Those who have tuned to media outlets in the last 18 months may be aware that a presidential election is within a week’s time, but there are more people on the ballot in North Dakota than solely presidential candidates.
A governor, U.S. senator and U.S. congressperson will be elected in North Dakota this year.
Gubernatorial election
Incumbent North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple chose to not run for re-election, having served in the position since 2010.
Three tickets will be on the ballot: Republican Party candidate Doug Burgum and running mate Brent Sanford, Democratic Party candidate Marvin Nelson and running mate Joan Heckaman, and Libertarian Party candidate Marty Riske and running mate Joshua Voytek.
Burgum’s platform points consist of cutting runaway spending, reforming property taxes, supporting term limits, opposing the Affordable Care Act and creating high-paying jobs. He is known as a businessman and is a North Dakota State alumnus. Sanford, his running mate, is the current mayor of Watford City, N.D. He graduated from the University of North Dakota.
Nelson’s platform points include increasing the availability of quality daycare, prioritizing budget initiatives to prevent property tax increases, reclaiming land destroyed by oil development and stopping the personal usage of campaign money. He is an NDSU alumnus and currently serves North Dakota District 9 in the North Dakota House of Representatives. Hackaman is an alumnus of Valley City State University and has served District 23 in the NDHR since 2006.
Riske’s platform points include cutting spending from the state government, ending the prohibition of marijuana, ending civil asset forfeiture and ending common core education practices. He is a businessman and graduated from UND.
Senatorial election
United States senatorial candidates include independent candidate James Germalic, Democratic NPL candidate Eliot Glassheim, Republican Party candidate and incumbent Senator John Hoeven and Libertarian Party candidate Robert Marquette.
Glassheim has previous experience in government, being on the Grand Forks City Council and previously serving in the North Dakota House of Representatives. His platform points include developing North Dakota’s energy resources, protecting social security, making college affordable and abolishing human trafficking.
Hoeven has been senator for one full term, serving since 2010. Before that, he was the governor of North Dakota for 10 years, serving from 2000 until 2010. His platform points include creating jobs, reducing the U.S. budget, making higher education affordable, reforming healthcare and improving national security.
Marquette has worked for ST Microelectronics and General Electric. His platform points include opening the free market, auditing the Federal Reserve, not increasing the national debt and protecting gun rights.
The Spectrum was unable to obtain information regarding Germalic at press time.
Congressional election
Candidates applying for North Dakota’s sole position in the U.S. House of Representatives include Republican Party candidate Kevin Cramer, Democratic-NPL candidate Chase Iron Eyes and Libertarian Party candidate Jack Seaman.
Cramer is the incumbent candidate in this race, having served as North Dakota’s congressman after winning in both 2012 and 2014. His platform points include expanding the nation’s energy resources, pushing a bill to protect farmers and keeping Washington in check.
Iron Eyes was born and currently resides in the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. He is known for his work with local tribes, including the Standing Rock Sioux. His platform points include creating jobs, improving national security through empowering families, ensuring equal pay for equal work and helping those with drug and mental health problems.
Seaman is a small business owner, owning and operating MinDak Gold Exchange. He has lived in North Dakota for over 30 years. His platform points include limiting the national debt, reforming healthcare and social security, creating term limits and establishing a foreign policy of non-interventionism.
Editor’s Note: Candidates were listed alphabetically by last name without considering party affiliation.