Republican gubernatorial candidates Tammy Miller And Kelly Armstrong. (Photos provided)
North Dakota’s Republican-backed gubernatorial candidate, Rep. Kelly Armstrong, reported four times as many major dollar donors as his Republican rival Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller in their quest to become the state’s next governor.
The candidates’ pre-primary financial disclosures to the Secretary of State also revealed that each candidate contributed at least $1 million to their respective campaigns.
Armstrong reported contributing $1 million in personal funds, along with a $100,000 contribution from his congressional fundraising committee. Miller donated $2.3 million to her campaign.
In total, Armstrong reported donations of more than $3 million on May 16. Nearly 450 individuals or organizations gave $200 or more, with major support from the energy industry and political action committees. Armstrong also received more than $17,000 in donations under $200.
The major donors to Armstrong’s campaign are:
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$500,000 – Michael Armstrong, Armstrong’s father and president of Armstrong Corp., Dickinson.
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$100,000 – The Bipartisan Network PAC, Washington DC
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$50,000 – Jim Arthaud, owner of MBI Oil and Gas, Dickinson.
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$50,000 – R. Todd Slawson, president of Slawson Exploration, an oil company operating in the Bakken.
As of the May 10 preprimary reporting deadline, Armstrong reported having more than $969,000 cash on hand. However, campaign finance reports show he has raised more than $100,000 in big-dollar donations, which is not reflected in the May 10 report.
Miller reported donations of $2.7 million during the reporting period ending May 2. About 100 people donated more than $200, with no money coming from political action committees or organizations. Her total also includes more than $5,700 in donations under $200.
The top donors to Miller’s campaign are:
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$100,000 – Gary Tharaldson, CEO of Tharaldson Hospitality Management, Fargo.
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$25,000 – Keith and Rondi McGovern, president of RD Offutt Company, Fargo.
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$25,000 – Franklin and Shelly Neal, president of PROffutt Limited Partnership, Fargo.
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$25,000 – Scott and Kelly Steffes, owner, Thoreson Steffes Trust Company, Fargo.
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$25,000 – Richard Thoreson, investment manager, Thoreson Steffes Trust Company, Fargo.
She ended the reporting period with just over $679,000 in cash, the report shows.
Campaign manager Dawson Schefter said Miller has focused on organizing town halls and meet-and-greet events across the state and will continue to do so leading up to the primaries.
“Tammy has already visited more than 40 communities and will be stopping in dozens of other North Dakota cities over the next month,” Schefter said. “We will continue to share Tammy’s story so that voters have a clear choice on Election Day: a conservative business leader and outsider with a positive vision for North Dakota, or a career politician with negative attacks.”
A series of negative advertisements with the title Great story Tammy targeting Miller were paid for by the Armstrong campaign. Miller’s campaign has done the same aimed at Armstrong with negative advertisements, including criticism of him for working as a trial lawyer.
Governor Doug Burgum has made no donations to either candidate for governor. Burgum, who appointed Miller as lieutenant governor in January 2023, has endorsed Miller as his preferred replacement for the state’s highest office. Former North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple and his wife, Betsy, each donated $2,500 to Armstrong’s campaign, records show.
In a statement, Armstrong said his campaign would finish strong in the final weeks of the primaries.
“We’re going to go over the tape,” Armstrong said. “We continue to meet people from all over the country. We will be on TV, radio, digital and by post.”
Democratic NPL gubernatorial candidate Sen. Merrill Piepkorn, D-Fargo, announced his candidacy for office on April 2; two days before the Dem-NPL state convention. During the six weeks beginning May 14, Piepkorn raised more than $63,000, including a donation of more than $7,600 from his Senate fundraising committee. He ended the filing period with more than $53,000 in cash. Piepkorn’s supporters include former U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy and former U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan, both Democrats.
Independent gubernatorial candidate Michael Coachman has not submitted signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office to be considered an official candidate for office. Coachman has until September 3 to submit his signatures and be included in the November general election.
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Post-NDGOP gubernatorial candidates Armstrong, Miller report similar primary war chests first appeared on North Dakota Monitor.
