Deven Styczynski speaks to reporters March 28, 2026, after being endorsed for a six-year term on the Public Service Commission by North Dakota Republican delegates at their state convention. On the screen is Chris Olson, who plans to run for a two-year term on the commission but was ineligible to seek the endorsement. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
North Dakota Republican delegates endorsed Deven Styczynski on Saturday for a six-year term on the state’s Public Service Commission.
Styczynski, of Enderlin, will take on Republican incumbent Sheri Haugen-Hoffart during the June 9 primary. Haugen-Hoffart is among state officials who opted to skip the state endorsing convention in favor of submitting signatures to gain access to the primary ballot.
During his speech at the NDGOP state convention, Styczynski said he wants to have stronger scrutiny of utility rate increases at the PSC to prevent an undue burden on consumers.
“No more insider deals. No more class warfare disguised as policy. Just hard work, straight talk and a Public Service Commission that puts North Dakota families first,” said Styczynski, a former Wisconsin dairy farmer who has made North Dakota his home.
Styczynski was nominated by Doug Sharbono of Fargo, who told delegates he was happy Styczynski was able to attend because of all the weddings being held this weekend, an apparent criticism of Gov. Kelly Armstrong who is missing the state convention to participate in a friend’s wedding.
“Deven would make a great commissioner for the PSC,” Sharbono said. “The PSC has failed me, and they have failed a number of other citizens.”
In 2022, Styczynski ran for school board in Fargo Public Schools, but failed to finish in the top five candidates to win a spot on the board.
Haugen-Hoffart was appointed to the PSC in February 2022 and won the election for the seat the same year. She did not face a Republican challenger in the 2022 primary, and she defeated Democrat Trygve Hammer with 70% of voter support.
Haugen-Hoffart has said maintaining reliable and affordable energy for consumers is a priority.
She is the manager of the consumer affairs portfolio for the commission.
“I am committed to continuing the fight for fiscal responsibility, protecting families, and securing our energy future, so North Dakota remains strong for generations to come,” Haugen-Hoffart said in announcing her run for another six-year term.
Haugen-Hoffart defended the PSC approval of an electricity rate increase for Xcel Energy earlier this year, saying it was the company’s first request to raise rates in four years.
On the national level, she was appointed to the board of directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and is vice president of the Mid-America Regulatory Conference.
Chris Olson, a farmer and rancher who also works at a Stanton-area power plant, said he is gathering signatures to challenge Jill Kringstad in the Republican primary for the two-year term opening on the Public Service Commission. Olson, son of Republican Rep. SuAnn Olson, did not meet a deadline to seek the state party endorsement.
Clint Feland of Bismarck made a motion from the convention floor to offer a letter of recommendation to Olson for the 2026 primary election, but after debate about changing the rules of the party and convention, the motion failed on a standing vote by the delegates.
Olson, of Baldwin, said his property was affected by the first plan for the Summit Carbon Solutions’ carbon dioxide pipeline project before the project was rerouted north of his property, which inspired him to get more involved with landowner rights and to run for the PSC.
“It is an industrial waste pipeline,” Olson said during an interview. “Make no bones about it. Why does it need to be here?”
Kringstad, who was appointed to the position in January 2025, is running for a two-year term and submitted signatures to appear on the ballot. Kringstad worked as the commission’s director of business operations before becoming a commissioner.
“She needed an opponent,” SuAnn Olson said. “She’s never been elected.”
The Democratic-NPL Party endorsed John Pederson for the six-year PSC race during its state convention in Bismarck on March 7.
The deadline for candidates to submit paperwork to run for office is April 6.
No candidates met the deadline to seek the Republican Party endorsement for attorney general, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner or tax commissioner. Attorney General Drew Wrigley, Secretary of State Michael Howe, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus, all Republicans, plan to submit signatures and run in the June primary.
No candidates are listed to seek a letter of support from the Republican Party for the nonpartisan position of superintendent of public instruction. Levi Bachmeier, a Republican who was appointed to the position, is running for election but also plans to submit signatures.
The party is scheduled to endorse a U.S. House candidate on Sunday. The only candidate seeking the party’s endorsement is Alex Balazs. Rep. Julie Fedorchak is among candidates who are skipping the convention.
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