Public Service Commission incumbents Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, speaking, and Jill Kringstad, right, won the Republican primary Tuesday and will advance to the November election. They participated in a Republican campaign event on May 29, 2026, in Fargo along with Attorney General Drew Wrigley, left, and Secretary of State Michael Howe. (Photo by Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)
The two incumbent North Dakota Public Service Commissioners running for election to another term have won their party’s primary and are moving on to a contested general election.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, running for a six-year term, and Jill Kringstad, pursuing a two-year term, were victorious in Tuesday’s primary in complete but unofficial results.
Haugen-Hoffart, a longtime public servant first appointed to the commission in 2022, defeated Deven Styczynski, the candidate endorsed by the GOP at its state convention, with 64% of the vote.
She thanked her supporters in a Facebook post Tuesday evening.
“I am humbled and honored to be elected as the Republican Nominee for Public Service Commission! The work’s not over – over the next few months, you’ll see me all across our great state campaigning hard to earn your vote and support in the November General Election!” Haugen-Hoffart said.
Kringstad won her first Republican primary, having been appointed in 2025 to fill the seat vacated by Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., against Chris Olson with 54% of the vote.
The incumbents have campaigned on their track record of minimizing electric rate increases for North Dakotans.
Haugen-Hoffart emphasized how proud she is of the commission’s work to keep electricity the most affordable in the country.
Kringstad has been on the Public Service Commission for less than two years, but was employed as the director of business operations for the agency prior to her appointment by Gov. Kelly Armstrong.
She has said her background in economics and accounting has helped her closely analyze proposed rate increases to determine if they are truly necessary.
Styczynski and Olson had campaigned on the message the incumbents were not doing enough to protect ratepayers in the state. They also warned of the potential risks of a rapid data center buildout in the state.
Styczynski said more regulation is necessary to prepare in case the facilities are abandoned in the future. Olson called for a moratorium until the state could craft additional regulations. The Public Service Commission does not regulate data centers, but has authority over permitting of power generation facilities.
Haugen-Hoffart will face Democratic nominee John Pederson, a professor at Mayville State University, in the general election. Kringstad will face off against Scot Kelsh, a former Fargo firefighter and Democratic state lawmaker, for the two-year term.
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