North Dakota US House challengers advocate for change

Three challengers for North Dakota’s U.S. House seat listed their priorities during a debate Thursday on Prairie Public while criticizing the Republican incumbent for not participating.

Democratic-NPL U.S. House candidate Trygve Hammer and independent candidates Helene Neville and Charles Tuttle made their case to voters and showed their differences on the issues.

Republican incumbent Rep. Julie Fedorchak did not participate. In a statement, Fedorchak said she agreed to a one-hour debate with Hammer, but withdrew after Prairie Public added two candidates and planned to extend the debate to 90 minutes.

When Neville and Tuttle became qualified U.S. House candidates, Prairie Public added them to the already-scheduled debate because the station invites all candidates on the ballot, regardless of party, CEO John Harris said in a statement.

Hammer, who is challenging Fedorchak for a second time, said he brought up concerns about data centers and expanding executive authority two years ago on the same debate stage.

“I’m running again this time because all of the problems we discussed here two years ago have only gotten worse,” Hammer said. “We need to bring down prices. We need to make life easier and better for everyday North Dakotans, not just for big donors and corporations.”

Hammer said the debate surrounding data centers reflects the distrust people have involving technology companies, corporations and billionaires. He said he wants more transparency measures, which he believes would help stop developers from “rolling over” small towns and individuals.

“We need regulation, and Congress needs to act to ensure that the AI economy does not hurt regular working people,” Hammer said.

Neville said data centers should have remediation plans for their sites if there becomes a time when those facilities are abandoned for the next technology.

Tuttle said data centers will likely be obsolete in five to 10 years.

“No one seems to have a plan for longevity for any of this stuff,” he said.

Tuttle said he also worries the increased use of AI and data would lead to increased surveillance by the government.

Priorities

Hammer said one of his priorities, if elected, would be to push for an anti-gerrymandering bill.

“That would show Congress getting something done for the people, not themselves and would be popular across the entire political spectrum,” he said.

Hammer said he would not be a rubber stamp for President Donald Trump, political donors or even his own Democratic Party.

As a member of Congress, Tuttle said he would make the Department of Government Efficiency cuts permanent.

“We’ve got fraud, it seems like, everywhere,” Tuttle said. He added he supports Trump and wants to see his policies moved through Congress and into federal law.

“We need the Republicans in Congress to get behind it and get these bills passed,” he said.

Neville said she’s an independent because she is “for the people, not politics.”

Her top priority if elected to the U.S. House would be to help enact age and term limits for members of Congress, she said.

“There is no way that a 94-year-old senator from Iowa … has any relevancy on what’s going on today,” Neville said. “The people first campaign is just to help everybody that needs a helping hand.”

Political leanings

Tuttle told viewers he is the only Republican running the U.S. House race, as an independent. He criticized Fedorchak for not seeking the Republican endorsement at the state convention. No other Republican incumbents sought the party’s endorsement this year either.

Hammer said Fedorchak has been ineffective as a member of the majority party in Congress and would be more ineffectual as a member of the minority. 

He added a U.S. House member needs to listen and hear all sides of different issues from people of all walks of life.

“We need someone in Congress who will do that. Go and listen to the people,” Hammer said.

Neville emphasized that she is an independent and not a Democrat. She sought the Democratic-NPL endorsement, losing to Hammer.

“I’m right down the middle,” she said. “As a nurse in ER, you don’t get to ask the patient, ‘Are you a Democrat or a Republican?’ You just serve them compassion, love and whatever it takes to heal them.”

Tuttle referenced COVID-19 several times, questioning why people are still getting the vaccine and calling the pandemic “a hoax,” among other claims. 

Neville, a nurse, said she worked in hospitals during the pandemic and many people died before the vaccine was made available.

“I disagree,” she said about Tuttle’s comments. 

Hammer and Tuttle differed on the effect the Iran war has had on oil prices.

Tuttle said Iran was a threat and its nuclear program needed to be “taken out.” He criticized oil companies for high prices. 

“I’m sick of hearing these people saying, ‘It’s a world market,’” Tuttle said. “We need to get these oil companies to stop gouging our oil prices.”

Hammer said the price of oil went up with the start of the war, and he believes Congress needs to take back its authority and end the war.

Prairie Public News Director Dave Thompson moderated the debate.

Fedorchak and Hammer are scheduled to participate in a debate hosted by the Forum Communications Plain Talk podcast that will be released at 4 p.m. Oct. 14.

Hammer, of Minot, lost two previous attempts seeking a statewide office. In 2024, he lost to Fedorchak in the U.S. House race with 30% of voter support. He also lost a bid to join the Public Service Commission in 2022. 

Tuttle, of Bismarck, is a frequent political candidate who most recently lost in the June primary for North Dakota superintendent of public instruction. He also lost a run for secretary of state in 2022, superintendent of public instruction in 2020 and U.S. House in 2018.

Neville, of Jamestown, has not sought elected office before this year. 

North Dakota Monitor reporter Michael Achterling can be reached at [email protected].