to refer to himself as a “pro-white civil rights activist,” whatever that is) made a stir recently when he began posting social media messages supporting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Campbell and criticizing Democratic incumbent Heidi Heitkamp. This prompted Campbell’s campaign to ban Tefft from their social media…
Kelly Armstrong: Heidi Heitkamp Can’t Afford to Turn Her Back on Tax Reform
President Trump was elected largely on the promise of not being another all-talk, no-action politician. And while the President’s personal approval ratings have taken a bit of a hit because of his outspoken candor, public support for his policy initiatives like tax reform remains quite strong. In fact, 42% of North Dakotans said they would…
Audio: NDGOP Director Says “We Are Behind President Trump and His Agenda” While Accusing Heitkamp of Obstruction
Conventional political wisdom is that a President with low approval numbers is a hindrance to his political party. But when it comes to President Donald Trump and North Dakota, I’m not sure anyone actually believes that. Not only are Democrats in North Dakota treating Trump with kid gloves, but Republicans aren’t shy about backing him…
NDGOP Releases “Heidi’s Hiding” Video
The NDGOP has been doing this series of media releases called “Heidi’s Hiding,” a reference to Senator Heidi Heitkamp and her propensity to be a bit more politically left with her actions in Washington D.C. than she presents herself back here in North Dakota. The latest is a video which hits Heitkamp on cooperation with…