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In 2000, the Presidency came down to 537 votes in Florida and was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court. It’s a wonder our democracy didn’t collapse right then and there. (Maybe it would have if, say, Trump had won the popular vote in 2016 or 2020, and a Democrat had snatched the Electoral College—imagine Trump tweeting from a bunker, drafting a reality show about the apocalypse while the nation tries to figure out who to blame for electing the candidate with fewer votes. Now, that would have been a constitutional crisis with prime-time ratings.) 
But the system didn’t break. We’ve got rules, however flawed, and they’re the ones we live by until we change them. The Electoral College is one of those rules—an archaic system that gives some states more power per vote than others, making a handful of battleground states the only places that seem to matter. Is it fair? No. But it’s what we’ve got, and until reform happens, we have to play the game as it is, not as we wish it were.
Yet, too often, we Democrats act like fairness is a given, like the system should magically align with our values. It won’t. If we want power, if we want real reform, we have to start investing in the places we’ve written off—states that have gone red, states that were once represented by Democrats. If we want change, we’ve got to go where the fight is.
In North Dakota’s 2022 election, the Republican incumbent for U.S. House was virtually unopposed —save for an Independent who’d have rather flown the Republican flag and did just that in this cycle’s primary. It’s not that Democrats lacked the desire—it’s that entrenched, unchecked power has become the rule. We owe power nothing but to hold it accountable, and when we fail to show up, we fail in the most basic duty of democracy.
In just a decade, states like ours went from a balanced delegation to being dismissed as a conservative stronghold. But that’s what happens when power goes unchallenged—fear grows, and democracy shrinks. Now, we live under a one-party system. Not just a majority—a supermajority, a trifecta. And North Dakota is just one of 23 states where Republicans hold the reins in all three branches, leaving power unchecked, unchallenged. 
But this post isn’t about how we got here. It’s about how we’re getting out. Because the real question isn’t who or what led us into this mess—it’s who and what will lead us out.
Some may not like to hear this, but Democrats haven’t done the best job of taking the long view. We favor focusing on the reforms while forgetting about the rules of the game. While we’re out here fighting for working families, reproductive freedom, and a fairer tax code, Republicans have been busy building their bench. Mitch McConnell, for all his faults, saw the long game when he stacked the federal judiciary. Steve Bannon, with his chaotic populism, knew exactly what he was doing when he urged his followers to run for school boards. They get it. Change doesn’t happen in one cycle. It happens when you build, brick by brick, from the bottom up, with resources from the top.
That’s exactly what we’ve failed to do in states like mine, where equilibrium once reigned, and Democrats held their ground at the federal level, we’ve allowed the balance of power to tip too far. We’ve left vast swathes of America without a bench, without a voice. When you don’t even have sizeable representation in a state legislature, you get laws that ban abortion, restrict IVF, and limit freedoms that were once untouchable. But worse than that? You don’t have any way to dig out.
No Democrats in power at higher levels means no largesse, no connections, no support for down-ballot races that matter just as much as Congress or the governorship. It’s a vicious cycle: morale drops, funding dries up, talent flees. The Rolodex of contacts and connections—empty. 
But we’re changing that.
In North Dakota, we now have the most competitive House and Senate races in years. People are running in districts where there wasn’t a whisper of a contest just two years ago. Young, talented Democrats who could be working on high-profile races elsewhere have chosen to stay here, come here, and take risks. They know they could be anywhere else. But they’re here because they believe in the fight.
It’s a fight worth having. A fight we can win. But we need the top to meet us halfway. We’ve broken records this cycle—but we need more.
The thing is, Republicans don’t just see these states as flyover country. Mitch McConnell doesn’t care if a state’s been blue or red for decades—he’s stacking the judiciary. Steve Bannon doesn’t care if a school board seat seems minor—he’s building an army. We, on the other hand, have fallen into the trap of chasing quick wins and grand visions, focusing on the next presidential cycle or the next Senate race. While those are crucial, it’s not a zero-sum game, especially in rural America, where races in states like ours demand fewer resources but yield greater impact. We need to stop thinking in election cycles and start thinking in generations—because real change takes time, and time rewards those who invest wisely. (Lenoard Leo, anyone?)
We need to invest in rural areas, in conservative areas, in places that haven’t gone blue in a while. Because it’s not just about winning a race. It’s about building a bench, training leaders, and equipping them with the tools to change lives and move us forward.
So, why should someone sitting in New York or California or Illinois, care about what’s happening in North Dakota? Because the power in states like mine affects you. When unaccountable power goes unchecked, it emboldens the same bad actors across the country. When Democrats fail to build a bench, the ripple effects hit your state, your rights, and your future.
Investing in my campaign isn’t just about flipping a seat in Congress. It’s about setting the foundation for lasting change. It’s about passing laws that take care of working people, restore reproductive freedom, and ensure the tax code works for everyone—not just billionaires and multinational corporations.
It’s about proving that even in places where Democrats haven’t won in a while, we’re not done fighting.
Here’s where I ask for your help. Not tomorrow, not next week—now. Big-money PACs are pouring cash into this race to keep it in Republican hands, to keep power unaccountable.
But we’re standing up. We’re fighting back. And with your support, we can win this fight. A donation today—helps us build the bench, foster the long-view. It helps us make North Dakota competitive again. It helps us flip this seat, flip this state, and start holding power accountable—because that’s what we owe it. And even if you can’t donate right now, you can still do something just as powerful: share this campaign. Spread the word. Get people paying attention now, to places like mine. A small voice amplified is how movements begin.
Let’s show them that we’re playing the long game too. Let’s build something that lasts. Because when we do, we don’t just change North Dakota. We change the country.
With the U.S. House seat open, the race for North Dakota’s sole congressional district has never been more competitive.
Trygve Hammer is a Navy and Marine Corps veteran, a former public school teacher, and a freight rail conductor. He was appointed to the Naval Academy from the fleet and served as a Marine helicopter pilot, forward air controller, and infantry officer. 
From bunking down in oilfield camps to engaging uninterested teenagers in the classroom, Trygve’s career has been a tour of duty in the trenches of American life. Trygve’s commitment to public service is unwavering. He lives by the ethos “Officers Eat Last” and is ready to serve as North Dakota’s next Congressman, putting the people's needs first.
Watch Trygve’s campaign launch video here [ [link removed] ].

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