North Dakota

A quick recap of North Dakota election results • North Dakota Monitor

Published

1 year ago

November 6, 2024

A quick recap of North Dakota election results • North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota voters rejected a measure to overhaul property taxes Tuesday, but property tax relief is expected to be a major focus of the upcoming legislative session.

Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong, who was among those to oppose Measure 4, said he plans to make property tax reform a top priority. He will resign from North Dakota’s sole U.S. House seat at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 14 and take office as governor on Dec. 15, succeeding Gov. Doug Burgum.

Republican Julie Fedorchak will take Armstrong’s seat in Congress in January, creating a vacancy on the North Dakota Public Service Commission that the governor will fill. She will be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House.

Republican Kevin Cramer was reelected to the U.S. Senate, where his party will be in the majority.

Here’s what else you need to know about North Dakota’s election results:

Measures: Voters defeated a measure to legalize recreational marijuana for the third time in six years.

Voters also rejected a measure to reform the initiated measure process. Measures to change the Legislature’s spending limit of the Legacy Fund principal and replace outdated language in the state constitution were approved.

Legislature: North Dakota Republicans will keep a supermajority in the state Legislature. Native Americans gained representation in the Legislature as a result of races that were on the ballot due to redistricting.

Transportation a barrier to voter access at Standing Rock

Statewide candidates: Republican statewide candidates easily won reelection. Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler, Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann and State Auditor Josh Gallion all defeated challengers. State Treasurer Thomas Beadle and Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread were reelected in uncontested races.

President: North Dakota voters overwhelmingly chose Donald Trump for president.

Turnout: The state had strong early voter turnout, but overall turnout was about average for a presidential election year.

Recounts: Two legislative races might qualify for demand recounts, depending on official results. Other local races facing possible recounts can be found through the Secretary of State’s website.

Next steps: Election results will remain unofficial until county canvassing boards meet Nov. 18, and results are certified by the State Canvassing Board on Nov. 20.

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North Dakota

Watford City Wrestlers Compete at 2026 USAW ND State Folkstyle Individual Tourney, Regional & National Duels

Published

3 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Watford City Wrestlers Compete at 2026 USAW ND State Folkstyle Individual Tourney, Regional & National Duels

On March 27-28, North Dakota State USA wrestling championships hosted 1700+ wrestlers at the Civic Center in Bismarck ND. Wrestlers from age 5-14 from Watford City Wolves Wrestling Club competed. “Out of 61 teams Watford City came out in 6th place and was actually sitting in first for a long time.” according to coach Adam Greenhaw. “Us coaches are…

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North Dakota

North Dakota’s Grand Farm to lead national farm tech research

Published

15 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

North Dakota’s Grand Farm to lead national farm tech research

Jeff Beach
| North Dakota Monitor

North Dakota will lead a new U.S. Department of Agriculture initiative to advance farm technology.
Grand Farm, a research campus near Fargo, will manage the national program and serve as its first proving ground.
The project will launch with $11 million in funding and initially focus on weed control in North Dakota and Georgia.

CASSELTON, N.D. — North Dakota will lead the nation in a U.S. Department of Agriculture push to improve farm technology and research, federal officials announced Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said Grand Farm, a research campus west of Fargo, will be the national program manager for USDA’s National Proving Grounds Network for AgTech. Grand Farm will also be the first proving ground in the network, focusing on weed control.

North Dakota launched Grand Farm seven years ago, integrating research capabilities from North Dakota State University at Fargo with industry partners such as tech giant Microsoft.

Hoeven said Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who visited Grand Farm last year, recognized that North Dakota provided a model for ag tech research and could be the manager for the rollout.

“It’s a huge deal,” Hoeven said. “It’s Grand Farm going national.”

Hoeven announced that $11 million will launch the proving grounds, a collaboration of Grand Farm, USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and NDSU.

Scott Hutchins, USDA under secretary for research, education and economics, said the first year of research will be concentrated in North Dakota and Georgia. The University of Georgia announced a partnership with Grand Farm in 2024.

He said after reviewing results from the first year, the department plans to accept proposals for research hubs in other states, eventually creating the national network.

Hutchins said profitability is a top priority. He said there has been a boom in ag technology, but farmers need help sifting through it all.

“Which one can provide the greatest return on investment?” he asked.

Hoeven said focusing on profitability is a must during rough economic times. “Right now, if you’re growing a crop, in most cases, you’re not making money,” Hoeven said.

The North Dakota Legislature invested $10 million in 2021 to help propel Grand Farm, which covers 590 acres near Casselton. Operating from tents and with portable bathrooms in its first years, the research site opened its first building in 2024. The Legislature invested an additional $7 million in 2025.

“The National Proving Grounds is the next chapter,” said Brian Carroll, chief operating officer for Grand Farm.

George Vellidis, of the University of Georgia’s Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture, said Georgia is one year into operating its 250-acre research area similar to Grand Farm.

He said the goal is to translate the research in the Upper Midwest to crops grown in the southeast. A robot that can be taught to recognize weeds in North Dakota will have to be taught a different set of weeds that grow in Georgia, for example.

Grand Farm board member Kyle Courtney, who farms near Oakes, North Dakota, said the initiative will help field test practices “under a unified umbrella to help farmers make better decisions.”

North Dakota Monitor is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

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