ND, BIG COAL IS NOW IN THE HOUSE! (of representatives)

North Dakota's District 8 has a brand new Representative and he's arrived under tragic circumstance.  Original Republican District 8 candidate, David Andahl passed away October 5th, days after after contracting COVID-19.  He was just 55 years old.  He was running in tandem with fellow District 8 Republican Dave Nehring.  They had both secured their party's nomination for the November election.  At the time of Andahl's passing it was too late to remove him from the ballot.

Democratic NPL candidates did not fare well across the state on election day.  Counting three wins in Fargo's District 44 and narrowly winning one seat in Grand Forks' District 18.  Other than those NPL victories, the GOP pitched a shutout across the rest of North Dakota.  Including the victory of a candidate who had passed away less than a month earlier.

Voters understood that a vote for David Andahl would be a vote for the Republican Party. As it was understand a Republican committee would then appoint a replacement to the vacant position.  Here's what the Associated Press reported.

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem’s opinion last month said if Andahl was elected to the post, the office would be deemed vacant. Under state law, a committee representing the party of the previous officeholder would fill the opening by appointment, potentially putting Delzer back in the seat he had held since 1995. Voters within the district also are allowed to petition for a special election, Stenehjem’s opinion said.

"Delzer" is former longtime District 8 Republican Representative that Governor Burgum successfully rallied voters against and even partly financed a Political Action Committee to defeat Delzer in the primaries.  So instead of risking letting Jeff back in...Governor Burgum went rogue and made the appointment himself.

I'm not saying Burgum can't do that...I'm just saying it's politics as usual.

As for appointing a BIG COAL BIG SHOT like BNI Energy President Wade Boeshans to this vacant position...well let me tell you-

Boeshans, 49, has been the president and general manager of BNI Energy since 2013 and has worked for the company since 2005. He is currently chairman of the Lignite Energy Council, President of the Bismarck State College Foundation and has been a leader in advancing critical carbon capture solutions for the state of North Dakota and the lignite industry. He graduated from North Dakota State University in 1995 with a degree in civil engineering. He and his wife, Stacy, live in Washburn and have two children.

He's got a pretty darn impressive resume and let's wish him well!