“I am really excited to be the sole representative for North Dakota in the U.S. House, and I am excited to get to work on some of the big issues,” Fedorchak said.

She listed the farm bill reauthorization as her first priority and said she plans to work on the coalitions and collaborations needed to get the type of bill farmers need. Fedorchak said Republicans also need to be deliberate in continuing the tax cuts from the former Trump administration.

“It’s farmers, ranchers and everyday North Dakotans who don’t want their taxes to go up,” she said.

Energy was another of her issues on the campaign trail. Fedorchak said she will be voicing her concerns about energy policy immediately upon getting to Washington and will be visiting with other Congressional members who share those concerns.

Hammer conceded the race shortly after 8:30 p.m., congratulating his opponent but indicating he’ll be back.

“(Senator) Quentin Burdick lost five times before he won. Even (Congressman and Senator) Byron Dorgan lost a few times. You have to keep at it,” Hammer said. “I am not going to go away.”

Hammer noted the campaign raised more money than any previous nonincumbent Democrat.

“I feel like we learned a lot. We ran a solid campaign. Any worthwhile endeavor, you look back and there’s a few things you could have done differently. It’s not for lack of effort. We put all of that in,” he said.

He said he will continue to keep building the state and Souris Valley Democratic-NPL parties.

Hammer, who most recently worked as a Job Corps counselor, said he plans to remain in Minot as he considers the next step in his career. A native of Velva, Hammer joined the Navy and later the Marine Corps, serving as a helicopter pilot, air controller and an infantry officer in Iraq. He has been an airline pilot, science teacher and worked in the oil field, for a railroad and for a defense contractor.

Hammer lost a bid in 2022 for PSC to incumbent Republican Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, who had been appointed to fill a vacancy by Gov. Doug Burgum.

Fedorchak was appointed to the North Dakota Public Service Commission by Gov. Jack Dalrymple in December 2012 and won reelection three times, most recently in 2022 with 71% of the vote.

She was born in Williston and graduated from high school in Bismarck. Following her graduation from the University of North Dakota with a degree in journalism, she sought opportunities out of state. Gov. Ed Schafer recruited her back to the state to serve as his communication director and senior policy advisor. She later owned and operated her own communications firm for 10 years before serving as state director for U.S. Senator John Hoeven and then as a member of the PSC.

She and her husband, Minot native Mike Fedorchak, live in Bismarck.