Judy Estenson, from left, Shane Goettle and Matthew Simon. (Estenson photo provided by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly via the North Dakota Monitor)
(North Dakota Monitor) – A North Dakota Republican Party fixture and two relative newcomers are seeking to lead the state party during a time of division between establishment and populist factions.
Shane Goettle, a lobbyist who served in U.S. Sen. John Hoeven’s administration, is among the candidates to succeed Sandi Sanford as chair of the state party. Goettle, of Mandan, is a former North Dakota national committeeman who lost the spot last year during a state convention that saw several endorsements go to less traditional candidates.
Others to announce their candidacy are former state Sen. Judy Estenson of Warwick and District 8 NDGOP vice chair Matthew Simon of rural Bismarck. The North Dakota Republican State Committee will gather in Bismarck on Saturday to elect a new chair for the next two years.
Sanford, who narrowly won over Perrie Schafer two years ago, is not seeking reelection.
Republicans control all elected statewide and federal offices in North Dakota and hold supermajorities in the state Legislature. The election of a new party leader comes a year after a contentious state primary in which several conservative Republicans sought to oust more moderate incumbents and longtime legislators skipped district endorsing conventions citing concerns of an unfair process.
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