IN THE NEWS

North Dakota Public Service Commission incumbents defeat Republican challengers

Jun 10, 2026 | In the News

The two incumbent North Dakota Public Service Commissioners running for election to another term won their party’s primary and are moving on to a contested general election.

Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, running for a six-year term, and Jill Kringstad, pursuing a two-year term, were victorious in Tuesday’s primary in complete but unofficial results.

Haugen-Hoffart, a longtime public servant first appointed to the commission in 2022, defeated Deven Styczynski, the candidate endorsed by the GOP at its state convention, with 64% of the vote.

She thanked her supporters in a Facebook post Tuesday evening, the North Dakota Monitor reported.

“I am humbled and honored to be elected as the Republican Nominee for Public Service Commission! The work’s not over -- over the next few months, you’ll see me all across our great state campaigning hard to earn your vote and support in the November General Election!” Haugen-Hoffart said.

Kringstad won her first Republican primary -- having been appointed in 2025 to fill the seat vacated by now-U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D. -- against Chris Olson with 54% of the vote.

The incumbents have campaigned on their track record of minimizing electric rate increases for North Dakotans.

Haugen-Hoffart emphasized how proud she is of the commission’s work to keep electricity the most affordable in the country.

Kringstad has been on the PSC for less than two years, but was employed as the director of business operations for the agency prior to her appointment by Gov. Kelly Armstrong.

She has said her background in economics and accounting has helped her closely analyze proposed rate increases to determine if they are truly necessary.