Dakota Beacon

The impressive showing of conservative gubernatorial candidate Rick Becker is a bellwether of North Dakota's restive spirit after years the big-spending machinery in Bismarck. Becker took over one-third of the convention vote – on both ballots!

Although millionaire Doug Burgum's support moved toward odds-on Establishment favorite Wayne Stenehjem on the second ballot, even his campaign has been run as a protest against excessive government spending. Burgum is an "outsider" in that he did not have the blessing of the GOP Establishment, he has a history of supporting the very people he now opposes. He was even Governor Jack Dalrymple's Campaign Chairman. Still, it is an "outsider vs. insider" mentality and that dynamic was in the majority at the GOP Convention among delegates, if not with the machinery that runs the convention process in North Dakota.

We'll hear more from both of these challengers – Burgum will be on the ballot in June and though Becker has decided not t go the primary route, he has indicated strong interest in the U.S. Senate race. But what about the governorship of North Dakota? The ballot will offer Stenehjem two challengers in June – Burgum, who has a history parallel with Stenehjem's faction of the party and Paul Sorum, a conservative candidate.
Sorum elected not to attend the convention, choosing instead, to follow the example of Kevin Cramer of taking his case right to the people, seeking their endorsement, rather than that of a creature of the Establishment.

It surprised many that Stenehjem required a second ballot at the GOP Convention. This is a strong indication of a rising anger with the perceived "Establishment".

Sorum is well-positioned to offer North Dakota voters a clear choice. Widely known as a genuine conservative and constitutionalist, Sorum is campaigning on the actual Republican Platform and has been highly critical not only of over-regulation and undesirable growth of state government but also of abuses of law and ethics at high levels, including some acts and omissions and other irregularities in Mr. Stenehjem's office.

The real election of the next Governor of North Dakota will take place June 14. The Republican nominee at the end of this process – that is to say Paul Sorum, Doug Burgum or Wayne Stenehjem – will almost certainly be the next governor. This, in effect, is an invitation, therefore, to Democrats to participate in the Republican primary. North Dakota grassroots Democrats, just like their Republican counterparts, care about their Bill of Rights and their liberty, about the use of their tax dollars and about fairness in their state government. I would expect a surge of interest among North Dakotans of all parties in the GOP primary race for Governor.

Stenehjem and Burgum are different arrangements of the same tune.

This and other factors might well drive voters of both parties to support Paul Sorum in June.