Armstrong wins North Dakota governor’s race to succeed Burgum

Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) is the projected winner of North Dakota’s gubernatorial race, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Armstrong, the Peace Garden State’s sole congressman, was heavily favored to win in the solid red state, which has not had a Democrat in the governor’s residence since 1992.

He launched his bid to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum (R), a day after the governor announced he would not seek a third term. Burgum, who ran a long-shot presidential bid before suspending his campaign last December, endorsed the lawmaker’s primary challenger, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller.

The third-term congressman, who was backed by the North Dakota GOP and former President Trump, defeated Miller in the gubernatorial primary race over the summer. 

The next governor is expected to take office in mid-December, weeks before the legislative session begins. 

Armstrong, 48, was elected to the House in 2018, after serving six years in the state Senate. He also did a stint as the chair of the state Republican Party. His office confirmed to The Hill earlier this year that he would not seek reelection to the House.

The North Dakota Republican easily won reelection in the 2022 midterm election, garnering more than 62 percent of the vote against his independent challenger.