In Grand Forks visit, Trygve Hammer tells supporters he’s listening and will fight for the state in Congress

GRAND FORKS – Trygve Hammer, the Democratic candidate for North Dakota’s U.S. House seat, told supporters Monday that people across the state are tired of not being listened to.

“We’re meeting people where they are and listening to people,” Hammer said. “They feel like they’re not being listened to; they’re being told what’s going to happen or what needs to happen instead of hearing what their needs are and how do we address them.”

Hammer and his campaign held a meet and greet event Monday at Archives Coffee House near UND. Around 20 people crowded into the building chatting with Hammer about their concerns and getting to know the Democratic candidate for North Dakota’s U.S. House seat.

Hammer is running against

Republican Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak to become North Dakota’s next representative in the U.S. House. The seat is open as incumbent Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-North Dakota, is running to become governor. While a Democrat hasn’t sat in the seat since Earl Pomeroy more than a decade ago, Hammer said people are excited, especially with Vice President Kamala Harris

being named the Democratic nominee for president.

“It’s palpable (the excitement now). When I was making phone calls before, I felt like I was a therapist for all these Democrats, now I’m the cheerleader,” Hammer said. “There are at least three people in this room who think of themselves as Republicans who are voting for me.”

Across the state, voters who typically vote Republican have said they would vote for Hammer. Hammer has said he has heard a of range of issues people have. Those include a federal indictment of former state Sen. Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, for sex with minors

and alleged violations of release conditions,

the deleted emails from

former State Attorney Wayne Stenehjem

and

state lawmakers being arrested for driving under the influence.

“We’re just hearing this discontent with scandal at the state government level,” Hammer said. “And this feeling that big business can come into the state and want something and (big business is) going to be able to take it from you, and they’re going to roll right over your resistance because no one’s fighting for them.”

People in attendance also expressed their concern for Project 2025, a plan created by the right-wing Heritage Foundation. The plan lays out conservative policy for the next Republican presidential administration and includes calling for the ending or shrinking of programs that support farmers and

getting rid of the U.S. Departments of Education and Homeland Security.

Hammer also touched on his thoughts of Fedorchak — he said he would step whereas she has not.

“When she went to the Republican convention this year, she expected to waltz in there, be coordinated, waltz out with the endorsement — well that didn’t happen,” Hammer said. “When she ran into a little resistance, when the going got a little tough,

she got out of there, she didn’t stay and fight for her support.

I would not not do that. I would not do that to you in Congress.”

Voigt covers government in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.