11/13/2026
Congratulations, Jamie!
Tonight, I was elected Senate Minority Leader by my fellow North Dakota Dem-NPL senators, and I am profoundly honored and grateful for the trust they’ve placed in me.
I know I’m new to the Senate, and while it’s unusual for a freshman senator to be elected to a leadership position, it has happened before. I take this responsibility very seriously, and I’m committed to doing the best job I can for both the people of District 44 and my colleagues in the Senate.
I’m looking forward to working with senators from both parties to get results for North Dakotans. My priorities will include lowering costs for working families, bringing greater accountability and transparency to state government, and supporting our kids, teachers, and schools. We won’t always agree on everything, but I believe there’s a lot we can accomplish when we’re willing to work together.
I also want to give a special thank you to Senator Kathy Hogan for her guidance, encouragement, and support. She’s been incredibly generous with her time and has already offered to continue mentoring me as I take on this new role. That means a great deal to me.
On a personal level, this is pretty special. I started working in politics when I was just 15 years old, volunteering on a congressional campaign in my hometown of Minot. In a lot of ways, I feel like I’ve been preparing for an opportunity like this ever since.
But I also know that none of this would have been possible if I hadn’t made the decision to take control of my health and work toward becoming the best version of myself. That journey has changed my life in more ways than I ever could have imagined, and it’s opened doors I never thought would be possible.
I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity, excited about the work ahead, and determined to make the most of it.
Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me along the way!