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Gubernatorial candidate Kelly Armstrong

OAN Staff Sophia Flores and Brooke Mallory
6:22 PM – Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Kelly Armstrong has won North Dakota’s Gubernatorial race.

Democrat Merrill Piepkorn faced off against Republican Kelly Armstrong in the spot that was previously held by former Governor Doug Burgum. 

Soon after he dropped his presidential bid, Burgum surprisingly announced that he was not seeking a third term. 

Armstrong, the Republican gubernatorial candidate looking to replace him, is an American lawyer. He is currently the U.S. representative for North Dakota’s at-large congressional district, and he has held that position since 2019.

Armstrong also serves as the state’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives, where he is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, and the Select Committee on the Weaponization of Government, according to his campaign website.

Some of his political priorities include halting the ongoing opioid crisis, securing the border, fighting for the Second Amendment, lowering taxes, and protecting the Rule of Law overall.

President Donald J. Trump has endorsed Armstrong for governor. 

“Congressman Kelly Armstrong is running for Governor of North Dakota, a State that I love, and WON BIG in 2016 and 2020. In Congress, Kelly strongly defended me through two SHAM impeachments, and is 100% MAGA. As your next Governor, Kelly will work tirelessly to grow the economy, stop inflation, cut taxes and regulations, secure our border, protect North Dakota from Federal Overreach, defend our always under siege Second Amendment, strengthen military/vets, and put our incredible farmers, ranchers, and energy producers FIRST. Kelly Armstrong has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of the Great State of North Dakota – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump said.

The Democrat in the race, Merrill Piepkorn, has served in the North Dakota Senate since 2016. 

According to his website, his priorities are standing “with women and their right to make their own reproductive decisions,” “for fairness in taxes,” “for workers and small businesses,” “for public education,” “for AG and energy,” and for “strong families and healthy communities.”

The Democrat’s campaign marketing touts statements such as, “You can say no to extremism and yes to bipartisan solutions.”

“If we want a solid and diverse economy that weathers the storm, we need to reform, not eliminate, property taxes,” Piepkorn continued.

In terms of legislative experience, Piepkorn is also a current committee member who handles “Employment, Energy & Natural Resources, Finance & Taxation, [and] a Joint Committee on Information Technology,” his website noted.

Piepkorn says that he aims to take mental health care and addiction treatment seriously, support state innovation that expands access and increases the number of facilities and providers, and collaborate with insurance companies to boost coverage so people can get the help they require.

He is pro-abortion and advocates giving more funding to public schools, in addition to helping “pay down student loan principles.”

At the time of this reporting, Armstrong won with 73.8% of the vote compared to Piepkorn’s 21%.

6% of the vote has been counted.

All results are based on information provided by Reuters.

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