Independent Candidates Join Race for North Dakota U.S. House Seat
As the November 2026 ballot takes shape across North Dakota, five independent candidates have officially secured their spots, highlighted by a Fargo candidate running to fill the seat of a late lawmaker.
The District 11 Race Following a Tragic Loss
In Fargo’s District 11, retired high school Spanish teacher Cara Cody-Braun is running for the state House as an independent candidate, planning to caucus with Democrats. According to News From The States, Cody-Braun stepped forward after the spring plane crash death of incumbent Representative Liz Conmy. Some Democratic-NPL leaders disagreed with state election officials regarding the process to replace Conmy on the ballot and sought an attorney general’s opinion. Cody-Braun chose to gather signatures from district voters instead.
“I don’t mind the label because I am an independent thinker, but I will definitely be caucusing with the Dems,” Cody-Braun stated, as reported by News From The States. She has received support from local Democrats including Senator Tim Mathern and fellow House candidate Anastassiya Andrianova. Adam Goldwyn, chair of the Dem-NPL Party, is serving out the final months of Conmy’s term but is not running for election. Republican Christine O’Riley will challenge Mathern in the Senate race, while Republican Doug Sharbono, who advanced from the June primary as a write-in candidate, is also running for the House.
Independent Contenders Enter U.S. House and Legislative Races
Beyond the Fargo special election context, two independent candidates filed by the Monday deadline to enter the race for North Dakota’s U.S. House seat. They join incumbent Republican Representative Julie Fedorchak and Democrat Trygve Hammer on the ballot. Helene Neville of Jamestown, who lost the Democratic nomination to Hammer, and Republican Charles Tuttle of Bismarck filed to appear as independent House candidates. Tuttle is a frequent candidate who most recently lost the June primary for North Dakota superintendent of public instruction.
Two additional independent candidates have qualified for races within the state Legislature. Jolene Bruce of Horace, who identifies as progressive-leaning and Democratic-aligned, is running for state House in District 27 with endorsements from the Red River Valley chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. She faces Republican incumbent Representative Greg Stemen and Republican House candidate Shawn Kessel. “It’s a big scary word for people, but what people don’t understand is that Social Security is socialism,” Bruce told News From The States regarding her platform. Meanwhile, Andrew Alexis Varvel of Bismarck is running for the District 47 House seat, challenging Republican incumbent Representative Mike Motschenbacher, Republican candidate Jon Lee, and Dem-NPL candidates Rosann Jacobs-Fode and Cole Montoya.
Navigating Election Administration and Legal Frameworks
With filing deadlines now closed, attention turns entirely to the electorate as candidates make their final cases to voters ahead of November.