NDGOP endorses Balazs for House after Fedorchak withdraws while Dems back Hammer

FARGO (KFGO/North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota Republicans endorsed Alex Balazs for U.S. House on Saturday after candidate Rick Becker urged delegates to spoil ballots and Julie Fedorchak withdrew from the race.

The result was largely symbolic as all three Republican candidates plan to compete in the June 11 primary.

Balasz, a military veteran and first-time candidate from Cando, and Fedorchak, a Public Service Commissioner, were the only two candidates seeking the NDGOP endorsement. Becker, a former state lawmaker who led a far-right group in the Legislature, was not eligible for the NDGOP endorsement because he ran as an independent against Sen. John Hoeven in 2022.

Becker said his supporters felt disenfranchised and he encouraged them to “spoil” ballots by writing in his name. During the first vote, more than 380 delegates spoiled their ballots and no one earned enough votes to receive the endorsement.

Delegates conducted a second vote, with Balazs edging out Fedorchak 605-599 but falling just short of the 608 votes needed to win.

Fedorchak then withdrew from consideration for the endorsement, leading Republican Party Chair Sandi Sanford to declare Balazs the winner.

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL has endorsed Trygve Hammer for the U.S. House. In his acceptance speech, he said “I’m a North Dakota Democrat and I plan to win.”

Hammer said in his past run for Public Service Commissioner “dismissive pundits” said Hammer can’t win because he is just a “North Dakota Democrat.”

Hammer continued, “Patriotism is more than just a flag pin on a lapel, and liberty is more than just a catchphrase.”

Originally from Velva, Hammer served as a helicopter pilot, a forward air controller, a Military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, and as an instructor and company officer at the U.S. Naval Academy. He was deployed to Iraq in 2003 as an infantry officer and forward air controller. In 2010, he retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a major.

In his civilian life, Hammer taught 7-12 grade science in Granville, worked as a roughneck on oil rigs in the Bakken, and currently is a counselor for Job Corps in Minot.