KFGO Election Coverage

06/08/26: David Hogue is the Senate Majority Leader in the ND Legislature, representing District 38 out of Minot. He joins Joel Heitkamp to talk about why he helped sponsor Measure 1 regarding constitutional amendments.

06/05/26: Tony Gehrig is hoping to reclaim his seat on the Fargo City Commission. Gehrig served on the commission from 2015 to 2022. He joins Joel on "News and Views" to address some controversy around his campaign and discuss the city budget and specials. 

Tracy Foss is running for North Dakota's Superintendent of Public Instruction. She’s a teacher and a lifelong North Dakotan

06/02/26: North Dakota State Senator Josh Boschee is running for Fargo mayor and has served in the state Legislature since 2013 in the House and Senate. He joins Joel Heitkamp to talk about his campaign and goals for the city.  Learn more about Josh and his campaign at joshforfargo.com.

06/02/26: Greg Clark is a professional data analyst married to a teacher, and has served on the Fargo School Board for four years. He currently serves as chair of the school board’s Planning Committee and as vice chair of the Communications, Engagement, and Advocacy Committee. Learn more about Greg and his campaign for Fargo School Board at gregforfargo.com.

06/01/26: Vicki Dawson was reelected for her second term in 2022, originally joining the Fargo Park Board in 2018. Prior to her reelection, Vicki had been serving as the Fargo Park Board President and is the current President. Vicki is a Senior Risk Consultant for Federated Insurance.

06/01/26: Joel Heitkamp is joined in the KFGO studio by Fargo City Commissioner Dave Piepkorn. He hopes to serve as the next Mayor of Fargo, and takes questions and comments from the voters while on with Joel.  Learn more about Dave and his campaign at piepkornformayor.com.

Five candidates are asking for your vote in June and KFGO hosted Dave Piepkorn, Denise Kolpack, Josh Boschee, Michelle Turnberg, and Sekou Sirleaf with a panel of Jim Shaw, Ryan Janke, and Jim Monk asking questions of the candidates.

05/29/26: Charles Tuttle is a conservative activist running for North Dakota superintendent of public instruction. He has previously run for State Superintendent, Secretary of State, and U.S House. The nonpartisan race for superintendent of public instruction includes incumbent Levi Bachmeier, who was appointed to the role by Gov. Armstrong in 2025. The Dem-NPL party gave a letter of support to Tracy Foss. Charles Tuttle submitted signatures to run for state superintendent and spoke at the NDGOP state convention. The top two finishers in the primary advance to the general election in November.

05/28/26: Carissa Geske is a local entrepreneur and 4th-generation North Dakotan that is running as the conservative choice for Fargo School Board. She joins Joel Heitkamp in the KFGO studio to talk about her campaign and her beliefs on religions within the public school system. Learn more about Carissa and her campaign at geskeforfargo.com.

05/27/26: Tyler Erickson is a candidate for the West Fargo City Commission. He is a fifth-generation North Dakotan and staff attorney for the North Dakota Insurance Department. Four candidates are running for two available West Fargo city commission seats. The positions carry four-year terms. Learn more about his campaign on his Facebook page.

05/27/26: Tyler Axness is filling in for Joel Heitkamp, and is joined in the KFGO studio by Chris Olson. Chris is running for the 2 year Public Service Commission for North Dakota.

05/26/26: Matt Evans is one of the endorsed Republican candidates for State Legislature running from District 25. He has served on the Walcott Township Board of Supervisors, as the finance deacon for his church, and as the chairman of the North Dakota District 25 Republican Party. He and his wife home-school their four children. Matt also had a 22 year career at Microsoft as a Software Engineer and Engineering Manager. Learn more about Matt and his campaign and views at evans4nd.com.

05/26/26: Emily Secor May lives in Fargo with her family, is an attorney, and has has served on the Board of Directors for Rape and Abuse Crisis Center since 2021. She joins Joel Heitkamp in the KFGO studio to discuss her run for the Fargo Park Board.  Learn more about Emily and her campaign at emilysecormay.com.

05/21/26: Commissioner Michelle Turnberg was elected to the Fargo City Commission in June 2024. She spent 16 years as a news anchor, and now works in medical sales. She's now running for Mayor of Fargo and joins Joel Heitkamp in the KFGO studio to talk about it.  Learn more about Michelle and her campaign at turnbergforfargo.com.

Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness is joined by Derik Arneson to tell you why he decided to run for Fargo City Commission and what he will do with the job if elected.

05/20/26: Joel Heitkamp is joined in the KFGO studio by Fargo City Commissioner, Denise Kolpack. She shares her thoughts on homelessness, the Fargo convention center, the city budget, and more while she runs to be the next Mayor of Fargo.  Learn more about her campaign at kolpackforfargo.com.

05/19/26: Aaron Hill was elected to his first term on the Fargo Park Board in 2022. He is a co-founder of Fargo Brewing Company and has been actively engaged in the community his entire career. Now, he's running for Fargo City Commission and joins Joel in the KFGO studio to talk about it.  Learn more about his campaign at aaronhillfargo.com.

05/19/26: Joel Heitkamp is joined in the KFGO studio by Vern Thompson to talk about data centers and the Farm Bill. Vern has spent his life farming, trucking hazardous bulk liquids, serving in the state legislature, leading as mayor of Minnewaukan during the Devils Lake flood fight, and is now running for ND Agriculture Commissioner. 

Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness welcome Fargo City Commission candidate Nikkie Gullickson into the KFGO studio to tell you why she is running and what she will do with the job if elected.

05/15/26: Jolene worked for a regional education association for 12 years, working with school districts in Southeast North Dakota and across the state with funding, programming, and professional development for teachers. Before that, she worked for Senator Conrad in his Fargo office. She is now self-employed working with nonprofit and public sector agencies. Now, she's running for the Fargo School Board. 

05/14/26: Sekou Sirleaf has been a resident of Fargo since 2016. He serves as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and is the Chair of the Fargo Human Rights Commission. He joins Joel Heitkamp to discuss why he hopes to be the next Mayor of Fargo. 

05/15/26: Dan Ahlers served in the South Dakota State Legislature representing District 25, and has spent his life in South Dakota running a small business. Now he's running to be the next Governor of South Dakota and talks with Joel Heitkamp about his decision.  Learn more about his campaign at danahlers.com.

Scott Brekke is in studio on Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness to discuss why he decided to run and what he will do with the position if elected.

05/12/26: KFGO Columnist Jim Shaw is filling in for Joel Heitkamp, and is joined in the studio by Anna Johnson.  Anna Johnson is a Two-Spirit artist and an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa Indians, and serves as the Executive Director of The Human Family, a nonprofit organization that promotes human rights through film and art. Learn more about her and support Anna's campaign at annaforfargo.com.

05/12/26: KFGO Columnist and former Inforum Columnist Jim Shaw is filling in for Joel Heitkamp, and is joined in the studio by Amber Gustafson. Amber has been a licensed Minnesota attorney for nearly 20 years, is an Iraq war veteran, and served as a District Court Judge. She's now running for Clay County Attorney, and you can learn more about her at amber4clayattorney.com. 

05/11/26: Jamie Selzler is filling in for Joel Heitkamp, and is joined by Ariston Johnson of Watford City. He filed to challenge North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Jerod Tufte’s bid for reelection. Ariston is a civil litigator whose practice includes oil and gas law, among other areas.  Learn more about Ariston and his campaign at johnsonforjustice.org.

05/11/26: Nikki Gronli is the former vice chair of the South Dakota Democratic Party and former state director for USDA Rural Development under the Biden administration. She is currently running for South Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat. She joins Jamie Selzler on "News and Views" to discuss her campaign and issues impacting South Dakotans. 

05/08/26: Joel Heitkamp is joined by Terry Goerger to talk about his campaign for the North Dakota legislature. Republican Terry Goerger is a lifelong resident of Richland County, farmer, business owner, and public servant who currently serves as a Richland County Commissioner.

05/05/26: Vern Thompson has spent his life farming, trucking hazardous bulk liquids, serving in the state legislature, leading as mayor of Minnewaukan during the Devils Lake flood fight, and is now running for ND Agriculture Commissioner. 

04/14/26: Tyler Axness is filling in for Joel Heitkamp, and is joined in the KFGO studio by candidate for Congress, Trygve Hammer. Trygve served in the military, worked on the oilfield rigs, and taught North Dakota students as a 7-12th grades science teacher, and now he’s running for Congress. You can learn more about him and his campaign at hammerfornd.com.

04/16/26: Shelly Carlson is the Mayor of Moorhead and is running for Minnesota House District 4A. 

04/13/26: Joel Heitkamp is joined on "News and Views" by Minnesota State Senator and Assistant Majority Leader, Grant Hauschild. Senator Hauschild shares his frustration over foreign steel being used in the construction of the new White House ballroom, as it's a direct hit to Minnesota’s Iron Range at a time when local mines are shut down and hundreds of steelworkers are laid off. He also takes questions from listeners and shares an update on the Minnesota legislative session. 

4/10/26: Robin Nelson is the Chair of Together for Schools and is a member of the Fargo School Board. Together for School Meals delivered 57,229 signatures to advance a school meals ballot measure.

Moorhead's Mayor Shelly Carlson is in studio on Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness to discuss why she entered the race for Minnesota House in District 4A, and what she will do with the job if elected.

Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness welcomes in Erika Yoney into the KFGO studio to tell you why she decided to run for the vacant house seat in District 4A in Minnesota and what she will do with the job if elected.

Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness welcomes Senator Ryan Braunberger into the KFGO studio to tell you why he decided to run for North Dakota Secretary of State and what he will do with the job if elected.

Afternoons Live with Tyler Axness welcomes Jolene Garty into the KFGO studio to tell you why she decided to run for Fargo School Board and what she will do with the job if elected.

04/22/26: Katie Christensen Mineer is the Fargo School Board President and is running for reelection. She’s been a board member since 2022, and joins Joel to talk about her goals for another term. 

04/23/26: Joe Deutsch was reelected for his fifth term to the Fargo Park Board in 2022, originally joining the Board in 2006. He joins Joel Heitkamp in the KFGO studio to discuss the Fargo Sports Complex, summer jobs and activities, and more. 

05/05/26: Alex Balazs is once again the ND GOP-endorsed candidate for Congress. He served in three different military branches across 25 years of service. He also served as a project manager for the State Department at different locations around the world. He joins Joel Heitkamp to talk about the primary election, war in Iran, and more. 

04/29/26: Dr. Erika Yoney recently received the Democratic endorsement for MN House District 4A over Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson. She is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and says there are no nurses or mental health practitioners currently serving in the Minnesota House.

05/01/26: Melissa Burkland is running for reelection to the Fargo Board of Education. Outside of the School Board, she serves as an Assistant United States Attorney in Fargo's United States Attorney's Office.  Learn more about her campaign at burklandforfargoschools.com.

05/04/26: State Senator Braunberger serves as the Minority Caucus Leader, representing District 10 in Fargo. Now, Ryan is running for North Dakota Secretary of State. He joins Joel Heitkamp to talk about why he decided to run, his goals for the office, and more on "News and Views."

Candidate for Cass County Commission Keith Gohdes

Property Tax 101 with Jim Dotzenrod

Rep. Corey Mock explains Measure 3 regarding the Legacy Fund

Rob Sobolik Discusses Fargo's Measure 1

Will Thompson and Todd Reisenauer are hoping for your vote in Fargo's District 4