01/19/26: Trygve Hammer is a retired Marine Corps officer and a veteran of the Global War on Terror. In his civilian life, he taught 7-12 grade science in a rural school, worked on oil rigs in the Bakken, as a freight rail conductor, and as a counselor for Job Corps in Minot. In 2024, Hammer received 30% of the statewide vote while Fedorchak received 70%, and he announced with Joel that he will be running against Congresswoman Fedorchak again this year. 

(Joel Heitkamp is a talk show host on the Mighty 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. His award-winning program, “News & Views,” can be heard weekdays from 8 – 11 a.m. Follow Joel on X/Twitter @JoelKFGO.)