Please note: Flag Family News Reporter Chris Larson erroneously reported that Tracy Foss, candidate for the Superintendent of Public Instruction, received a letter of support from the North Dakota Republican Party through its convention in March. She did not, and the party did not issue a letter of support for any candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction in the 2026 election cycle.
BISMARCK, N.D. – The North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office has released the list of statewide candidates that will appear on the June primary election ballot.
Congress
Two Republicans and a Democrat will appear on the ballot for North Dakota’s lone seat in Congress.
Bismarck’s Julie Fedorchak, the Republican incumbent who is in her first term in Congress, will face Cando’s Alex Balazs, who received the Republican endorsement at the state convention in Minot.
The winner will face the Democrat, Minot’s Trygve Hammer in the November general election.
Secretary of State
Two candidates will appear on the ballot for North Dakota’s Secretary of State.
The office conducts a wide range of licensing, regulatory, registration, and administrative functions. It’s also the office that runs elections, and certifies the authenticity of official documents, such as acts of the Legislature, and proclamations and executive orders issued by the governor.
The Republican incumbent Michael Howe is the lone Republican who will appear on the ballot. Fargo’s Ryan Braunberger will appear on the Democratic ballot.
Attorney General
Two candidates will also appear on the ballot for Attorney General.
The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer in North Dakota.
Republican incumbent Drew Wrigley is the only candidate on the Republican ticket, while Grand Forks attorney Tim Lamb will appear on the ballot for the Democratic party.
Agriculture Commissioner
A Republican and Democrat will run for Agriculture Commissioner in North Dakota.
Republican Doug Goehring, appointed in 2009 to the office by then-Governor John Hoeven, will run for reelection on the Republican ticket.
He’ll face Vern Thompson, who announced he’s running for the Democrats late in the race.
Public Service Commissioner
Two Republicans and a Democrat will run for a six-year term on the North Dakota Public Service Commission.
Republican incumbent Sheri Haugen-Hoffart and fellow Republican challenger Deven Styczynski, who received the Republican Party’s endorsement, will run for the Republican nomination to the general election.
The winner of the race will face Mayville professor John Pederson in the November election.
Public Service Commissioner (unexpired two-year term)
Three people are running for an unexpired two-year term on the state’s Public Service Commission.
A two-way race on the Republican ticket will decide who will advance to November, with incumbent Jill Kringstad taking on challenger Chris Olson of Baldwin.
The winner will take on Fargo’s Scot Kelsh in the November general election.
Tax Commissioner
Incumbent Brian Kroshus is running for reelection as North Dakota’s Tax Commissioner.
Kroshus, who previously served as a Public Service Commissioner, is coming off a year where the Primary Residence Credit saw an increase of 20,000 applications – and is expected to generate upwards of $200 million in property tax relief statewide.
Rugby’s Mark Nelson is the lone Democrat running for the position.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Three people are running for the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Incumbent Levi Bachmeier will take on both Tracy Foss and Charles Tuttle.
Bachmeier was appointed by Governor Kelly Armstrong to replace Kirsten Baesler, who left state government to take a position with the U.S. Department of Education.
Foss is from Hatton.
Tuttle has ran for office before.
Supreme Court Justice – Unexpired Eight-Year Term
North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Douglas Bahr is running for election.
Bahr was appointed to the judgeship in the South Central Judicial District in 2018, elected to an unexpired two-year term in 2020, reelected to a six-year term 2022.
He was appointed to the Supreme Court a year later.
Justice of the Supreme Court
Two people are running for a spot on the North Dakota Supreme Court.
Jerod Tufte, who currently serves on the Court, first served as Legal Counsel for then-Governor Jack Dalrymple from 2011 until 2014, before being appointed a District Court Judge in 2014 and then being elected to the North Dakota Supreme Court two years later.
Ariston Johnson is a fourth-generation North Dakotan with two decades of practiced legal experience.
He served as the Assistant State’s Attorney in McKenzie County from 2011 until 2023 and then returned last year. He’s also owned his own private practice since 2007.
