TIOGA – District 2 Republicans endorsed two newcomers to run for the North Dakota Legislature Saturday after its incumbent representatives chose to bypass endorsement to directly file for the primary ballot.

Mark Enget, who has had a 35-year career in the oil industry, was elected without opposition as state Senate candidate at the district endorsing convention in Tioga, which drew hundreds of local Republicans. Alexa Althoff, Fortuna, whose life’s work has been in journalism and media, was elected to run for one of the two House seats.

Reps. Bert Anderson and Don Longmuir did not appear at the convention but each gathered more than 300 signatures to file to run in the June 11 primary. Anderson, a Crosby businessman and former mayor, has served in the House since 2015. Longmuir, a retired small business owner in Stanley, has served since 2017.

Longmuir said convention elections often reflect small groups within a party who can control the nomination. The decision to go directly to the primary will provide more Republicans an opportunity to advance the candidates they believe can best represent the district, he said. In collecting signatures and talking to the people, he and Anderson found a strong sense of support for returning them to Bismarck, he added.

“We are representing the people. We are trying to really address common sense legislation,” Longmuir said.

Sen. David Rust, a retired Tioga school superintendent, previously announced he will not be seeking re-election.

Enget cited his range of experience as a field hand and manager of local businesses, national businesses and global enterprises. He stated his firm support for continued oil exploration, as well as expanding nuclear, and his opposition to subsidizing green energies.

In a release announcing his endorsement, he stated, “Cronyism and special interest handouts must stop. Unneeded funds accrued through taxation and royalties must be returned to the people via tax reductions. Entitlement programs must be fully justified or eliminated.”

On the education front, he added, “Math and reading proficiencies are at unacceptable levels across North Dakota. We must return to the essentials of classical education and foundational civic education. There is a drive to indoctrinate and harm our children with extreme ideologies, such as gender fluidity and critical race theory. The solution is to increase parental influence and accountability with educational materials and learning environments.”

In her campaign material, Althoff states she wants to represent the farmer suffering under taxes and inflation and the struggling small business owners and families.

“So many are disheartened with the establishment and seeking a better future. We are all frustrated but resolute, seeking change but holding fast to our values and traditions,” she wrote. “I choose to honor our way of life by being an unapologetic voice for our communities, a phone call away for concerns and steadfastly opposed to the mire of crony politics.”

District 2 encompasses a large part of rural, northwestern North Dakota, including parts of north Williston, as well as the towns of Crosby, Tioga, Stanley, Ray, Epping, Grenora, White Earth, McGregor, Portal, Bowbells, Noonan, Lignite, Fortuna and several other small towns.