MINOT, N.D. – While North Dakota’s Republican Party voted Saturday to approve a motion to remove the Republican brand from candidates not in attendance, North Dakota’s Secretary of State is speaking out on a word of caution.
“(Is it) legal for the party to pass that motion? Sure. Is it binding to state law? No,” Secretary of State Michael Howe said Saturday in a text message to Flag Family News reporter Chris Larson. “Only the legislature can change election law with the governor’s signature.”
The vote passed by a margin of six – 318 to 312.
Senate Majority Leader David Hogue tells Flag Family News he didn’t support the motion.
“It’s a symbolic gesture calculated to create drama and sew division within the party, and that’s what it’s doing,” he said in an email to Flag Family News.
Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak, who is running for reelection this year, says she’s disappointed.
“It’s disappointing to see a few individuals try to claim they represent a larger party, when the larger party has made their wishes known at the ballot box and will do so again in June,” she said in a statement. “I am grateful President Trump recognized this long ago and gave me his complete and total endorsement. I look forward to a big win and continuing to deliver real results for North Dakotans.”
Flag Family News has reached out to Governor Kelly Armstrong for comment. As of the time of this article being published, no response has been received. We will update this story as more information becomes available.
