Jill Schramm/MDN Patrick Hart, Chris McEwen and Birgit Pruess, from left, take the stage to oversee the business of party platform and resolution discussion at the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party convention Friday in Minot's Clarion Hotel.

North Dakota Democrats gathered in Minot Friday to endorse two candidates and begin building the momentum to recapture offices held overwhelmingly by Republicans. Democrats hold 21 legislative seats and no state offices.

“We are not naive about the challenges we face as Democrats and North Dakota,” said Minot delegate Logan Longtin of District 5. “But we do see some opportunities to make some headway, so we are optimistic.”

On Friday, delegates endorsed Finley Dooley, a retired Bismarck attorney, for state agriculture commissioner and Melanie Moniz, a Twin Buttes organizer, for the six-year term on the Public Service Commission. Those seats are held by Republican Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring and PSC Commissioner Julie Fedorchak.

Contests in some cases are expected when additional endorsements take place today for the U.S. House and Senate seats, tax commissioner, attorney general and the four years remaining in the PSC seat held by Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, who was appointed when Commissioner Brian Kroshus was named tax commissioner.

“Typically, contested races aren’t in our convention, and I’m glad they are,” said Party Chairman Patrick Hart. “I’m really looking forward to filling the slate.”

Longtin said Democrats hope to do well this fall with new legislative districts in the Fargo area and the subdistrict for Fort Berthold in District 4.

Cesar Alvarez of New Town, chairman of the District 4 Democratic-NPL Party, called the subdistrict a unique opportunity.

“It’s an opportunity for greater impact of our tribal vote,” he said.

The party has endorsed Thomasina Mandan-Stevens to run for the state House seat in District 4A. Mandan-Stevens is a well-known, respected tribal member who has been active in the community, so the party feels good with her candidacy and looks for a good November, Alvarez said.

“She’s run before so she kind of knows the mechanics of the campaign. Plus, now we’re kind of, hopefully, getting into the endemic phase of COVID so she can do more of the traditional campaign,” he said.

He noted the convention this weekend is encouraging, too.

“I see a lot of great energy, and I just see a lot of great candidates,” he said. “I think it will have some real good conversations and bring up some issues that are important to our party and to help propel them, so I feel good.”

What’s important for Democrats this election cycle is to focus on rural communities and rural values, Alvarez said.

“Keeping it our party, the Democratic-NPL Party, not so nationalized, coming back to our local community issues,” he said.

Bruce Anderson, Glenburn, with Minot’s District 40, who has been coming to Democratic-NPL conventions since childhood, said conventions in off-presidential years are more subdued, and this year’s convention could follow that trend since many are attending virtually. He recalled past conventions that drew large crowds to hear the state’s Democratic congressional office holders or choose among multiple candidates for offices.

Today’s convention is expected to draw interest with two individuals seeking the U.S. Senate endorsement. Katrina Christiansen of Jamestown and Andrew Alexis Varvel of Bismarck have announced candidacies.

Christiansen, a native of Nebraska, holds a degree in biological systems engineering and a master’s degree focused on value-added processing for sorghum, both from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She worked as a ethanol plant engineer and as a researcher at Cargill Malt, earning two patents. She worked for a Fargo startup on innovative equipment for craft maltsters. She currently is with the University of Jamestown.

Varvel grew up in Grand Forks and Belcourt and attended the University of Houston, earning degrees in history and geology in 1996. He lived in Grand Forks before moving in 1998 to Bismarck, where he worked as an independent researcher and writer.

Delegates also approved a platform and resolutions after strengthening language against racism and adding language to support a study of the feasibility of additional state-operated enterprises. They stopped short of endorsing a state-owned bakery in connection with the State Mill and Elevator, but other language supported creation of a state-owned recycling plant and state investment and development of infrastructure to have its own natural gas utility, crude oil refining facilities, on-site power generation and wind and solar power manufacturing facilities.

Last Saturday, Williston Democrats in the new District 23 approved a statement saying: “For years the North Dakota Dem-NPL has lost touch with their roots. This loss of connection has left the party open to emotional fear-monger in rhetoric of the North Dakota GOP. It has lost touch with everyday working people and has failed to recognize and outreach to the agriculture and energy industries.”

Hart said individual districts should create their own messages based on their constituencies.

“If they want to craft this message, I would absolutely support them,” he said. “Personally, I think that we have a lot of opportunities as a state party to really sell our platform and our value statement. If this particular district thinks that we’ve gone awry, I would welcome that input.”

District 23 approved core values of support for the energy industry and a continued fight to address the problems facing farmers and ranchers. The state platform supports economic stability for ranchers and farmers, seed research, the anti-corporate farming law and local zoning control. It encourages environmental responsibility related to energy and natural resources.