Newly appointed Rep. Karen Grindberg, R-Fargo, reviews documents during the organizational session of the Legislature on Dec. 2, 2024. Grindberg replaces Rep. Michelle Strinden who resigned after being elected lieutenant governor. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)
By: Michael Achterling
FARGO (North Dakota Monitor) – A Fargo woman with a family legacy of public service will represent District 41 in the state House, filling a vacancy after Rep. Michelle Strinden was elected lieutenant governor.
Karen Grindberg, Strinden’s sister-in-law, was sworn into office Monday after the Republican Party’s District 41 executive committee unanimously appointed Grindberg to the seat.
Strinden, who will serve with Gov.-elect Kelly Armstrong starting Dec. 15, resigned from the Legislature effective Dec. 1.
Grindberg spent 24 years working for the Fargo marketing and advertising agency Flint Communications and rose to the rank of chief financial officer before retiring recently.
“I had been involved in District 41, so it was just the right opportunity at the right time,” Grindberg said. “I’m honored to do this and I’m excited about this legislative session.”
She said she doesn’t have a specific policy area that she wants to focus on, but is viewing the whole experience as a “huge learning opportunity.”
Grindberg is the wife of former state Sen. Tony Grindberg, who represented the Fargo area in the Senate from 1992 to 2014, and the mother of state Treasurer Thomas Beadle, also a former state lawmaker.
She is also the sister of NDGOP District 41 Chair Tom Strinden, Michelle Strinden’s husband. Grindberg’s father, Earl Strinden, was a former House majority leader and served for more than two decades in the state House. He also founded the University of North Dakota Foundation and served as the executive director of the UND Alumni Association for more than 30 years.
“Our family strongly believes in public service,” Beadle said. “My grandpa put the ethos in all of us of always leaving the wood pile higher and try to make things better for those that come after you. That’s something that my mom has strongly connected with.”
Beadle said his mother should be able to hit the ground running because she’s been plugged into the state’s politics for much of her life.
“She’s sharp as hell and very compassionate,” Beadle said. “Truly, I couldn’t be more proud of everything she’s accomplished.”
In a statement, Tom Strinden, chair for NDGOP District 41, said Grindberg has a wealth of experience in business and finances and should represent the district well in the Legislature.
“She has a long record of dedication to our state and community having served in many volunteer and community service focused roles, and a strong commitment to our shared conservative values,” Strinden said. “She is well-equipped to step into this role and continue the
important work of serving our neighbors in District 41.”
Grindberg said she plans to serve the remainder of Strinden’s term, which expires in 2026, and intends to run for election to the seat that fall.
“That would be my intent, but of course the voters would have to decide that,” Grindberg said.
Lawmakers are holding an organizational session at the Capitol through Wednesday. The legislative session begins Jan. 7.
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