BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO) – Cara Mund doesn’t mind being called a disruptor. She says she decided to run as an Independent for North Dakota’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives because she believes the status quo needs to change.
“More than ever I see partisanship and division. I see a Representative who’s not voting in the best interest of North Dakotans,” she said. “It is continuously the party over the people.”
The Bismarck native’s announcement in early August to run for the seat currently held by Kelly Armstrong took many of the state’s longtime political observers by surprise.
Mund sat down with KFGO News & Views host Joel Heitkamp Wednesday to discuss her upstart challenge.
“I am an Independent. There are people on the ballot I voted for who are Republicans and people I voted for who are Democrats,” she says.
One of the things she said was a major deciding factor for her deciding to run when she did was the decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade as a result of the Dobbs decision in June.
“I do think there’s a large silent majority – just because you are pro-choice doesn’t mean you are pro-abortion. It does not mean that you are anti-life. It means that it’s not a place that the government should be. This had been precedent for 50 plus years. It impacts women. When we start telling women they can’t make their own decisions, we treat them like second class citizens. And I just don’t think it’s the North Dakota way,” she said.
Mund says she isn’t surprised to see media coverage focus on her status as pageant winner or attempt to define her in a partisan frame, but it’s disappointing.
“Their headline is always Miss America, Miss America – it’s never, Harvard Law School graduate with honors,” she said.
Mund ticked off a list of her accomplishments including a charity she founded at age 14 that benefitted kids across North Dakota, and graduating with honors from the Ivy League’s Brown University where she was a teaching assistant and research fellow. During her reign as Miss America, she was the national Goodwill Ambasssador for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and worked with U.S. military troops both domestically and abroad through the USO. She earned her Harvard law diploma during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“If that’s not enough for people, I will never measure up. And I’ve done all of that in 28 years so you can just imagine what I’m going to do in the next 28,” she said.
Asked about criticism she’s received, she didn’t balk.
“Oh I was ready for it. And I expected it. There’s yet to be a criticism I didn’t expect – whether it be my age or supposed lack of experience. For me, seeing that I was the first Miss North Dakota to become Miss America, being underestimated has been my strength throughout my whole life. And so I’ll let them underestimate me, I’ll let them try to define me. Because when I prove them wrong, that’ll be fun to see them backpedal,” she said.
Mund says initially considered running as a Republican. She worked for Senator John Hoeven in his Washington office before becoming Miss America. She called him a mentor and a great leader.
“But the Republican Party from when I was there to now, it just doesn’t feel the same, especially here in North Dakota,” she said. “I don’t think the party’s left just me. I think it’s left all North Dakotans. We know exactly how the incumbent’s going to vote – based on what the party wants, what Kevin McCarthy wants. It’s not good for North Dakotans.”
She said she still admires elements of the Republican party and agrees with them on some things. She said she opposes President Biden’s recent decision to forgive student loans.
Mund responded to criticism that she was benefitting from a fundraiser being held at the home of a former ND Dem-NPL state party chair.
“I mean, if a Republican wanted to host a meet-and-greet or a fundraiser, I would do that too! I need the money to help make this possible,” she said. “In fact it was actually Republicans – some of them – who knew in advance that I was going to be doing this, and they’re not the ones stepping up – even if they agree with me. Part of it is this fear tactic that now you’re going to be isolated from the party for six years because there’s maybe one viewpoint that you don’t agree with and they’re now going to keep you out.”
Mund was referencing a new state GOP rule that if a candidate runs for a seat with any other party than Republican, they aren’t allowed to run again as a Republican for six years.
Still, not aligning with a political party makes Mund’s run an uphill climb, particularly from a financial perspective.
“It’s really a grassroots effort. The number of people who have come up and given small donations – every little bit counts. But that’s partly why I also chose this path – knowing that I can’t self fund it like many of the candidates here in North Dakota. That’s not what should keep people out of politics – if you don’t agree with your leaders, if you don’t agree with the party, if you don’t agree with your government, there should be an avenue. And it doesn’t mean you have to be a multimillionaire or have a whole party backing you with their super-PACs and whatnot,” Mund said.
Mund acknowledged that Armstrong has the advantage given how red a state North Dakota has become but she pointed out a number of votes he’s taken that she says weren’t in the state’s best interest, like Armstrong’s opposition the broadly bipartisan infrastructure bill, ethanol provisions to ease gas prices, infant formula relief appropriations, and capping insulin prices.
“I just do not see how his voting record aligns with the people of North Dakota and what’s best for our state,” she said.
Asked what her priorities would be should she get elected, Mund said codifying the privacy rights protected in Roe vs. Wade would be a major focus, but there were a lot of other issues she wants to address.
“Education. Making sure that we have affordable prescription drugs, protecting our veterans, and doing what is best for North Dakotans and not just what’s best for the Republican Party or the Democratic Party,” she said.
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