Port: Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem Rules That Deceased Candidate Is Somehow Still Eligible for Office
MINOT, N.D. — District 8 has become a political battleground this election season. That was true even before Republican state House candidate Dave Andahl died, tragically, as a Republican faction backed by Governor Doug Burgum and his personal wealth took on sitting Republican incumbent Rep. Jeff Delzer.
Andahl and his running mate Dave Nehring defeated Delzer both at the local convention and on the June primary ballot, but then Andahl passed away.
That left a question about the votes already cast for Andahl, who died after early voting commenced, not to mention the votes that would be cast for him.
The state constitution is clear on this subject. Article IV, Section 5 of the constitution says that a candidate is only eligible to serve in the state Legislature if they are a qualified elector on election day.
Someone who has passed away cannot be a qualified elector.
