By Associated Press - Sunday, April 3, 2016

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The Latest on happenings at the North Dakota Republican convention in Fargo (all times local):

5:45 p.m.

North Dakota Republican convention-goers have selected 25 of their 28 national delegates.

The delegates picked Sunday, plus the three who are automatic, will represent a fraction of those at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July. But the potential of a contested convention is bringing heightened attention to each delegate.

Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz told attendees at the North Dakota Republican convention on Saturday that their delegates could decide the nomination.

Under state party rules, North Dakota’s delegates to the national convention are not bound to any candidate, leaving them “free to vote their conscience on all balloting.”

Gov. Jack Dalrymple and his wife, Betsy, are among the national delegates. Both say they are uncommitted.

___

Advertisement
Advertisement

4:45 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer has the approval of Republican convention delegates to run for a third term.

Cramer was challenged for the endorsement on Sunday in Fargo by DuWayne Hendrickson of Minot. Hendrickson has now lost his fourth bid for the Republican endorsement to run for the U.S. House.

Cramer is a former chairman of the state Republican Party and member of the state Public Service Commission.

___

Advertisement
Advertisement

3:20 p.m.

Attorney General and Republican candidate for governor Wayne Stenehjem has picked Bismarck State Sen. Nicole Poolman to be his running mate.

GOP delegates endorsed Poolman on Sunday at their convention in Fargo.

Poolman is an English teacher at Century High School in Bismarck. She has served in the state senate since 2013.

Advertisement
Advertisement

She is married to Jim Poolman, North Dakota’s former insurance commissioner and state representative from Grand Forks. Jim Poolman is now vice chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party.

___

3:10 p.m.

North Dakota Republicans have endorsed Jon Godfread for state Insurance Commissioner.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Godfread is a lawyer and a state chamber of commerce vice president. He got the GOP nod Sunday for the seat being vacated by Adam Hamm, who is not seeking re-election.

At 6 feet, 11 inches tall, Godfread once played professional basketball in Germany.

It’s his first bid for elected office though he was a finalist for state tax commissioner in 2013, when Cory Fong stepped down.

___

Advertisement
Advertisement

1:20 p.m.

North Dakota Republicans have endorsed Josh Gallion for state auditor.

Gallion outpolled Brian Kroshus on Sunday on the final day of the GOP convention in Fargo.

Gallion is an accounting manager for the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

Kroshus stepped down as publisher of the Bismarck Tribune to campaign for the seat held by Robert Peterson, who is not seeking a sixth term.

___

11 a.m.

North Dakota Republican activists are wrapping up their three-day convention in Fargo.

Convention attendees are scheduled Sunday to select 25 of 28 delegates who will go to the national convention unbound to any presidential candidates. North Dakota does not have a primary or caucus.

GOP faithful also are slated to select their preferred candidates for Congress, state auditor and state insurance commissioner.

More than 1,600 state delegates have registered for the convention, which began Friday. GOP officials say it’s one of its best-attended gatherings.

The convention’s marquee race was settled Saturday, when Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem was endorsed for governor. Fargo businessman Doug Burgum came in a distant third in balloting but has vowed to stay in the race until the June 14 primary.

Copyright © 2026 The Washington Times, LLC.

Please read our comment policy before commenting.