Baesler has served as superintendent of public instruction since she was elected in 2012. Beasler spent her career in Bismarck’s public schools as a vice principal, library media specialist, classroom teacher and instructional assistant. Baesler also served nine years on the Mandan school board, including seven as its president.

In a June 4 interview with The Minot Daily News, Baesler highlighted several priorities, including ensuring students graduate prepared to pursue higher education, the workforce, or military; address the critical teacher shortage in the state; support the expansion of school choice; intervene in chronically low-performing schools; and provide school board training so boards become focused on student outcome based decisions.

“I am passionate about developing all students into knowledgeable citizens who have respect, courage, integrity, a sense of responsibility, and an appreciation for the unique nature of this great nation,” Baesler said in the June interview. “As state superintendent, I’ve kept N.D. education at the leading edge of changing global needs. I have a proven track record of fighting to ensure that every family can choose the education opportunities their child needs.”

In her tenure as Superintendent of Public Instruction, Baesler led a proposal requiring instruction in computer science and cybersecurity and integrating cyber-education content standards, and helped build an online education dashboard for the public to access information on student achievement results and school data.

Jason Heitkamp

Heitkamp earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics with a minor in business from North Dakota State University, Fargo. He is a truck driver, formerly worked as financial adviser, and retired farmer. Heitkamp was a member of the North Dakota State Senate, representing District 26 from Dec. 1, 2020, until he left office on Dec. 1, 2022.

“I’ve been on two different city councils in my life. I’ve been a county commissioner. I’ve been a state senator. I’ve worked with economic development. I know how the law is run. It’s just too bad that our education system, the scores are going down and the costs are going up. There’s no one to blame but the person who’s been in the wheelhouse for 12 years,” Heitkamp said. “It would be awesome if a guy could get in and actually fix this system.”

Heitkamp’s campaign is centered on refocusing public education in North Dakota on the basics of reading, writing, arithmetic, and civics and pursuing higher standards of health and fitness. Heitkamp also seeks to increase transparency from school administrators and boards with the public and supports legislative reform for the Teacher’s Fund for Retirement (TFFR).

Heitkamp said in an interview published in The Minot Daily News on June 4 that he believes North Dakota is operating unconstitutionally by financing public education through mill levies from local property taxes. Heitkamp said between 45-55% of property tax in the state is going to schools, but the North Dakota Constitution prohibits the legislative assembly from raising revenue to defray expenses of the state from taxes on the assessed value of real or personal property.