Statewide North Dakota Primary Election Turnout Just 20%

Former TV News Anchor Wins Seat on Fargo Commission

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Another North Dakota primary election is in the books and with it just 20% voter turnout statewide.

That is near average during presidential cycles but down 7% from 2020 when there was an increase in mail-in ballots due to the pandemic.

The North Dakota GOP says it trusts Republican voters and will place its full support behind Julie Fedorchak who won in the five-person GOP race for U.S. House.

She’s a longtime Public Service Commission member who failed to get the party’s nomination at their convention back in April.

She beat the endorsed candidate, Alex Balazs, by 41%.

The man Fedorchak is hoping to replace, Rep. Kelly Armstrong, easily won his primary race for governor.

Armstrong defeated Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller in her first political campaign by 46%.

Gov. Doug Burgum, who did not seek a third term, is under consideration to be former President Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate.

Armstrong and Fedorchak will be in a commanding position for the November general election in the conservative state.

There is a shakeup in the makeup of Fargo City Commission with a former Fargo television news anchor winning one of two seats up for grabs.

Michelle Turnberg got 21% of the votes to lead the pack followed closely by John Strand with 20%.

Strand will begin his third term on the commission, having first been elected in 2016.

Current City Commissioner Arlette Preston placed fourth in the results and will be replaced by Turnberg.

“Learning how the process works. Debates, getting out there talking to people, hearing voices from the community and hearing what their concerns are. So that’s all been very enlightening,” said Turnberg on election night.

It was Turnberg’s first time running for office.

She is a supporter of Donald Trump and local law enforcement.

For Strand, it’s a chance to keep working for the people of Fargo.

“The reality is this is just the beginning of a whole new chapter. Of more work to do, continued focus on making our community better, of watching out for the people who aren’t at the table, who need to be represented, who need to be remembered,” said Strand.

Strand also thanked Arlette Preston for her service as well as all of the candidates who ran.

Nearly 33,000 votes were cast for City Commission according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office.

North Dakota voters have approved a new ballot measure that puts age restrictions on candidates for congress.

The measure amends the state’s constitution to bar those candidates if they turn 81 by the end of the year before their term would expire.

It passed with 61% of voters’ support but is likely to get legal challenges.

The initiative’s campaign, “Retire Congress North Dakota”, believes topping out at the age of 80 strikes the right balance for elected representatives.

The three current members of North Dakota’s congressional delegation are all under 70 years old.