MINOT — If former state Rep. Rick Becker were to win the North Dakota Republican Party's U.S. House primary, it could lead to a win-win situation for the Democratic-NPL.
Becker is likely the weakest of the serious candidates Republicans could put in the House race (not counting Williston resident Sharlet Mohr, who was seemingly put on the ballot by Becker supporters hoping to help their candidate by diluting the primary vote and isn't likely to get close to winning in June).
Why weak? Becker is deeply polarizing, even among Republicans. Many North Dakota voters, even if he is the Republican candidate, simply won't vote for him.
This is good for Democrats. They have a contender in their House candidate, Trygve Hammer. He's a former Marine with a blue-collar resume who has already raised more money in the first quarter of his campaign than any Democratic U.S. House candidate dating back to former Congressman Earl Pomeroy. If the Democrats could choose their opponent for Hammer, it might just be Becker.
This isn't to say that Hammer would be assured victory against Becker. He'd still be skating uphill in a state where voters have demonstrated an abiding mistrust of Democratic candidates. North Dakota's Republicans could probably unite behind newcomer Alex Balazs or Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak, and former Miss America Cara Mund is a threat to pull as much support from Democratic voters as she does Republicans.
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But Becker?
In recent years, he has spent more time alienating Republicans than taking on Democrats. He could turn an easy win into the first competitive federal race North Dakota has seen since the 2018 showdown between U.S. Kevin Cramer and his predecessor in that office, Heidi Heitkamp.
And even if Becker were to win, you could squint your eyes and still see a win for Democrats. If not in North Dakota, then nationally.
The Republican majority in the House of Representatives has demonstrated that it cannot govern. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has that seat thanks to Donald Trump-aligned extremists like Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz booting his predecessor, Rep. Kevin McCarthy. Now Johnson, faced with the intransigence of fellow Republicans like Gaetz and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, has been forced to rely on support from Democrats to govern.
Speaker Johnson had to rely on Democrats to shepherd desperately needed funding for our friends and allies in Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. Now Rep. Moscow Marge is threatening to oust him like McCarthy got ousted, and he may well need to rely on Democrats to remain Speaker of the House.
Republicans like Gaetz and Greene have empowered the Democratic minority. The chaos they've sowed has led to several Republican resignations and may result in Democrats retaking the majority in the House in November.
Becker has touted an endorsement for his campaign from Gaetz. Rep. Bob Good, chair of the House Freedom Caucus, the epicenter of Democrat-enabling stupidity, has also endorsed Becker.
Putting Becker in the House would mean adding to the chaos and dysfunction that have contributed to growing Democratic influence in the House. North Dakota's Democrats want Hammer to win. But if he doesn't, Becker would be a good consolation prize.
The Trust Project
