North Dakota
4 winners and 2 losers from the Maine, Nevada, North Dakota, and South Carolina primaries
4 units of main elections Tuesday night time confirmed the salience of former President Donald Trump’s endorsement, and have been a reminder of the challenges Democrats may have in motivating their base to defend incumbents in November.
Nevada was the middle of a lot of the political motion Tuesday night time, with heated Republican primaries unfolding for the US Senate, governor, and secretary of state seats. President Joe Biden gained the state by a a lot narrower margin than anticipated in 2020 — and Republicans are hoping political tailwinds increase their efforts to take over all 4 of the state’s high places of work.
Elsewhere, the ability of former President Donald Trump’s endorsement shone by means of Republican main competitions, with the previous president’s picks sweeping the sphere in Nevada and North Dakota, and upsetting the standing of incumbents in South Carolina.
These primaries, in addition to ones in Maine (and a Texas particular election) occurred Tuesday night time. Listed below are 4 winners and two losers from them.
Winner: Trump’s election lies
Election deniers gained large in Nevada: Three candidates who’ll problem Democrats within the fall ran not less than partly on the lie that Donald Trump gained the 2020 election.
Within the race to tackle incumbent Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Adam Laxalt — the well-known, anti-abortion, pro-Trump former legal professional common — cleared the sphere. He was Trump’s 2020 Nevada marketing campaign co-chair, and has been an outspoken advocate for the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. Earlier this 12 months, he declared he “sounded each alarm possible” after the 2020 election that it had been stolen.
An election denier additionally defeated an outdated institution favourite within the Republican main for Nevada governor. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo will face incumbent Democratic governor Steve Sisolak, who really beat Laxalt in an in depth race in 2018. Lombardo bested former Sen. Dean Heller, North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, and outsider Joey Gilbert. Lombardo has additionally questioned Biden’s win — and hasn’t been shy about making election integrity a part of his pitch to voters.
And one other, extra fervent, election truther gained the first for Nevada secretary of state. Jim Marchant, a former state meeting member, has made falsehoods in regards to the 2020 election a central a part of his marketing campaign. “Your vote hasn’t counted for many years … you haven’t elected anyone. The folks which are in workplace have been chosen. You haven’t had a selection,” he advised a crowd in February, in keeping with a neighborhood Fox affiliate.
Marchant may throw the state’s administration of election into chaos fueled by conspiracy theories: He’s mentioned he wouldn’t have licensed Biden’s win two years in the past, and has argued that the state ought to do away with voting machines and return at hand counts.
It’s unclear how profitable candidates this radical may be in a common election. The state has trended towards Democrats in the previous few elections, but when Republicans acquire momentum this fall — one thing they imagine is feasible resulting from Biden’s low approval rankings and common frustration with inflation — even weak candidates may do nicely. However for now, Trump can as soon as once more tout some large endorsement wins.
—Christian Paz
Winner: Donald Trump
Candidates with Trump endorsements have typically accomplished nicely of their primaries to this point, however he had extra of a combined bag this week, with a reasonably large victory in South Carolina in addition to a notable loss.
Whereas Russell Fry — a South Carolina state consultant who earned Trump’s endorsement — was in a position to oust incumbent Rep. Tom Rice, former state lawmaker Katie Arrington was unable to do the identical with incumbent Rep. Nancy Mace. Rice raised the president’s ire after voting to question him, whereas Mace did so after criticizing his false claims of election fraud. Though Rice misplaced his main by double digits on Tuesday, Mace was in a position to eke out a win, underscoring the restrictions of Trump’s endorsement.
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Nonetheless Mace needed to present she wasn’t overtly hostile to Trump as a way to win. She took pains to remind voters of her early assist for the previous president, and didn’t supply any new critiques of him whereas on the path. A Trump endorsement may not have been wanted to win SC-01’s main, however it appeared Mace’s marketing campaign didn’t assume bashing him would assist both.
Trump scored some victories elsewhere as nicely. In Nevada, his choose for the US Senate race, Adam Laxalt held off a problem from army veteran Sam Brown who’d gained the endorsement of the state’s Republican occasion, partly by proving he was the Trumpier candidate. Trump’s gubernatorial candidate, Joe Lombardo, additionally got here out forward. And his selection for secretary of state, former state Assemblymember Jim Marchant, took the endorsement to the financial institution.
In North Dakota, incumbent Sen. John Hoeven gained each the state occasion’s endorsement, and Trump’s backing. He simply trounced a conservative activist, and is a shoo-in for a common election victory. He’s additionally among the many candidates Trump endorsed who was already extensively anticipated to win.
—Li Zhou and CP
Winner: Nikki Haley
Mace’s victory on Tuesday was additionally a victory for former South Carolina governor and Trump’s one-time UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. Haley invested large within the Republican main for South Carolina’s first district. She not solely backed Mace, however filmed a tv advert, headlined a fundraiser, and campaigned alongside her. The first in the end pitted Haley towards Trump, her former boss, who opposed Mace given her criticism of him after the January 6 riot.
“She’s nasty, disloyal, and unhealthy for the Republican Social gathering,” Trump beforehand mentioned about Mace. Final 12 months, Mace mentioned that she wished to be a “new voice for the Republican Social gathering,” although she stopped in need of voting to question Trump or supporting an unbiased fee to look into the riot.
Since then, nonetheless, Mace has sought to tie herself extra carefully to Trump, going as far as to movie a video in entrance of Trump Tower meant to emphasise that she was certainly one of his earliest supporters.
Regardless of these efforts, Trump endorsed Arrington, who beforehand ran for Mace’s seat and misplaced towards former Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham. Mace has emphasised that the district is a battleground that’s much less conservative than another areas within the state, noting that she’s the one one of many two who’s gained there.
Whereas Trump might have deserted her, a number of Republican leaders within the state stood by Mace. Along with Haley, Mace was additionally endorsed by former Trump OMB director Mick Mulvaney. Haley’s involvement on this race additionally may portend a extra direct face-off in 2024: She’s seen as a possible contender for the Republican presidential nomination who may nicely tackle Trump.
—LZ
Loser: Republican grassroots candidates
In each Maine and Nevada, Republican candidates who tried harnessing grassroots vitality to mount an upset towards entrenched rivals ended up falling quick.
In Maine’s second congressional district, small enterprise proprietor Liz Caruso misplaced to former Home Rep. Bruce Poliquin after branding herself the “America First” candidate and the particular person most prepared to problem the established order. Equally, within the Nevada Senate main, army veteran Sam Brown misplaced to former Nevada Lawyer Normal Adam Laxalt, regardless of emphasizing his “outsider” standing and racking up some sturdy fundraising numbers.
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In each instances, Caruso and Brown went up towards candidates with backing from nationwide Republicans: Poliquin is supported by GOP teams just like the Congressional Management Fund, whereas Laxalt has been endorsed by a number of Republican senators and Trump. That backing — to not point out voters’ familiarity with Poliquin and Laxalt — proved tough to beat.
—LZ
Winner: Texas Republicans
Texas Republicans notched a symbolic — however short-lived — victory in a particular Home election on Tuesday triggered by Democratic Rep. Filemon Vela’s retirement. Within the contest for Texas’s thirty fourth district, well being care employee Mayra Flores beat out the Democratic candidate, former Cameron County Commissioner Dan Sanchez, and averted a runoff by successful greater than 50 p.c of the vote.
Flores’s win is critical as a result of the district is a longstanding Democratic one which Republicans focused aggressively on this particular election after a number of South Texas counties flipped for the GOP in 2020. These efforts seem to have paid off — although Republicans doubtless benefited from low turnout within the particular election.
Notably, nonetheless, the seat is ready to flip again to Democrats quickly. Flores will solely serve on this position till January, when whoever wins the autumn election shall be sworn in. Due to redistricting, that particular person is more likely to be a Democrat. Between now and November, the thirty fourth will go from a average district to a solidly blue one. (Whereas Biden gained the present model of the district by simply 4 proportion factors, he gained the brand new model by 16 proportion factors.)
Nonetheless, Flores’ win permits Republicans to level to the momentum they’ve picked up in South Texas and on this 12 months’s elections general. It additionally speaks to GOP efforts to make inroads with Latino voters within the space, a few of whom shifted proper in 2020.
—LZ
Loser: Progressive challengers
Nevada’s first congressional district noticed what appeared to be a heated main contest between a extra average incumbent Democrat and a progressive, Bernie Sanders-backed challenger fizzle out. Ultimately, the sitting member of Congress, Rep. Dina Titus secured a a knock-out win.
A member of the Blue Canine caucus within the Home, Titus has held the seat, which incorporates most of Las Vegas and elements of North Las Vegas, since 2013. Republicans have educated their consideration on it as a major alternative to achieve a seat within the fall. However on main night time, Titus led Amy Vilela, a former co-chair for Sanders’ 2020 presidential marketing campaign, by practically 70 factors.
In South Carolina, in the meantime, the institution favourite, former US Rep. Joe Cunningham, beat again an upstart bid from a barely extra progressive state senator, Mia McLeod. He led by practically 30 factors on main night time.
Cunningham was lauded in DC Democratic circles for flipping a Republican seat in 2018, earlier than shedding to Nancy Mace in 2020. Although McLeod accused Cunningham of being a “Republican-lite” Democrat, the race boiled down to call recognition and electability.
It’ll be an uphill battle for any candidate making an attempt to unseat incumbent South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster. Cunningham argues that his previous win within the state suggests he has a confirmed potential of bringing each Democratic and crossover Republican voters collectively, nonetheless.
“We’ve obtained to energise the bottom and get Democrats out, however we even have to tug folks over. And I’ve already been profitable in getting these people into the tent,” he mentioned in a current Washington Submit interview.
Presently, Cunningham’s platform consists of increasing Medicaid, elevating trainer pay and defending abortion rights. His bid remains to be very a lot a protracted shot, although. Since 2003, South Carolina’s governor has been a Republican and conservatives have come out forward in statewide races in recent times.
—CP and LZ
North Dakota
Audit of North Dakota state auditor finds no issues; review could cost up to $285K • North Dakota Monitor
A long-anticipated performance audit of the North Dakota State Auditor’s Office found no significant issues, consultants told a panel of lawmakers Thursday afternoon.
“Based on the work that we performed, there weren’t any red flags,” Chris Ricchiuto, representing consulting firm Forvis Mazars, said.
The review was commissioned by the 2023 Legislature following complaints from local governments about the cost of the agency’s services.
The firm found that the State Auditor’s Office is following industry standards and laws, and is completing audits in a reasonable amount of time, said Charles Johnson, a director with the firm’s risk advisory services.
“The answer about the audit up front is that we identified four areas where things are working exactly as you expect the state auditor to do,” Johnson told the committee.
The report also found that the agency has implemented some policies to address concerns raised during the 2023 session.
For example, the Auditor’s Office now provides cost estimates to clients before they hire the office for services, Johnson said. The proposals include not-to-exceed clauses, so clients have to agree to any proposed changes.
The State Auditor’s Office also now includes more details on its invoices, so clients have more comprehensive information about what they’re being charged for.
The audit originally was intended to focus on fiscal years 2020 through 2023. However, the firm extended the scope of its analysis to reflect policy changes that the Auditor’s Office implemented after the 2023 fiscal year ended.
State Auditor Josh Gallion told lawmakers the period the audit covers was an unusual time for his agency. The coronavirus pandemic made timely work more difficult for his staff. Moreover, because of the influx of pandemic-related assistance to local governments from the federal government, the State Auditor’s Office’s workload increased significantly.
Gallion said that, other than confirming that the changes the agency has made were worthwhile, he didn’t glean anything significant from the audit.
“The changes had already been implemented,” he said.
Gallion has previously called the audit redundant and unnecessary. When asked Thursday if he thought the audit was a worthwhile use of taxpayer money, Gallion said, “Every audit has value, at the end of the day.”
The report has not been finalized, though the Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee voted to accept it.
Audit of state auditor delayed; Gallion calls it ‘redundant, unnecessary’
“There was no shenanigans, there were no red flags,” Sen. Jerry Klein, R-Fessenden, said at the close of the hearing.
Forvis representatives told lawmakers they plan to finish the report sometime this month.
The contract for the audit is for $285,000.
Johnson said as far as he is aware Forvis has sent bills for a little over $150,000 so far. That doesn’t include the last two months of the company’s work, he said.
The consulting firm sent out surveys to local governments that use the agency’s services.
The top five suggestions for improvements were:
- Communication with clients
- Timeliness
- Helping clients complete forms
- Asking for same information more than once
- Providing more detailed invoices
The top five things respondents thought the agency does well were:
- Understanding of the audit process
- Professionalism
- Willingness to improve
- Attention to detail
- Helpfulness
Johnson said that some of the survey findings should be taken with a “grain of salt.”
“In our work as auditors, we don’t always make people happy doing what we’re supposed to do,” he said.
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BISMARCK — A bill introduced in the North Dakota House of Representatives could cap out-of-pocket insulin costs for some North Dakotans at $25 per month.
The bill also includes a monthly cap for insulin-related medical supplies of $25.
With insulin costing North Dakota residents billions of dollars each year,
House Bill 1114
would provide relief for people on fully insured plans provided by individual, small and large group employers. People on self-funded plans would not be affected.
“I call insulin liquid gold,” Nina Kritzberger, a 16-year-old Type 1 diabetic from Hillsboro, told lawmakers. “My future depends on this bill.”
HB 1114 builds on
legislation
proposed during the 2023 session that similarly sought to establish spending caps on insulin products.
Before any health insurance mandate is enacted,
state law
requires the proposed changes first be tested on state employee health plans.
As such, the legislation was altered to order the state Public Employees Retirement System, or PERS, to introduce an updated bill based on the implementation of a $25 monthly cap on a smaller scale.
The updated bill — House Bill 1114 — would bring the cap out of PERS oversight and into the North Dakota Insurance Department, which regulates the fully insured market but not the self-insured market.
Employers that provide self-insured health programs use profits to cover claims and fees, acting as their own insurers.
Fully insured plans refer to employers that pay a third-party insurance carrier a fixed premium to cover claims and fees.
“It (the mandate) doesn’t impact the entire insurance market within North Dakota,” PERS Executive Director Rebecca Fricke testified during a Government and Veterans Affairs Committee meeting on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Vice President Megan Hruby told the committee that two-thirds of the provider’s members would not be eligible for the monthly cap, calling the bill a “false promise.”
“We do not make health insurance more affordable by passing coverage mandates, as insurance companies don’t pay for mandates. Policy holders pay for mandates in the form of increased premiums,” Hruby said.
She touted the insurance provider having already placed similar caps on insulin products and said companies should be making those decisions, not the state government.
Sanford Health and the Greater North Dakota Chamber also had representatives testify against the bill.
Advocates for the spending cap said higher premiums are worth lowering the cost of insulin drugs and supplies.
“One of the first things that people ask me about is, ‘Why should I pay for your insulin?’ And my response is, ‘Why should I have to pay for your premiums?’” Danelle Johnson, of Horace, said in her testimony.
If adopted and as written, the spending caps brought by
House Bill 1114
would apply to the North Dakota commercial insurance market and cost the state around $834,000 over the 2025-27 biennium.
According to the 2024 North Dakota diabetes report,
medical fees associated with the condition cost North Dakotans over $306 billion in 2022.
The state has more than 57,200 adults diagnosed with diabetes, and a staggering 38% have prediabetes — a condition where blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to cause Type 2 diabetes.
Nearly half of those people are adults 65 years old or older.
North Dakotan tribal members were also found to be twice as likely to have diabetes compared to their white counterparts.
Building international connections is an important aspect of the agricultural industry.
This year, farmer
Rudy Dotzenrod
hosted visitors from the Big Iron International Visitors Program to his farm to showcase his crops and Reinke irrigation systems.
Jed Brazier / Northarvest Bean Growers Association
“They were looking for a place to kind of showcase some of their swing-arm technology at the end of their pivots,” Dotzenrod said. “I’ve got a couple of them here, so they wanted to come.”
There were visitors from all of the world, including Turkey, Guatemala and Africa.
Ariana Schumacher/Agweek
“We bring in anywhere from 50 to 150 international visitors every year,” said Lindsey Warner, deputy director of the North Dakota Trade Office. “The goal of that is, first and foremost, have agriculture machinery buyers learn more about North Dakota, our agriculture, our agriculture practices, the machinery that’s manufactured here.”
They got to see every part of the farming operation.
“I took a lot of them, and we walked around the farm, we went to different buildings and we looked at all sorts of different kinds of machinery, you know, from getting the ground ready, to planting, to spraying it, to harvesting it, just kind of looked at everything,” Dotzenrod said.
With Dotzenrod also being a black bean grower, that was beneficial to the visitors from Guatemala.
“They were very interested in irrigation and black beans,” Warner said.
Jed Brazier / Northarvest Bean Growers Association
However, most were interested in his corn production.
“I was kind of surprised, I thought there may be a few more questions on edible beans, but it was mostly in corn,” Dotzenrod said.
Bringing international visitors directly onto the farm is a big part of the tour.
“We live in a global world. A lot of the commodities that are produced within our state are exported outside of the U.S., so I think it’s really beneficial for people to see where their food is coming from, whether they are North Dakotas or they are international consumers of these products” Warner said.
“People kind of want to know where their food is coming from, you know, and if they can try and put a face on that or an environment, that gives them a better understanding of where it’s at,” Dotzenrod said. “A lot of this is beyond the economics of it. It’s relationship based. If they feel like they’re buying something from somebody they like, I think it makes it a lot easier for them to go ahead and do that.”
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