Bismarck, ND – As of midnight on December 14, Governor Kelly Armstrong officially vacated his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, leaving North Dakota without a voice in the lower chamber of Congress for the remainder of the year. Congresswoman-elect Julie Fedorchak, who won the seat in the November election, is set to take over when the new Congress convenes on January 3, 2025.
In the interim, the state will rely solely on its two U.S. Senators, John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, for any representation in Washington, D.C. During this period, North Dakota will not have a vote in the House, and no substitute representative will be appointed. As the only remaining members of Congress from the state, Hoeven and Cramer will bear the responsibility of voicing North Dakota’s concerns in the House and Senate.
Fedorchak, who will officially assume the seat next month, is already preparing for her new role. A spokesperson for Fedorchak expressed enthusiasm about her upcoming tenure, saying, “Congresswoman-elect Fedorchak is looking forward to taking over on January 3 and can’t wait to represent the people of North Dakota.”
While the situation leaves North Dakota temporarily unrepresented in the House, the state will have to wait until the new Congress begins for full representation. The absence of a House vote for nearly three weeks highlights the unique procedural challenges that can arise when a vacant seat occurs near the end of a Congressional term.
For now, North Dakotans can expect to rely on their Senators for the legislative work that takes place until Fedorchak officially steps into her new role next year.
