Alex Balazs speaks to media after being nominated for U.S. House by the NDGOP. (Joe Leier, KFGO)
BY: AMY DALRYMPLE AND MICHAEL ACHTERLING (North Dakota Monitor)
FARGO (KFGO/North Dakota Monitor) – North Dakota Republicans endorsed Alex Balazs for U.S. House on Saturday after candidate Rick Becker urged delegates to spoil ballots and Julie Fedorchak withdrew from the race.
The result was largely symbolic as all three Republican candidates plan to compete in the June 11 primary.
Balasz, a military veteran and first-time candidate from Cando, and Fedorchak, a Public Service Commissioner, were the only two candidates seeking the NDGOP endorsement. Becker, a former state lawmaker who led a far-right group in the Legislature, was not eligible for the NDGOP endorsement because he ran as an independent against Sen. John Hoeven in 2022.
Becker said his supporters felt disenfranchised and he encouraged them to “spoil” ballots by writing in his name. During the first vote, more than 380 delegates spoiled their ballots and no one earned enough votes to receive the endorsement.
Delegates conducted a second vote, with Balazs edging out Fedorchak 605-599 but falling just short of the 608 votes needed to win.
Fedorchak then withdrew from consideration for the endorsement, leading Republican Party Chair Sandi Sanford to declare Balazs the winner.
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