Mon, Mar 4th, 2024 - 11:51pm
April 07, 2024 - 12:07am | By Chris Larson
(Fargo, ND) – Saturday’s North Dakota GOP Convention concluded with one of the tightest races of the day – with the winner being the endorsed candidate for the state’s lone seat in Congress.
Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak and political newcomer Alex Balazs squared off in what ended up being a tightly contested battle for the Republican Party’s endorsement.
Balazs, who is a military veteran, and Fedorchak, went head-to-head in the first ballot, with neither receiving the amount of votes needed for the endorsement. The first ballot was marred by hundreds of ballots being marked as ‘spoiled,’ after several convention delegates designated their votes for Rick Becker, who was not able to be considered for the endorsement.
In the second vote, Balazs edged out Fedorchak, but failed to meet the required threshold – setting up a third ballot.
But, in a turn of events, Fedorchak took the floor, addressing the convention. She began by thanking the Republican Party from North Dakota, its executive committee and district chairs and her opponent, Balazs.
She then asked to withdraw from consideration for the endorsement, asking her supporters to back Balazs.
Following the convention, Fedorchak spoke with the media and said she was disappointed with Becker’s tactics after the first vote.
“It was really disappointing to me that Rick Becker had told his supporters to do that,” she said. “It’s hard for me to understand how his voters are disenfranchised, when he knowingly broke the rules.”
Fedorchak said she conceded “out of respect for the convention attendees.”
She said she intends on continuing to the June primary election.
