New leaders elected for North Dakota Legislature’s Democrats

Two North Dakota lawmakers from the same Fargo-area district will lead the Legislature’s outnumbered Democrats in the upcoming session. House Democrats elected Rep. Austin Foss, D-Fargo, and Senate Democrats elected Sen. Jamie Selzler, D-Fargo, as their minority leaders Thursday evening, along with other leadership positions. They represent District 44, an area of north Fargo. Democrats are a tiny minority in the Legislature, but they did gain a few seats in the general election. Republicans control the House 80-14 and the Senate 41-6. Foss, 32, said he wanted the job to “keep going on the momentum” Democrats gained from the election. He is an architect first elected in 2024. Foss succeeds Rep. Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks, who had been leader since 2023 and did not seek reelection to his House seat. The new leader acknowledged Democrats have to work with Republicans on anything they want to pass, but said their job also is to be a voice for the voters who sent them to Bismarck.

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