Sen. Scott Meyer, R-Grand Forks, talks to a colleague during a legislative committee meeting Oct. 23, 2023. To his right is Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
By: Jeff Beach
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – The challenger in a state Senate race in Grand Forks filed a complaint with the police after receiving what he said was a threatening message from the incumbent.
Kyle Thorson, the Democratic-NPL Senate candidate in District 18, filed the report Tuesday after getting Facebook messages from Republican Scott Meyer early that morning.
The police report said Thorson did not want to press charges against Meyer. Thorson told the North Dakota Monitor he wanted the complaint on file “in case something does happen.”
Meyer told the Monitor that he has apologized to Thorson.
“I let my emotions get the better of me,” Meyer said Wednesday. “He didn’t deserve that.”
Thorson confirmed that Meyer had apologized. “I’ll take it at face value,” he said of the apology.
One message from Meyer cited in the police report said: “Regardless how this election ends, you’ve picked a fight with me. This won’t end 11/5. I’ve done nothing to you, but I won’t forget. Here’s to your stupidity.”
Meyer told the Monitor that he was the one who made the “error in judgment” after reviewing some of Thorson’s campaign posts and drinking alcohol.
“I had a little too much to drink that night,” Meyer said. “It wasn’t smart.”
Another message said “my special operators know you.” He then sent a screenshot of a Google search result for “Special Operations” describing military techniques by highly trained small units.
“I was a little fearful,” Thorson said.
In March, Meyer was named engagement director of GrandSKY, which tests unmanned aircraft at a site next to Grand Forks Air Force Base and supports the base.
He has represented District 18 in the North Dakota Senate since 2017.
The North Dakota Democratic-NPL sent a news release late Tuesday questioning Meyer’s ability to serve in the Legislature.
“Meyer lacks the judgment and temperament to serve any longer. He should end his campaign and resign from office,” party Chair Adam Goldwyn said in the release.
Thorson, the owner of a small coffee business in Grand Forks, added, “If you can’t deal with your personal issues without lashing out at people, you’re not a great person for Bismarck.”
Meyer said he can still be an effective legislator.
“I understand where they’re standing with that position, but I can still do this job well, and I’m going to make sure I don’t become a distraction,” he said.
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