Grand Forks attorney Tim Lamb speaks with state Sen. Tim Mathern of Fargo at the Democratic-NPL convention in Fargo on April 5, 2024. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)
by JEFF BEACH (North Dakota Monitor)
FARGO (KFGO/North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota Democrats nominated two candidates Friday to challenge Republicans in statewide races for auditor and a seat on the Public Service Commission.
Grand Forks attorney Tim Lamb was nominated for state auditor, challenging incumbent Josh Gallion. Tracey Wilkie will run against PSC Chair Randy Christmann for a seat on the three-person commission. Gallion and Christmann were each seeking endorsement from Republicans Friday with no opposition.
Lamb noted that the auditor’s office is responsible for reviewing all state financial transactions and singled out a building leased by the Attorney General’s Office that has raised questions due to its connection to a state lawmaker.
“There’s a lease for a building in Bismarck that should be scrutinized,” Lamb said.
Gallion’s office did issue an investigative report on the attorney general building.
Lamb said having a Democrat to provide accountability and transparency in Rebublican-dominated state government would benefit North Dakota.
Lamb was the Dem-NPL candidate for attorney general in 2022. He received about 29% of votes and was defeated by Republican Drew Wrigley.
David Thompson, a Grand Forks attorney who seconded the nomination, said Lamb showed he was a strong candidate.
“Tim’s ready for prime time,” Thompson said.
Wilkie says the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline near the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota gave her the courage to run for public office.
Wilkie is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa who lives in Fargo.
“I am a voice of safety and protection for Mother Earth,” Wilkie told the North Dakota Monitor.
She was nominated for PSC two years ago but learned she did not meet the residency requirement. She also ran for the Legislature in 2020.
Democrats did not have candidates seeking the endorsement for insurance commissioner or state treasurer.
On Saturday, the Democrats are expected to nominate Merrill Piepkorn for governor, Kristina Christiansen for U.S. Senate and Trygve Hammer for North Dakota’s only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Democrats debated adding a resolution that would have supported an Israeli military pullout from Gaza and a two-state solution for peace between Palestinians and Israel.
James Maxson argued that the issue could keep President Joe Biden from being reelected and put Donald Trump back in office.
“This could divide the party and cost us the election,” he said.
A vote to add the resolution was defeated.
Included in the platform was an opposition “to the collection and storage of carbon and other waste products in our state.”
The platform also supports access to abortion and calls for creating a more humane and efficient immigration system.
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