Rep. Kathy Skroch (R-Lidgerwood)
By: Michael Achterling
LIDGERWOOD, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – A former Republican lawmaker will represent District 25 in southeastern North Dakota, filling the position that has been vacant since Rep. Cindy Schreiber-Beck died in May.
The executive committee for District 25 Republicans selected former Rep. Kathy Skroch, R-Lidgerwood, to complete the remainder of the term.
Skroch beat out finalists Jason Heitkamp, a former lawmaker and 2024 state superintendent candidate, and former Republican district chair Erik Nygren during the interview process with the district’s executive committee.
“I was completely humbled by the outcome,” Skroch said Wednesday.
Skroch represented District 26 in the Legislature from 2017 to 2022 and narrowly lost her 2022 reelection bid by 85 votes to Rep. Alisa Mitskog, D-Wahpeton, after redistricting combined portions of District 26 with districts 25 and 28.
Schreiber-Beck’s seat had remained vacant because the district’s reorganization meetings during the spring were deemed invalid by the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office, leaving NDGOP District 25 without an official chair or executive committee to make the appointment. The Republican district party was officially reorganized on Aug. 12 with Matt Evans becoming the new district party chair.
Sen. Larry Luick, R-Fairmount, a member of the District 25 executive committee, said he is excited to move on from the district’s leadership “hiccup” and thinks Skroch will represent the area well.
“She’s very friendly to everybody,” Luick said. “I think we’re going to do just fine.”
He touted her wide-ranging experience as a benefit to her constituents. Skroch is a business owner through Vinnie’s Mud Bog in Lidgerwood, has experience in health care working previously in a geriatric care unit and has an agriculture past through framing and ranching in the area.
“I understand the importance of property rights and landowners’ rights and the impact that occurred with Richland County with the Fargo diversion and now the CO2 pipeline,” Skroch said. “I see the benefits, but I also see the risks to landowners when the big projects come in, or big corporate interests come in.”
She said she’d be willing to serve on any of the interim committees that she is selected for, but she said she believes she can contribute the most on the interim agriculture and human services committees.
Skroch added she could also provide insight on the interim education committee with her experience as a member of the Lidgerwood School Board and putting all seven of her children through the North Dakota public school system.
Skroch said she plans on running for election to the seat in 2026.
The North Dakota Legislature also has a vacancy in the Grand Forks area after Rep. Emily O’Brien, R-Grand Forks, resigned to become deputy commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, a member of the NDGOP District 42 executive committee, said the district received the official notice of vacancy on Tuesday. The committee is required to meet within 21 days to select O’Brien’s replacement.
Cory said anyone interested in filling the legislative seat should contact NDGOP District 42 Chair Kim Efta or email the district at nddistrict42@gmail.
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