M Dane Waters and Paul Jacob discuss why to vote NO on Measure # 1 in North Dakota June 9th Primary

M Dane Waters and Paul Jacob discuss why to vote NO on Measure # 1 in North Dakota June 9th Primary

**Vote NO on Measure 1 – North Dakota's Initiative Process Is Under Attack | Open Range In this episode of Open Range, host Gary Emineth sits down with two of the nation's leading experts on citizen initiatives — Dane Waters, founder of the Initiative and Referendum Institute at USC and president of Citizens in Charge, and Paul Jacob, a veteran advocate for term limits and direct democracy — to break down why North Dakota's Measure 1 on the June 9th primary ballot is a serious threat to voter rights. On the surface, Measure 1 sounds reasonable — it promotes a "single subject" rule for citizen initiatives. But dig deeper, and a troubling double standard emerges: if passed, the Secretary of State would gain unchecked power to reject any citizen petition deemed to violate "single subject" — a term the measure never defines. Meanwhile, the legislature faces no such restriction on its own constitutional amendments. Waters and Jacob argue this is a deliberate move by legislators who have long sought to weaken the initiative process — the very mechanism that gave North Dakotans term limits, ethics reform, and the ability to hold their government accountable. Without a clear definition of "single subject," virtually any meaningful reform could be blocked by a single appointed official, effectively ending citizen-led initiatives in North Dakota for good. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. It's about preserving the people's fundamental right to self-determination and keeping a critical check on government power. Key takeaways: * Measure 1 creates an undefined, arbitrary standard only applied to citizen petitions * It gives one person veto power over the entire initiative process * It's designed to protect legislators — not voters Vote NO on Measure 1 on June 9th.

Jerod Tufte Supreme Court Justice for North Dakota discusses his campaign for reelection

This week, host Gary Emineth sits down with Jerod Tufte, Justice on the North Dakota Supreme Court — and a candidate on the June 9th primary ballot. Jerod shares his remarkable journey: growing up in Grand Forks and West Fargo, building a solo law practice in rural Kidder County, serving as a county prosecutor, deploying with the North Dakota Army National Guard on a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, and working in the governor's office before earning his seat on the Supreme Court in 2016. We dig into how the court actually works — did you know North Dakota's five-member Supreme Court takes every single appeal filed in the state? That's 300–400 cases a year, with no ability to pick and choose like the U.S. Supreme Court. Jerod breaks it all down in plain language, from how cases move through the system to how justices write decisions the average citizen can actually understand. We also talk judicial philosophy. Jerod believes judges should interpret the law as it was written — not update it from the bench. He's a strong voice for judicial transparency and personally rewrote the court's open records and open meetings rules to give North Dakotans greater access to their government. And here's the thing about North Dakota — you might run into your Supreme Court justice at the grocery store. That accessibility matters, and Jerod embodies it. Know who's on your ballot. Vote informed on June 9th. 🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode of Open Range — link in bio! OpenRange #NorthDakota #NDPolitics #SupremeCourt #JerodTufte #June9Primary #NorthDakotaNice #KnowYourJudges

Alex Balzs GOP Endorsed Candidate for U.S. Congress on his Campaign in ND

In this episode of Open Range, host Gary Emineth sits down with Alex Balzs, the Republican Party's endorsed candidate for North Dakota's U.S. Congressional seat ahead of the June 9th primary. Alex shares what he's heard from voters across the state after more than 30,000 miles of travel and 150-plus meetings — North Dakotans want representation, accessibility, and someone willing to show up. He addresses his opponent Julie Fedorchak's refusal to debate and makes the case for why the endorsed candidate is the right choice for the state. The conversation covers a wide range of issues important to North Dakotans: the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and how Alex's military background — serving across the Air Force, Navy, and Army — shapes his perspective on foreign policy and the War Powers Act; the need for an ag bill that prioritizes family farms over corporate farming; building infrastructure like fertilizer plants and refineries in North Dakota; immigration and cartel activity at the southern border; and the importance of limited federal government and protecting constitutional rights including the Second Amendment. Alex also speaks to unity within the Republican Party and his commitment to being accessible to all North Dakotans — not just party loyalists — if elected. Joining the conversation is Cindy Balzs, Alex's wife and campaign partner, who shares her unique background as a military dependent, multilinguist, and PhD candidate in organizational psychology — and what life on the campaign trail has been like alongside her husband. Vote in the North Dakota Republican primary on June 9th. Learn more at AlexForNorthDakota.com. #congress #northdakota #gop

Legislative GOP Endorsed Candidates District 7 of North Dakota

On this episode of Open Range, host Gary Emineth sits down with District 7 Republican-endorsed candidates Dr. Rick Becker, Jeri Hupfauf, and Gaylon Becker to discuss one of the most important issues facing North Dakota voters: accountability in government. The conversation centers on campaign season, legislative voting records, and the growing concern that voters are being presented with conflicting political messages. Dr. Becker highlights several controversial votes involving incumbent legislators and argues that citizens should look beyond campaign advertisements and examine actual voting records to determine whether elected officials are living up to the values they claim to represent. The candidates also discuss broader concerns about government transparency, spending, and the increasing influence of large political donors and special interests. Questions are raised about the role of gubernatorial involvement in legislative races, the impact of outside money, and whether district endorsements should carry more weight in the election process. Property taxes emerged as one of the top concerns heard while campaigning door-to-door. Jeri Hupfauf emphasized that many homeowners feel recent tax relief efforts have fallen short as rising assessments continue to increase tax burdens. Gaylon Becker stressed the need for greater transparency regarding state spending and economic development programs funded by taxpayer dollars. Throughout the discussion, the candidates emphasized citizen involvement, encouraging voters to research candidates, participate in primary elections, and hold elected officials accountable for their records. They argue that government works best when representatives remain accessible to constituents and when public officials are transparent about both their votes and the use of taxpayer funds. As North Dakota's primary elections approach, the panel urges voters to become informed, get involved, and make their voices heard. The future direction of the state, they argue, depends on engaged citizens who are willing to look beyond political rhetoric and focus on principles, accountability, and responsible governance. #northdakota #GOP #primary #conservative

Michelle Turnberg candidate Mayor of Fargo North Dakota

Fargo Mayoral Candidate Michelle Turnberg on Open Range with Perry Schumacher Michelle Turnberg, current Fargo City Commissioner and mayoral candidate, joined Perry Schumacher on Open Range to lay out her vision for reclaiming Fargo's conservative identity ahead of the June 9th election (early voting June 2nd). Turnberg, a former news anchor turned medical sales professional, was recruited into local politics by conservative community members and quickly became a vocal advocate for fiscal responsibility and public safety. She ran for City Commission — and won the most votes — because she believes change starts locally. Her top campaign priorities center on core city services: police, fire, roads, water, and utilities. She argues Fargo has lost focus by trying to be everything to everyone, resulting in $1.3 billion in debt — double that of comparable cities like Rochester and Sioux Falls. She's calling for a forensic audit to track where taxpayer money is going and wants to eliminate funding to special interest groups and nonprofits, noting Fargo already has nearly 2,000 nonprofits to handle social services. On public safety, Turnberg applauded the retirement of the previous police chief, whom she called "soft on crime," and welcomed the new chief sworn in the day before the interview. She's been fighting Fargo's free needle program — over 3 million distributed since 2018 — and the relocation of the Downtown Engagement Center, calling these policies enabling rather than compassionate. Turnberg is unapologetically conservative, endorsed by Senator Kevin Cramer and Fargo Area Conservatives, and says so-called "nonpartisan" candidates are using the label as a political tactic. She calls herself a "doer, not a be-er" — focused on results, not titles. Vote Turnberg for Fargo Mayor — June 9th. Early voting starts June 2nd. Visit turnbergformayor.com #fargo #mayorrace #northdakota