Julie Fedorchak gestures at supporters Nov. 5, 2024, in Bismarck after being elected to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
(North Dakota Monitor) -Republican Julie Fedorchak will be the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives after leading with about 69% of the vote on Tuesday night.
Fedorchak led Democratic-NPL challenger Trygve Hammer in early results, with The Associated Press calling the race at 8:56 p.m.
Fedorchak told the North Dakota Monitor she learned a lot from the voters she encountered on the campaign trail.
“I feel really ready to take what I’ve learned, to know what North Dakotans are really concerned about and build a team and get to work on behalf of North Dakotans in D.C.,” Fedorchak said during a Republican Party event in Bismarck Tuesday night.
On becoming the first woman to represent North Dakota in the U.S House, she said it was an incredible honor.
“I think it’s great to have diversity in genders, in backgrounds, in perspectives,” she said. “We need to have as diverse of representation as we can get in Washington, and I’m happy to be part of that.”
Fedorchak has served on the North Dakota Public Service Commission since 2013. She was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven and Gov. Doug Burgum during the campaign, along with 65 state legislators and statewide officeholders.
She said she hopes to finish out the year on the Public Service Commission and leave her seat before she is sworn into office in January.
Fedorchak has four years left on her term on the Public Service Commission. After she vacates the position, the governor will appoint a commissioner to serve for two years. In 2026, voters will then elect someone to serve the remaining two years of the term.
Hammer, a Marine Corps veteran with a diverse work background, campaigned as a moderate during the statewide race.
On Tuesday, Hammer said he was proud of the campaign and its fundraising.
“We have a model we can build on,” Hammer said.
He said his next goal is to recruit candidates for legislative districts 3 and 5 in the Minot area for the 2026 election.
“I want to keep firing up Democrats around the state,” he said.
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