AP Photo Gov. Doug Burgum speaks as Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., listens during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX News Channel Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Local Republicans came away with mixed impressions of the presidential candidates vying for attention in Wednesday’s GOP debate. But even candidates who wowed the crowd may have a hard time grabbing the nomination from Donald Trump, they say.

Billionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy made the best impression, while the debate also ruled out a good share of the field for some local Republicans.

“I felt Ramaswamy kind of was the one that shined the most. I just think he had the most substance, and surprisingly so at how well he handled most of the questions,” state Sen. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot, said.

He said he liked Ramaswamy’s energy and knowledge.

“Ramaswamy was superior to everybody on the stage,” said Roger Neshem, Berthold, District 38 Republican chairman. “He’s an original thinker and has original ideas.”

Travis Zablotney of Minot, District 5 Republican chairman and GOP State Committee member, agreed Ramaswamy had the best performance.

“He nailed it. He absolutely did the best job. There was nothing as a conservative Republican in North Dakota that I could disagree with him on,” he said.

Zablotney said he still remains cautious about Ramaswamy but considers him to have won the debate, with Ron DeSantis in second. Republicans voiced disappointment with Mike Pence, Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson, in particular.

The reaction to North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum’s debate performance was mixed.

“I don’t think Burgum hurt himself, but I don’t think he gained either,” Hoverson said. “He spoke well, but it was pretty general. And so, I don’t think he made himself stick out content-wise.”

Zablotney agreed Burgum failed to make a difference in the debate, and he was disappointed the governor didn’t take stronger positions in areas such as climate change and abortion.

State Sen. David Hogue, R-Minot, liked Burgum’s positioning.

“Governor Burgum added to his street cred by declaring that the federal government has no role to play in the abortion debate. It’s not an area the founders delegated to the federal government. That stood out from candidates Pence and Haley, who see a federal role on abortion law,” Hogue said.

Hogue added that while there was agreement on enabling domestic energy production, Burgum is driving the Republican narrative that the country can produce cleaner energy by producing more domestically rather than importing energy from the Middle East.

“Several of the candidates in post-debate spin interviews seem to parrot this idea,” he said.

“The absence of former President Trump was helpful to focusing on issues,” Hogue said. “The national media obsesses over President Trump’s indictments and wants every other candidate to talk about President Trump’s indictments rather than the issues. The other candidates aren’t taking the bait. Governor Burgum reminded his fellow candidates that debating Trump indictments in Milwaukee is not focused on the future.”

Although Ramaswamy and DeSantis showed they have a handle on the issues, Hoverson said, he questions whether any of the candidates can snatch the party endorsement away from Trump.

“I really think Trump’s going to be the nominee. I just don’t think anybody’s going to stop it because it’s really a movement. It’s not so much Trump. It’s just the movement is not going to stop,” Hoverson said.

Neshem said Republicans who support Trump need him to win.

“Trump needs to win it just to fulfill the vengeance a lot of us feel,” he said.

However, Zablotney said given the attacks Trump is under from the Justice Department and political opponents, the Republican Party could shy away from endorsing him, even if he has popular support.

“Are there other candidates that can meet him toe-to-toe? I think so,” Zablotney said, noting there’s plenty of time left for candidates to make a mark or new candidates to come forward.

On the other hand, Jay Lundeen, District 40 Republican chairman, Minot, said after briefly following Wednesday’s debate, he has concerns for the Republican Party in the presidential election.

“The party needs to get it together. That didn’t make me feel any better about our candidate’s chances in 2024,” he said of the debate.