Julie Fedorchak has come out ahead in a competitive Republican primary for North Dakota’s at-large seat in the House of Representatives.
Her chief competition came from Dr. Rick Becker, a plastic surgeon and real estate developer.
Ms. Fedorchak, the North Dakota Public Service commissioner, was endorsed by former President Donald Trump.
Cara Mund, a former Miss America who lost to current Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) in 2022 as an independent House candidate, also took part in the Republican primary. So did farmer, military veteran, and government advisor Alex Balasz and activist Sharlet Mohrn. Former North Dakota state senator Thomas Scott Campbell, another candidate, dropped out of the race in late March.
Ahead of the contest, voters in the state reportedly received text messages falsely asserting Ms. Fedorchak had left the race. Ms. Fedorchak denounced the scheme, while Mr. Becker’s campaign denied any connection to it.
Trygve Hammer, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran now working for Job Corps, won the Democratic primary for the at-large district against Roland Riemers, a perennial candidate who’s ran and lost four other contests since 2002.
North Dakota’s sole seat in the House of Representatives is rated R+20 by the Cook Political Report, meaning it is almost certainly a safe district for Republicans in the general election. The last Democrat who held it was Earl Pomeroy, who lost to Rick Berg in 2010.
Ms. Fedorchak led in fundraising, bringing in more than $970,000 by late May, according to data from the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Mr. Becker wasn’t far behind, raising over $911,000 over that same period. Mr. Hammer raised more than $387,000. Ms. Mund, the former Miss America, raised just $18,933.
The race for the seat was on after incumbent Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) announced earlier this year that he wouldn’t seek reelection. He then entered contention for governor after Gov. Doug Burgum announced he wouldn’t be seeking a third term. Mr. Armstrong came out ahead in the June 11 Republican gubernatorial primary by a comfortable margin. He beat Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller.
Other victors that day included Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who defeated a challenger supported by former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
