Little-known Democrat runs for North Dakota governor

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A security guard and Democrat is running for governor in North Dakota, a long-shot bid in the Republican-led state.

Travis Hipsher, of Neche, confirmed his candidacy on Tuesday to The Associated Press. He works as a security guard at a bus manufacturer, and previously managed a pharmaceutical delivery company. Hipsher unsuccessfully ran for a state Senate seat in 2022, winning about 24% of the vote.

In an interview, Hipsher said North Dakota needs a new direction “and new people to lead us there.”

“We’ve got such a boom-and-bust economy here with the energy and agriculture sector that we really can’t make long-term plans,” Hipsher said. “Governor (Doug) Burgum has done a good job, but we still need to grow more.”

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Hipsher, who hasn’t yet found a running mate, faces headwinds in his campaign. A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide election in North Dakota since 2012. Republicans have held the governor’s office since 1992.

Burgum is not seeking a third term. Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong, an attorney, is the only other gubernatorial candidate to announce a campaign. Two Republicans and a Democrat have announced campaigns for North Dakota’s single U.S. House seat.

North Dakota’s Democratic-NPL and Republican parties will endorse candidates for statewide office in April. Voters in the June primary election will nominate candidates for the November general election.

The next governor will take office in mid-December, weeks before the biennial Legislature convenes in January 2025. Term limits voters approved in 2022 mean no future governors can be elected more than twice, but Burgum could have sought a third and even a fourth term.

North Dakota has about 784,000 people.