In North Dakota, Republican trifecta is mirror image of Minnesota government
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks at the State Capitol in Bismarck, N.D.
Mike McCleary | Bismarck Tribune via AP 2020
In his State of the State address Wednesday night, Governor Tim Walz promoted key parts of his agenda: gun control, abortion and LGBTQ rights and a budget using the state’s $17 billion surplus.
And he contrasted these priorities with steps Republican-led states have taken to restrict abortion and gender affirming health care.
North Dakota, like Minnesota, has a trifecta – only Republicans are in charge.
So how are leaders there talking about what’s happening here in Minnesota? Do North Dakota residents view their state as a conservative refuge?
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Jack Dura is Capitol Reporter for the Bismarck Tribune. He talked with MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about the political environment in North Dakota.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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We attempt to make transcripts for Minnesota Now available the next business day after a broadcast. When ready they will appear here.
Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: In his State of the State Address last night, Governor Tim Walz promoted key parts of his agenda-- gun control, abortion rights, LGBTQ rights, and a budget using the state's $17 billion plus surplus. And he contrasted these priorities with steps Republican led states have taken to restrict abortion and gender affirming health care.
TIM WALZ: The forces of hatred and bigotry are on the March in states across this country and around the world. But let me say this now and be very clear about this-- that march stops at Minnesota's borders.
[CHEERING]
CATHY WURZER: North Dakota, like Minnesota, has a trifecta-- only Republicans are in charge. So how are leaders there talking about what's happening here in Minnesota? Do North Dakota residents view their state as a conservative refuge? Jack Dura is a Capitol reporter for The Bismarck Tribune. He's here to talk about it. Hey, Jack. Thanks for taking the time. I appreciate it.
JACK DURA: Hello. Hi, good afternoon.
CATHY WURZER: Good afternoon to you too. Just heard from Governor Walz there, giving his characterization of what's happening in states like North Dakota. How different is the political and social situation in North Dakota?
JACK DURA: Oh, we're certainly a Republican controlled state. Democrats hold no statewide positions here. And as you said, have a trifecta in Bismarck with the House, the Senate, and the Governor's office.
CATHY WURZER: Are Republicans in control framing what's happening in Minnesota as something that they're trying to work against?
JACK DURA: I haven't really heard much about Minnesota, necessarily, this session. But I think one of the overall frames for the legislation they've been bringing is on these issues around gender identity, is protecting children, protecting women, ensuring safety, privacy, fairness, et cetera in these various spheres that they're bringing these bills on related to restrooms, schools, sports, pronouns, et cetera.
CATHY WURZER: I know that North Dakota Governor Burgum yesterday signed into law a bill that would prohibit doctors from performing gender affirming health care on transgender minors in North Dakota. That passed both chambers with an overwhelming majority. Can you tell us more about what specifically that would mean for trans minors in your state?
JACK DURA: So the opponents of the bill have come out today with statements that the impact, the perceived harm this will have on minors [INAUDIBLE] they'll have to go elsewhere to receive care. Governor Burgum in his statement said children currently receiving gender affirming care will still be able to receive treatment under this legislation.
And he also said going forward, thoughtful debates around these complex medical policies should demonstrate compassion and understanding for all North Dakota youth and their families. This bill was kind of seen as the most impactful of the raft of transgender related bills we've seen this session. Governor Burgum also signed two bills that would restrict transgender athletes in K-12 and collegiate sports, which were similar to a bill he vetoed in 2021.
CATHY WURZER: Are opponents of this bill thinking that many folks will travel to Minnesota from North Dakota to get more health care options?
JACK DURA: I think that is the general consensus. We see that similarly in the debate around abortion with the Red River Women's Clinic, which was North Dakota's only abortion provider. It was in Fargo until last summer following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, when it moved across the river to Moorhead, Minnesota.
CATHY WURZER: Say, yesterday-- you've been busy at the State Capitol-- yesterday, your Senate passed a bill banning abortion after six weeks, I believe, even in the cases of incest or rape. What was that debate like?
JACK DURA: So this has been an interesting debate to follow, because in this debate, lawmakers were not necessarily debating the merits of the issue itself. Since the bill was pitched as a revision to North Dakota's abortion laws in the wake of the Dobbs decision, we have a trigger law that's temporarily blocked in state district court following the Dobbs decision. That's a near-total ban on abortion, as well as a fetal heartbeat bill that is also blocked in federal court that the attorney general in our state is seeking to undo.
One of the arguments that's played out on this bill, which is headed to Governor Burgum's desk, is the six weeks provision for cases of rape and incest, that that's not enough time for a woman or a girl to know she's pregnant after being assaulted.
CATHY WURZER: By the way, where does the state Supreme Court fit into this effort?
JACK DURA: So the Red River Women's Clinic brought its lawsuits against the trigger ban last summer. A Bismarck area judge put a temporary injunction on the trigger ban, blocking the law as the lawsuit plays out. The North Dakota Attorney General challenged his injunction, and the Supreme Court last month upheld the temporary block of the trigger ban.
It was kind of an interesting ruling. There was one part that bill supporters and the Attorney General did kind of blast the Supreme Court, cited a health provision-- kind of an exception to abortion regulation in North Dakota, which many in the legislature, certainly around the bill and the Attorney General, had a statement that blasted the Supreme Court for legislating this health exception, which did, in turn, affect the bill. The bill, it was amended to bring the phrase, serious health risk, into its language.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. Say, before you go, of course, we have the Democratic trifecta here in Minnesota. But there are sticking points within the party, right? So I'm curious, what are the big points of contention among Republicans in North Dakota? Are they pretty much a cohesive caucus?
JACK DURA: I would say in recent years in North Dakota, the North Dakota Republican Party, we've seen this divide between the more traditional Republicans and the more Trump aligned, ultra conservatives, who in the legislature have been branded as the Bastiat caucus, named after this long ago French philosopher. It's been interesting to see some votes that you can tell, certainly in the House, when a bill just gets over the finish line, the Republicans who vote on it, you can kind of tell from the way the names light up red and green where certain Republicans fall on either side of that spectrum.
And we've seen primary challenges in recent years. Our Secretary of State's race last year had kind of this same match-up. There's more of the divide between traditional versus Trump aligned Republicans in North Dakota. And for now, it seems the traditional Republicans have more of a voting majority that some of the more ultraconservative proposals don't necessarily pass through.
CATHY WURZER: All right. Jack, I appreciate your time. Thanks for the information.
JACK DURA: Yes. Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: Jack Dura is a Capitol Reporter for The Bismarck Tribune.
TIM WALZ: The forces of hatred and bigotry are on the March in states across this country and around the world. But let me say this now and be very clear about this-- that march stops at Minnesota's borders.
[CHEERING]
CATHY WURZER: North Dakota, like Minnesota, has a trifecta-- only Republicans are in charge. So how are leaders there talking about what's happening here in Minnesota? Do North Dakota residents view their state as a conservative refuge? Jack Dura is a Capitol reporter for The Bismarck Tribune. He's here to talk about it. Hey, Jack. Thanks for taking the time. I appreciate it.
JACK DURA: Hello. Hi, good afternoon.
CATHY WURZER: Good afternoon to you too. Just heard from Governor Walz there, giving his characterization of what's happening in states like North Dakota. How different is the political and social situation in North Dakota?
JACK DURA: Oh, we're certainly a Republican controlled state. Democrats hold no statewide positions here. And as you said, have a trifecta in Bismarck with the House, the Senate, and the Governor's office.
CATHY WURZER: Are Republicans in control framing what's happening in Minnesota as something that they're trying to work against?
JACK DURA: I haven't really heard much about Minnesota, necessarily, this session. But I think one of the overall frames for the legislation they've been bringing is on these issues around gender identity, is protecting children, protecting women, ensuring safety, privacy, fairness, et cetera in these various spheres that they're bringing these bills on related to restrooms, schools, sports, pronouns, et cetera.
CATHY WURZER: I know that North Dakota Governor Burgum yesterday signed into law a bill that would prohibit doctors from performing gender affirming health care on transgender minors in North Dakota. That passed both chambers with an overwhelming majority. Can you tell us more about what specifically that would mean for trans minors in your state?
JACK DURA: So the opponents of the bill have come out today with statements that the impact, the perceived harm this will have on minors [INAUDIBLE] they'll have to go elsewhere to receive care. Governor Burgum in his statement said children currently receiving gender affirming care will still be able to receive treatment under this legislation.
And he also said going forward, thoughtful debates around these complex medical policies should demonstrate compassion and understanding for all North Dakota youth and their families. This bill was kind of seen as the most impactful of the raft of transgender related bills we've seen this session. Governor Burgum also signed two bills that would restrict transgender athletes in K-12 and collegiate sports, which were similar to a bill he vetoed in 2021.
CATHY WURZER: Are opponents of this bill thinking that many folks will travel to Minnesota from North Dakota to get more health care options?
JACK DURA: I think that is the general consensus. We see that similarly in the debate around abortion with the Red River Women's Clinic, which was North Dakota's only abortion provider. It was in Fargo until last summer following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, when it moved across the river to Moorhead, Minnesota.
CATHY WURZER: Say, yesterday-- you've been busy at the State Capitol-- yesterday, your Senate passed a bill banning abortion after six weeks, I believe, even in the cases of incest or rape. What was that debate like?
JACK DURA: So this has been an interesting debate to follow, because in this debate, lawmakers were not necessarily debating the merits of the issue itself. Since the bill was pitched as a revision to North Dakota's abortion laws in the wake of the Dobbs decision, we have a trigger law that's temporarily blocked in state district court following the Dobbs decision. That's a near-total ban on abortion, as well as a fetal heartbeat bill that is also blocked in federal court that the attorney general in our state is seeking to undo.
One of the arguments that's played out on this bill, which is headed to Governor Burgum's desk, is the six weeks provision for cases of rape and incest, that that's not enough time for a woman or a girl to know she's pregnant after being assaulted.
CATHY WURZER: By the way, where does the state Supreme Court fit into this effort?
JACK DURA: So the Red River Women's Clinic brought its lawsuits against the trigger ban last summer. A Bismarck area judge put a temporary injunction on the trigger ban, blocking the law as the lawsuit plays out. The North Dakota Attorney General challenged his injunction, and the Supreme Court last month upheld the temporary block of the trigger ban.
It was kind of an interesting ruling. There was one part that bill supporters and the Attorney General did kind of blast the Supreme Court, cited a health provision-- kind of an exception to abortion regulation in North Dakota, which many in the legislature, certainly around the bill and the Attorney General, had a statement that blasted the Supreme Court for legislating this health exception, which did, in turn, affect the bill. The bill, it was amended to bring the phrase, serious health risk, into its language.
CATHY WURZER: Wow. Say, before you go, of course, we have the Democratic trifecta here in Minnesota. But there are sticking points within the party, right? So I'm curious, what are the big points of contention among Republicans in North Dakota? Are they pretty much a cohesive caucus?
JACK DURA: I would say in recent years in North Dakota, the North Dakota Republican Party, we've seen this divide between the more traditional Republicans and the more Trump aligned, ultra conservatives, who in the legislature have been branded as the Bastiat caucus, named after this long ago French philosopher. It's been interesting to see some votes that you can tell, certainly in the House, when a bill just gets over the finish line, the Republicans who vote on it, you can kind of tell from the way the names light up red and green where certain Republicans fall on either side of that spectrum.
And we've seen primary challenges in recent years. Our Secretary of State's race last year had kind of this same match-up. There's more of the divide between traditional versus Trump aligned Republicans in North Dakota. And for now, it seems the traditional Republicans have more of a voting majority that some of the more ultraconservative proposals don't necessarily pass through.
CATHY WURZER: All right. Jack, I appreciate your time. Thanks for the information.
JACK DURA: Yes. Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: Jack Dura is a Capitol Reporter for The Bismarck Tribune.
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