Matt Simon, chair of the North Dakota Republican Party, listens to delegates at the party’s state convention at the State Fairgrounds in Minot on March 28, 2026 during debate on a motion. (Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
MINOT, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – Delegates to the North Dakota Republican state convention overwhelmingly approved a pair of resolutions calling for the abolishment of the primary election system and urging elected officials to adhere to the party platform, among a host of other symbolic motions.
One resolution declares the primary system to be unconstitutional and directs the party chairman, executive committee and all Republican officials to “pursue every available legal, legislative, and political path” to change state law to ensure candidates endorsed by a political party go directly to the general election. It passed 540-60.
Another resolution calls upon all Republican elected officials “to support and adhere to” the party platform. It was approved 577-23.
The votes occurred a day after the delegates narrowly voted to strip the Republican party brand from candidates who did not attend this year’s state convention. All incumbent statewide elected officials running for reelection in 2026 skipped the event.
Republican Party Chair Matt Simon, delivering the event’s closing remarks, said party delegates are best positioned to hold Republican officials accountable to the platform.
“We stand at a dangerous precipice of allowing anointings and coronations over the thorough vetting of elected representatives,” Simon said.
Simon criticized an effort by some Republicans not at the convention pushing for legislation to make the primary the only way to access the ballot. Rep. Mike Nathe, a Bismarck Republican, has said he’s considering proposing a bill to abolish the endorsement process. The Legislature in 2025 considered dueling bills to abolish the primary or abolish the state endorsement process, but both bills failed.
“The appeal to forsake the convention nomination process in favor of the primary is really just a polished way of saying, ‘We want your vote, not your voice,’” Simon said.
Delegates also voiced concerns that the Republican party, as a private organization, has no control over who can have an ‘R’ next to their name on an election ballot.
“The way the law sits right now, Hillary Clinton could move to North Dakota for six months, become a resident of North Dakota, get enough signatures and put an ‘R’ behind her name,” said Greg Malo, a delegate from District 21. “It just ain’t right.”
The resolution calling for adherence to the party platform by public officials underwent a significant change before it was ever presented to the Republican delegates for a vote.
An early draft called on Republicans to maintain a voting record of 80% or greater within the Republican platform, but that portion of the resolution did not advance, said Rep. Karen Karls, R-Bismarck, chair of District 35 Republicans, who serves on the resolutions committee.
Marriage, abortion, religion
Convention delegates also passed resolutions focused on social issues, including the reiteration of the party’s opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion.
A “resolution to promote historical values” called for all public officials to honor and defend the federal Constitution, state constitution and “the historical Christian faith of our founders.”
Public officials and educational institutions are urged to “promote the historical influence of Christian religious belief – including the Ten Commandments and the religious views held by many of America’s founders – within the broader context of American history and civic duties,” as part of the resolution. It passed 582-18.
Opposition to same-sex marriage was steadfast among delegates. A resolution supporting the definition of marriage in the North Dakota Constitution, between one biological man and one biological woman, passed 583-17. The resolution calls for the attorney general to “vigorously” defend that definition in court.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean everyone voting for the resolution is hostile to the LGBTQ community, said Brian McDonald of Leonard, a delegate from District 25.
“I’ve got no problem with people who want to be partners, or whatever you call it,” McDonald said. “We don’t need to punish anyone. I don’t want to see anybody hurt. But I do believe that there’s a purpose in marriage and we should encourage that, I guess, and protect it.”
The right to life resolution, opposing abortion in all forms, also received strong support from those in attendance. It passed 589-11.
Eric Smith, a Bismarck delegate from District 47, suggested focusing on policies to support families with children.
“We can look at, also, what we can do for families to actually help them raise that because I know there’s a lot of financial factors that play into that, and that’s why a lot of people choose to terminate their childbirth,” Smith said.
Energy, other topics
A resolution “regarding energy freedom” was approved by a vote of 580-20.
It declared the North Dakota Republican Party supports three concepts:
- Legislation supporting fossil fuels and reducing regulations.
- Legislation prohibiting the use of eminent domain by private enterprises without a public purpose, appearing to allude to Summit Carbon Solutions carbon dioxide pipeline.
- Legislation ensuring large energy customers, an apparent reference to data centers, do not negatively impact energy costs to traditional consumers.
The proposed prohibition on the use of eminent domain for private enterprise without a public purpose prompted applause in the crowd. McDonald, a landowner who sold an easement to Summit for the pipeline route, considers the company’s project a “boondoogle” that eminent domain should not be used for.
“This really isn’t in the public interest,” he said. “I think the people ought to either, you know, come to agreement or they find a different route around those people.”
The party also overwhelmingly approved eight other resolutions affirming health freedom, supporting election integrity, reducing state government spending, and supporting public safety, among others.
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