ND Republican delegates vote to remove party brand from officials who skip convention

Jerol Gohrick, chair of the District 2 GOP, proposed to strip the Republican Party brand from any incumbent elected officials who did not attend the convention. Supporters of the motion called incumbents RINOS, or Republicans in name only, and said their absence showed they don’t care about their constituents.

“You want to thumb your nose at the Republican state convention, how can you expect its endorsement?” said Clint Feland of Bismarck, a delegate from District 8.

Crystal Dueker, a long-time Republican from District 46 in Fargo, passionately opposed the proposal and criticized the “poison” and “venom” being directed within the party.

“If we divide our party, we’re going to be lost in the wilderness,” Dueker said in a later interview. “It’s just a battle between conservatives and Republicans, and I don’t want to see that battle. We need to work together.”

The absent statewide elected officials, including Gov. Kelly Armstrong, were the target of significant criticism from speakers, panelists and delegates in attendance on Saturday. No incumbents received the state party’s endorsement during the convention. The U.S. House endorsement will be discussed Sunday, though incumbent Rep. Julie Fedorchak will be among those absent. A sign posted at the convention called out officials who were “missing in action.”

Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, who participated as a delegate, said the incumbents’ decision to skip the convention was a “missed opportunity,” but he did not support Gohrick’s proposal to strip the officials of the Republican brand.

“The short answer is no. The long answer is hell no,” Hogue said in an interview. The attorney said he believes the effect would be only “symbolic” and is unnecessarily divisive. “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” he said.

The motion passed 318-312, with several delegates absent by the time the vote was taken late Saturday.

Rep. Karen Karls, R-Bismarck, was disappointed by the result and said “party law does not supersede state law.” Sen. Chuck Walen, R-New Town, said he plans to introduce 2027 legislation to ensure the party-endorsed candidate is always in the general election. Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, said it’s unclear whether the motion affects legislators as well as statewide officials.

Rep. Bernie Satrom, R-Jamestown, said he believed North Dakota Republicans may have damaged the party with that motion.

“We just put a nail in the coffin of the NDGOP,” Satrom said. “In my opinion, that was really a stupid move.”

Aimee Copas, chair for NDGOP District 30, said the delegates spent three hours talking about an issue that is in law and can’t be changed by an action of a political party.

Some incumbents pointed to frustrations over how the convention was handled in 2024 as their reason for skipping this year. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, who has sought the state endorsement several times, cited “back-biting and infighting” within the party. Armstrong is participating in a friend’s wedding this weekend.

Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer did not appear at the convention Saturday. Neither senator responded to requests for comment.

No floor nominations

The party only had two endorsements to consider, the U.S. House race and a six-year term on the Public Service Commission, the two races with candidates who met a deadline for seeking the party’s support.

Some delegates wanted to provide a “letter of recommendation” for Chris Olson, of Baldwin, for a two-year seat on the Public Service Commission. Olson was deemed to be ineligible for an official endorsement because he did not file with the party ahead of time. He spoke against Summit Carbon Solutions’ plans to build a carbon dioxide pipeline in the state.

“We should not be trampling private property owner rights,” Olson said in a floor speech.

The motion to provide a letter of recommendation proved controversial as several speakers warned against violating the party’s rules and setting a poor precedent. Others spoke in favor of providing a second candidate for the two seats on the commission. Republican incumbent Jill Kringstad, who submitted signatures to run for the two-year term, was among candidates not at the convention.

“A lot of us were insulted by the incumbents that weren’t coming,” said Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton. “That’s why some of these guys have stepped up.”

The motion to provide a letter of recommendation failed.

Some delegates were unhappy with the methods used to vote. Votes were judged by the number of people standing up for “aye” and “no” votes, a process that was at times tedious when votes were close.

“I’m a little disgusted with how things have been ran so far,” said Clint Hetletved, a delegate from Robinson in District 14 who favored the letter of recommendation. “It seems like something that would have happened in the 1900s. You know, why don’t we have clickers to vote with, like we do at Farmers Union and other major organizations?”

The party had about 1,470 delegates participate in the NDGOP convention in Fargo in 2024, a year that also saw a contested governor’s race.

Jim Martini, a Fargo delegate from District 11 and an Army veteran, warned Republican political dominance may not last in North Dakota if things continue as they are.

“If the Republicans don’t stop screwing around, you’re gonna have Democrats in power in the state,” Martini said.

Steve Deace, a conservative author serving as the keynote speaker, told delegates the officials not in attendance will come back to the party when the base proves it can govern.

“They’ll come back,” said Deace. “The power is now in your hands. Wield it, and do so wisely.”

Forum Communications columnist Rob Port reported the NDGOP denied his request for media credentials and also his attempt to purchase a $40 ticket to attend as a member of the public.

The party had a disclaimer on its website indicating that application for media credentials did not guarantee approval. When asked about the disclaimer during a March 10 news conference, Simon emphasized that the NDGOP is a private organization holding a private event and had “ultimate right of refusal.”

Media outlets in attendance had restricted access compared to the party’s state convention in 2024. Media representatives were required to work from the balcony and not allowed to access the floor for taking photos or conducting interviews, restrictions that were not in place two years ago. Broadcast outlets did not have audio or video hookups, which were provided at the last event.

Republicans hosted former NBA player Royce White as a speaker Friday night, but it was not open to the media. White, who won the Republican U.S. Senate primary in 2024 in Minnesota, has been the subject of various scandals, the Minnesota Reformer has reported, including making disparaging comments about various groups and accusations of campaign finance law violations.