Armstrong, Mund draw differences in 2nd North Dakota congressional debate

U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., and Mund debated on Prairie Public Tuesday night time, their second debate. Armstrong is an legal professional and former state senator searching for a 3rd time period. Mund is an legal professional and the primary North Dakotan to win the Miss America title, in 2017.

They crossed swords over abortion rights; Armstrong mentioned he helps the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s Dobbs choice in June, which overturned the constitutional proper to an abortion. He cited his assist for states’ rights within the ruling.

Mund referred to as Dobbs “the unsuitable choice,” and cited her considerations for girls’s entry to well being care and for the courtroom doubtlessly overturning different rulings associated to same-sex marriage and entry to contraceptives.

She mentioned considered one of her “high priorities” could be to make the Roe v. Wade ruling into federal legislation, and questioned how exceptions to North Dakota’s set off legislation banning most abortions however for instances of rape, incest and lifetime of the mom could be confirmed.

Mund emphasised her independence. She mentioned she would possibly caucus with Republicans, however wonders if she could be welcomed by the occasion. She has taken challenge with the state occasion’s charges for candidates to hunt the GOP endorsement for statewide workplaces and congressional seats. The NDGOP has referred to as Mund “a radical Democrat.”

Armstrong mentioned, “You don’t get to decide on the place you go in D.C., they’ve to ask you in,” that Mund should choose Democrats or Republicans to caucus with with a purpose to obtain committee assignments.

Mund mentioned, “I am not going to have a celebration chief inform me how one can vote. I am not going to have particular curiosity teams inform me how one can vote. I’ll put the folks of North Dakota first.”

Armstrong mentioned he is by no means been advised how one can vote, and votes “the best way I feel is correct.” 

Mund hammered Armstrong on his votes towards numerous items of laws, such because the Inflation Discount Act, which Armstrong criticized as partisan and spends cash “we do not have.”

Armstrong mentioned if he’s reelected, and with a Republican majority, he could be effectively positioned to raised advocate for points equivalent to agriculture, power and psychological well being, amongst others, saying he’s a “thought chief” and has labored in bipartisan methods. 

The 2 discovered settlement on North Dakota offering options to tackling local weather change, and in every opposing President Joe Biden’s scholar mortgage forgiveness plan.

Democratic-NPL U.S. Home nominee Mark Haugen suspended his marketing campaign earlier this month, citing stress from occasion leaders associated to Mund’s marketing campaign. Haugen opposes abortion. 

Republicans management North Dakota’s Legislature and all of the state’s elected workplaces and congressional seats. 

Absentee voting begins Thursday.