Julie Fedorchak Wins Reelection to U.S. House in North Dakota

North Dakota voters have returned U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak to Washington for a second term in Congress, handing the incumbent a victory in a political rematch against Democratic-NPL challenger Trygve Hammer, according to election results reported by The Associated Press.

When The Associated Press called the race at 8:56 p.m., Fedorchak held a lead in complete but unofficial results. Results reported by The Associated Press showed her finishing with 57% of the vote compared to Hammer’s 37%. Independent candidates Charles Tuttle and Helene Neville captured roughly 4% and 2% of the vote respectively.

The Mandate for Conservative Policy in a Republican Stronghold

Fedorchak made history in 2024 by becoming the first woman elected to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives. Speaking after casting her ballot in Mandan on Election Day, she made it clear that her legislative priorities will remain anchored in limited government and economic expansion, regardless of the broader partisan makeup of Washington.

“They want limited government. They want low taxes. They want a great business climate,” Fedorchak said on election night, pointing to the economic framework that has allowed the state to flourish while a wave of Democratic wins hit other parts of the country. She added that she intends to pursue conservative solutions in a bipartisan fashion, noting she has “no trouble reaching across the aisle.”

Throughout the campaign, the two candidates drew sharp contrasts on national issues. Fedorchak campaigned heavily on her support for President Donald Trump, backing energy development, border security, and the administration’s stance on the conflict with Iran. She also pointed to the success of the 2025 budget reconciliation bill—widely referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—which delivered no taxes on tips or overtime while introducing a new tax deduction for seniors.

Julie Fedorchak Wins Reelection to U.S. House in North Dakota — Photo: mydakotan.com

On the legislative front, Fedorchak pointed to her record during her first term, including co-sponsoring the Stop Insider Trading Act, a measure designed to ban members of Congress from purchasing stocks while in office, alongside her support for the SAVE America Act.

Challenging the Incumbent from the Ground Up

Trygve Hammer mounted a challenge against the incumbent, campaigning on government accountability, congressional oversight on tariffs, and efforts to make healthcare more affordable while addressing Social Security insolvency. Hammer brought a distinct background to the ballot, having graduated from the Naval Academy, served as a Marine helicopter pilot who deployed to Iraq in 2003 as a platoon commander, and later worked as a Bakken oil field rig worker, freight train conductor, and science teacher.

She said that she would continue to push for conservative solutions to the nation’s problems even if Democrats take control of the U.S. House.

“Congresswoman Fedorchak can go there and continue to be a rubber stamp for Donald Trump, and it won’t make any difference because she’ll be in a vast minority,” Hammer told the North Dakota Monitor on election night.

The campaign also highlighted different approaches to constituent engagement. During her first term, Fedorchak did not host an in-person, public town hall, opting instead for virtual tele-town hall events that she argued allowed broader participation across the state. During the congressional August break, she organized agricultural roundtables to discuss ethanol and trade policies with industry leaders, notably diverging from Trump’s strategy to import foreign beef while pushing for better trade deals for agricultural producers.

Fedorchak bypassed the North Dakota Republican Party endorsement convention in Minot earlier this year, securing her spot on the primary ballot through petition signatures. She ultimately defeated NDGOP-endorsed challenger Alex Balazs in the June primary with 73% of the vote before securing an endorsement from President Trump for her reelection bid.

With the race now decided and the ballots tallied, attention turns back to Washington as Fedorchak prepares to resume her seat representing North Dakota’s interests on Capitol Hill.