North Dakota Secretary of State Choose 1
The Secretary of State is the state's chief election official, but they also have many other duties, such as managing business and nonprofit registrations, recording executive orders and acts of the Governor, and filing the laws passed by the Legislature. Learn more at sos.nd.gov.
Biographical Information
Campaign Email
rgbforsos@gmail.com
Instagram
http://www.instagram.com/rgbforsos
Campaign Phone Number
7017933406
What are your top priorities?
Restoring trust, defending rights, supporting businesses, and ensuring transparency — these are the four pillars of my platform for the North Dakota Secretary of State.
Fair, nonpartisan elections. Voting access for every community. Modern services for small businesses. And clear accountability in campaign finance and public records.
Putting North Dakotans first in every decision.
How would you communicate effectively about the safety and security of the North Dakota election process?
Trust starts with transparency. I'd hold statewide forums to listen, learn, and educate — reaching rural communities and tribal nations where trust matters most. I'll partner with local media to share clear, factual updates and respond quickly when concerns arise. North Dakotans deserve to see how their elections are protected — not just be told they are.
What is your stance on the federal government taking a more active role in state election administration?
Elections are a state responsibility — and I'll keep it that way. North Dakota has a strong record of running fair, accurate elections. I'll accept federal resources, like cybersecurity support, when they genuinely help, but cooperation isn't control. My job is protecting North Dakota's authority over its own elections while ensuring every vote counts.
Is vote-by-mail an important voting option for North Dakota voters? Why or why not?
Yes. North Dakota is a large rural state where reaching a polling location can take hours. We already have counties that operate as mail-in ballot counties, and I fully support continuing that. Every North Dakotan deserves equal access to the ballot — regardless of how far they live from a polling place.
Are there any other aspects of the Secretary of State’s office that you would like to change or improve?
I'd make this office more visible and present in communities across North Dakota. I'll partner with the Department of Public Instruction to develop strong civics education resources, so the next generation understands how democracy works. I will work to add satellite offices around the state to increase access. And I'll listen to citizens and to the dedicated staff already serving in this office — to understand where improvements are needed and deliver them.
Biographical Information
Endorsements
Governor Kelly Armstrong
Website
http://howefornd.com
Campaign Email
team@howefornd.com
What are your top priorities?
Oversee the most secure, accurate, and transparent elections in the country and help every business meet their filing obligations in a timely fashion. I want to build upon the remarkable success and transformation of the office that we began on Jan. 1, 2023. We have so many different stakeholder groups that we enjoy assisting every single day. Small business owners, voters, candidates, county officials and staff, business attorneys. Customer service is a priority as we interact w/ every citizen.
How would you communicate effectively about the safety and security of the North Dakota election process?
I couldn’t be more proud of the work our office has put in to create and distribute education and information materials. From one-page resources on our website, to social media walk-through videos, to civic education workbooks for elementary students, North Dakotans have more resources than ever before to learn about how safe, secure, and accurate their elections are. I’ve had the honor to speak all across the state with everyday citizens and show them how North Dakota’s process works well.
What is your stance on the federal government taking a more active role in state election administration?
North Dakotans have well-positioned North Dakota elections for security, accuracy, accessibility, and timeliness. Our voter ID law, proof of US citizenship, sole use of paper ballots, necessary checks and balances with vote-by-mail, and multiple voting options have all been implemented and administered by North Dakota lawmakers and election officials. The federal government should not remove any of our common-sense election safeguards.
Is vote-by-mail an important voting option for North Dakota voters? Why or why not?
Yes. North Dakotans currently have several options to cast their ballot in a way that is most convenient for them. Eligible voters have 40 days of absentee voting. Counties can offer up to two weeks of in-person early voting. And each county is required to have one physical polling location open on Election Day. As a rural state where voters may be long distances from a polling location, vote-by-mail is crucial. Vote-by-mail reduces the burden on counties to find polling locations and workforce.
Are there any other aspects of the Secretary of State’s office that you would like to change or improve?
Earlier last year we started virtual appointments for business and licensing. This has been a real improvement for folks from all four corners of ND who may need extra assistance. Continuing to improve technology in our office such as the new campaign finance and statement of interest reporting system, upgrading FirstStop- our online business portal, and having a user friendly election night reporting site. We will look at every option to make government easy for the public to interact with.