Hoeven wins nomination at NDGOP convention

Photo by Scott Hennen
Photo by Scott Hennen

(Bismarck, ND) -- United States Senator John Hoeven has received the North Dakota Republican Party's nomination for the United States Senate, defeating challenger, and former North Dakota State Representative Dr. Rick Becker. The senior Senator, once Governor, received more than 54 percent of the vote of the record-breaking 2,321 credentialed Republican delegates at the North Dakota GOP Convention at the Bismarck Events Center Saturday.

Shortly after the convention ended, Becker conceded, expressing a desire for unity.

"We can continue to disagree without being disagreeable," he said. "This wasn't a loss, it was a victory."

The race between Hoeven and Becker was the lone contested race of the day.

The day began with a contentious vote for the chairman of the convention, as a nomination from the floor came in favor of naming Gary Emineth as chairman -- forcing a vote of the delegates. After all of the votes had been counted, current NDGOP Chairman Perrie Schafer was elected chairman of the convention by a margin of 1274-999.

"“I hope the party got the message - I got 44% of vote and never campaigned," Emineth said. "I wasn't able to give a speech. (The) frustration is high. 44% of the people had to write my name out.. (It) is a very disorganized convention.“

Photo by Scott Hennen
(1 of 2) Photo by Scott Hennen