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GRAND FORKS — As Election Day draws near, candidates in the race for North Dakota's only seat in the U.S. House of Representatives are moving at different paces to gain the last bits of support and get voters to the polls on and before Nov. 8.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Kelly Armstrong describes a laid-back approach to the final days of his campaign, while independent candidate Cara Mund's schedule is packed with public appearances, interviews and meetings.
On Wednesday, Nov. 2, Armstrong met with Kristi Magnuson Nelson, president and CEO of Hugo’s Family Marketplace, and Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, at Hugo’s Pure Market in downtown Grand Forks to talk about inflation and how it is affecting customers. Earlier in the day, he met with leaders at Minnkota Power Cooperative and visited Grand Sky.
His strategy in the final days before the election is similar to his overall campaign strategy – getting out to meet with North Dakotans.
“We increase the pace a little bit but we don’t really change what we’re doing,” he said.
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Overall, the campaign has been great, he said, but traveling around the state to meet with constituents is not a big change from his day-to-day work as a representative.
“You can spin yourself in knots depending on whatever everybody else is doing, but at the end of the day, we just do what we do,” he said. “If we were home for a week we’d be doing this anyway – it’s the best part of the job.”
For Mund, the last days before the election include stops in Steele, Dickinson and Grand Forks to meet with voters, a handful of interviews and meetings. Still acting as a one-woman show, she says that during the campaign, she has done the work of 10 people – candidate, campaign manager, fundraiser, communications director, treasurer, volunteer coordinator, scheduler, technology manager, policy research director and legal adviser.
“I’m balancing it all, but again, that was something that I chose by going as an independent – not getting the financial backing of a party, not getting the PAC money as well.”
Since entering the race in August, the campaign has gone quickly, Mund said, but she pushes back against the idea that she entered the race late.
“I don’t think I was late. I think I ignited it, if anything,” she said.
She says she is satisfied with how she ran her campaign, no matter the results of the election.
“I’ll have no regrets after Nov. 8,” said Mund. “I ran a campaign that I’m proud of. I did it on my own and I’ve earned my way.”
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Going into Election Day, Armstrong is confident.
“I trust the people of North Dakota,” he said. “We’re going to run through the tape, but I think we’ll be OK.”
Mund is less sure about how the race will shake out.
“It’s hard to know,” she said. “There are a lot of people who message me privately and say ‘I’m supporting you.’ They maybe just don’t feel like they can say anything publicly right now, and that’s fine too, because eventually all that matters is that you go vote, you go support.”
Election Day is Nov. 8, with early voting being held the week prior. Absentee ballots have been available since Sept. 29.
Forum Communications’ voter guide , in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota and North Dakota, has more information on local races.
