North Dakota lieutenant governor launches gubernatorial bid against congressman

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota’s lieutenant governor joined the state’s open gubernatorial race Thursday, setting up a Republican battle against the state’s lone member of Congress.

Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, the former CEO of electricity distributor Border States, is seeking to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum, who announced last month that he will not seek a third term. Miller served as chief operating officer for Burgum’s office from 2020 to 2022 before appointing her to replace retiring Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford, who joined the private sector.

She will face Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong, an attorney and former senator who holds North Dakota’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“As a business leader, I have created jobs and made every dollar count,” Miller said in her announcement. “As Lieutenant Governor, I worked with Governor Burgum to grow the economy, cut taxes, balance budgets, reduce regulations, and fight the Biden. government. When I am governor, we will keep the momentum going and take the state to the next level. We’re just getting started!’

As lieutenant governor, Miller presides over the Senate and chairs several state government boards that oversee things like major capital funds and plans for the Capitol grounds.

North Dakota’s dominant Republican Party will endorse candidates for state positions at its April convention in Fargo, but voters will choose the nominees in the June primaries. Republicans have held the office of governor since 1992. A Democrat has not won a statewide election since 2012.

Democrat Travis Hipsher, a security guard, and independent Michael Coachman, an Air Force veteran and frequent candidate for state office, also recently announced their gubernatorial bid.

Voters crossed term limits in 2022, meaning future governors cannot be elected more than twice, although Burgum could have run for a third or even fourth term.