Two Republicans have announced their candidacy for North Dakota Legislature seats in District 42.
Jake Blum, a Plymouth, Minn., native, announced Saturday his intentions to seek the GOP endorsement for the race.
"I'm seeking this seat because I believe that I'm uniquely positioned to serve the people of District 42 and fight for their interests every day in Bismarck,” he said in his statement Saturday. “Public service is my passion, and I've never been more excited to do what I can for my community."
Former Rep. Curt Kreun also announced Saturday he will run for Senate in District 42 as a Republican.
"North Dakota needs leadership now more than ever,” Kreun said in a statement. “My experience makes me uniquely qualified to represent District 42 in the senate and to help guide our city and state through the years ahead."
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Kreun previously served in the House for District 43 from 2010 to 2014 but did not run for re-election when his term expired. He is ineligible to run again for his previously held seat because he has moved to District 42.
He also served more than 10 years on the Grand Forks City Council until announcing he would not seek re-election in 2012.
Blum, a senior at UND, is studying political science and criminal justice. He serves as the state government affairs commissioner for UND Student Government.
He also worked as a campaign operative for the North Dakota Republican Party, served as a state chairman for “the student arm” of Sen. Marco Rubio’s presidential campaign and interned for U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.
To be qualified to run for Legislature, candidates must be qualified voters in their districts and must have lived in the state for a year, according to North Dakota Century Code.
Blum told the Herald he has lived in a house in Grand Forks for three years, adding “I've been a North Dakota resident for quite some time now.”
Kreun will face Senate Minority Leader Mac Schneider, a Democrat who will also seek re-election in District 42.
Blum would face Rep. Kylie Oversen and Grant Hauschild, an associate director at the UND Alumni Association and Foundation, in the race for District 42, which contains UND. Oversen and Hauschild announced they would seek endorsements from the North Dakota Democratic Party.
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District 42 is also represented by Democratic Rep. Corey Mock, but since he has moved to District 18, he is ineligible to seek re-election there. He announced last week he would seek the Democratic endorsement for a House seat in that district.
Kreun said his campaign platform will focus on responsible fiscal management, economic diversification and infrastructure. He also argued in his statement that not Grand Forks has not been given the attention it deserves in recent legislative sessions.
"District 42 needs leadership that will remember the needs of the Grand Forks community and prioritize finding solutions over political maneuvering,” he said. "The infrastructure needs of the Oil Patch have rightfully received a great deal of attention in recent years, but our people can't afford Grand Forks getting lost in the shuffle.”
If elected, Blum said he plans to make responsible budgeting, affordable education and expanding economic opportunities key parts of his platform, he said.
"Our platform exemplifies our commitment to creating and sustaining jobs, keeping education costs low and keeping government spending in check,” he said. “You can count on me to go to bat for the people of District 42 when it comes to these monumental and significant issues. "
