BISMARCK – Business owner and technology consultant Scott McCarthy and engineer Mike Berg on Thursday announced their Republican campaigns for the two House seats in North Dakota’s District 8. State Rep. Dave Nehring, R-Bismarck, also announced his candidacy for a District 8 Senate seat.

The newly redrawn district includes parts of western and southern Burleigh County outside of Bismarck, and all of Emmons County.

A graduate of the University of North Dakota, McCarthy began his career in western North Dakota, where he designed and developed software before returning to Bismarck, where he owns SM Consulting. An active community member, McCarthy volunteers for various entrepreneurial and business development activities, Bismarck Ducks Unlimited and serves as a board member for Capital City Young Guns.

Berg earned a degree from North Dakota State University and worked on engineering teams in Minneapolis and St. Louis before returning to Bismarck in 2007. In 2010, he co-founded Apex Engineering Group.

Nehring was elected in 2020 to the House from District 8, where he led efforts to protect the coal industry and strengthen the rural economy.

“North Dakota needs strong conservative leaders who understand what it takes to run a successful business in our rural communities,” said Nehring, who operates Habitat Unlimited, a business specializing in strategic agriculture planting designed to enhance wildlife habitats on private lands.