GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — Former state lawmaker Mac Schneider of Grand Forks has won the endorsement of North Dakota Democratic convention delegates to run for the U.S. House.

Schneider is a businessman and attorney. He served in the state Senate from 2009 until his defeat for re-election in 2016.

North Dakota’s lone House seat is being vacated by Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer, who is running against Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.

Democrats hope to seize the opportunity to pick up a House seat in a strongly conservative state.

Schneider was chosen over state Sen. John Grabinger of Jamestown and former state Rep. Ben Hanson of Fargo. All three had pledged to drop out of contest if passed over.

On the Republican side, state senators Kelly Armstrong and Tom Campbell have announced bids for Cramer’s House seat.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Democrats have endorsed candidates for attorney general, agriculture commissioner and the Public Service Commission.

Grand Forks lawyer David Thompson was unopposed Friday for the Democratic endorsement for the state’s top law enforcement officer, a position Republican Wayne Stenehjem has held for nearly two decades.

Delegates meeting at the state convention in Grand Forks also endorsed longtime state Sen. Jim Dotzenrod of Wyndmere for agriculture commissioner. Doug Goehring is the Republican incumbent.

Delegates unanimously endorsed two newcomers for the Public Service Commission.
Casey Buchmann, an iron worker from Washburn, was endorsed for the seat now held by Republican Brian Kroshus. Jean Brandt, who works for an oilfield services company in northwestern North Dakota, is the endorsed candidate for the seat now held by the GOP’s Randy Christmann.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is telling fellow Democrats in her home state of North Dakota to have hope for their party. Heitkamp is North Dakota’s only Democratic statewide officeholder and is facing a tough re-election fight from GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer in a conservative-leaning state. North Dakota delegates endorsed Heitkamp at the party’s convention in Grand Forks in a race that’s expected to be one of the nation’s toughest, with Democrats hoping to hold onto the seat and pick up others.

Fargo Democrat Josh Boschee the minority leader in the North Dakota House of Representatives, unanimously won the Democratic endorsement for secretary of state, a seat held by Al Jaeger since 1992.

Jaeger, a Republican who announced his bid for re-election, faces a challenger in his own party. Mandan businessman Will Gardner also will seek the GOP endorsement next month

The state Democratic Party Chair Kylie Oversen was tapped for tax commissioner, who likely will face incumbent Ryan Rauschenberger.