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Roland Riemers
Roland Riemers (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent North Dakota's At-Large Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 11, 2024.
Biography
Riemers was born in Lake City, Minnesota and grew up on a dairy farm in Forest Lake, MN. After graduating from high school, he served four years in the U.S. Air Force as a medic and eight years in the North Dakota National Guard and Army Reserve. Riemers is self-employed in property management and investment, and has worked in the past as an engineering technician, utilityman, Registered Nurse, third grade teacher, and alternative energy expert.[1]
Education
- AS, Nursing
- B.S., Industrial technology
- Attended the University of North Dakota Law School
Elections
2024
See also: United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2024
North Dakota's At-Large Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Republican primary)
North Dakota's At-Large Congressional District election, 2024 (June 11 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District
Julie Fedorchak defeated Trygve Hammer in the general election for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Julie Fedorchak (R) | 69.2 | 249,101 |
 | Trygve Hammer (D) | 30.4 | 109,231 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 1,455 | ||
| Total votes: 359,787 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Richard Grayson (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District
Trygve Hammer defeated Roland Riemers in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District on June 11, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Trygve Hammer | 73.4 | 14,088 |
 | Roland Riemers | 26.3 | 5,042 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 75 | ||
| Total votes: 19,205 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District
Julie Fedorchak defeated Rick Becker, Cara Mund, Alex Balazs, and Sharlet Mohr in the Republican primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District on June 11, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Julie Fedorchak | 45.9 | 43,424 |
 | Rick Becker | 29.6 | 27,965 | |
 | Cara Mund | 19.5 | 18,460 | |
 | Alex Balazs | 4.0 | 3,788 | |
| Sharlet Mohr | 0.8 | 800 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 109 | ||
| Total votes: 94,546 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Kelly Armstrong (R)
- Tom Campbell (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Riemers in this election.
2020
See also: United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota, 2020
United States House election in North Dakota, 2020 (June 9 Republican primary)
United States House election in North Dakota, 2020 (June 9 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District
Incumbent Kelly Armstrong defeated Zach Raknerud and Steven Peterson in the general election for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kelly Armstrong (R) | 69.0 | 245,229 |
 | Zach Raknerud (D) | 27.6 | 97,970 | |
 | Steven Peterson (L) | 3.4 | 12,024 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 375 | ||
| Total votes: 355,598 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Matthew Austin Gullo (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District
Zach Raknerud defeated Roland Riemers in the Democratic primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Zach Raknerud | 62.0 | 21,394 |
| Roland Riemers | 37.0 | 12,747 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 346 | ||
| Total votes: 34,487 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District
Incumbent Kelly Armstrong advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kelly Armstrong | 99.5 | 99,582 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 461 | ||
| Total votes: 100,043 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District
Steven Peterson advanced from the Libertarian primary for U.S. House North Dakota At-large District on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steven Peterson | 78.5 | 729 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 21.5 | 200 | ||
| Total votes: 929 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for North Dakota Secretary of State
Incumbent Al Jaeger defeated Joshua A. Boschee and Michael Coachman in the general election for North Dakota Secretary of State on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Al Jaeger (Independent) | 47.3 | 145,275 |
 | Joshua A. Boschee (D) | 39.2 | 120,475 | |
 | Michael Coachman (Independent) | 13.2 | 40,590 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 937 | ||
| Total votes: 307,277 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Roland Riemers (L)
- Will Gardner (R)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Dakota Secretary of State
Joshua A. Boschee advanced from the Democratic primary for North Dakota Secretary of State on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Joshua A. Boschee | 100.0 | 33,039 |
| Total votes: 33,039 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Dakota Secretary of State
Will Gardner advanced from the Republican primary for North Dakota Secretary of State on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Will Gardner | 100.0 | 54,563 |
| Total votes: 54,563 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for North Dakota Secretary of State
Roland Riemers advanced from the Libertarian primary for North Dakota Secretary of State on June 12, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Roland Riemers | 100.0 | 247 |
| Total votes: 247 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: North Dakota Auditor election, 2016
Roland ran for state auditor of North Dakota in 2016. He was unopposed in the Libertarian primary contest and competed with Republican Josh Gallion in the November 8 general election.
Josh Gallion defeated Roland Riemers in the North Dakota auditor election.
| North Dakota Auditor, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Josh Gallion |
76.62% | 236,751 | |
| Libertarian | Roland Riemers | 22.92% | 70,818 | |
| Write-in votes | 0.46% | 1,423 | ||
| Total Votes | 308,992 | |||
| Source: North Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
Roland Riemers ran unopposed in the Libertarian primary for auditor.
| Libertarian primary for auditor, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Roland Riemers (unopposed) |
99.81% | 1,059 |
| Write-in votes | 0.19% | 2 |
| Total Votes (432 of 432 precincts reporting) | 1,061 | |
| Source: North Dakota Secretary of State | ||
2014
Riemers ran for election to the office of North Dakota Secretary of State. Riemers was unopposed for the Libertarian nomination.[2] The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Results
General election
| Secretary of State of North Dakota, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Al Jaeger Incumbent |
62.4% | 152,085 | |
| Democratic | April Fairfield | 32.2% | 78,474 | |
| Libertarian | Roland Riemers | 5.3% | 12,920 | |
| Nonpartisan | Write-in votes | 0.1% | 278 | |
| Total Votes | 243,757 | |||
| Election results via North Dakota Secretary of State | ||||
2016
Endorsements
Riemers was endorsed by the Libertarian Party of North Dakota on November 7,2015.[3]
2012
Riemers ran as an independent nominee for governor in 2012. His running mate was Anthony Johns. They faced incumbent Jack Dalrymple & Drew Wrigley (R), Ryan Taylor & Ellen Chaffee (D), and fellow independent challengers Paul Sorum & Michael Coachman in the general election on November 6, 2012.[4] They were defeated by incumbents Dalrymple and Wrigley.[4]
Post-primary disqualification
Riemers was the 2012 Libertarian nominee for Governor of North Dakota.[5] He and Richard Ames filed their joint candidacy with the North Dakota Secretary of State, but Ames' application was missing a page and deemed invalid. Riemers ran by himself in the primary election and received more than the requisite 300 votes to appear on the general election ballot, but before Secretary of State Al Jaeger certified the results of the primary, he sought an opinion from Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. According to the state constitution, the governor and lieutenant governor must be elected on a joint ballot. Stenehjem, citing the North Dakota Century Code and the constitution, ruled that Riemers' candidacy was invalid because there was no lieutenant governor candidate on the ballot with him.[6][7]
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Roland Riemers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Roland Riemers did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2012
Riemers' professed goal of his campaign was to "offer the voting public an alternative to politics as usual and to stimulate debate on the issues as well as helping to built up the Libertarian Party as a viable alternative for future years."[1] He has challenged his two opponents - who he calls professional politicians - to "name even one instance they have stood up against their political interests and loudly defended our rights and freedoms."[1]
Riemers took the following issue positions:
- Proposition II: "Firmly supports repeal of property taxes. And while it may take some legislative work and a lot of adjustments, he is confident a fair means will eventually be found to replace property taxes. And if additional money is needed locally, it can be raised by a local sales or income tax. His view is that FUBAR property taxes have been the cash cow of local government for too long and it is time to send this cow to the slaughter house."[1]
- Abortion: "Solidly pro choice, and encourages birth control and zero population growth and the decreasing of green house gases. Riemers has seen too many neglected and starving children in this world. Riemers has watched children sniff airplane glue to suppress their hunger pains or lay down on the street to eat some garbage squished into the pavement because of birth control and poverty."[1]
- Civil Rights: Riemers "is the ONLY governor candidate with a track record of being willing to stand in harms way to promote the rights of all, and opposes special rights for any group. He would like to see a private right of legal action when laws or civil rights are violated and the local prosecutor is unwilling or unable to prosecute."[1]
- Family Rights: Riemers "has actively supported shared parenting initiatives and reform of family laws so that men and women are treated equally and fairly by the courts. He believes current child support laws are unconstitutionally structured and enforced. Support obligors should not face debtor prison when they are unable to make mandatory support payments. Child visitation must be actively enforced. And property and debts personally acquired before or after marriage should be that person’s separate property or debt during and after marriage."[1]
- Patriot Act: "Riemers totally opposed as it is more for oppressing then (sic) defending Americans."[1]
- Gun Control: "Supports the right to bear arms for self defense and defense of family, property, and for lawful hunting, recreational, and other lawful purposes."[1]
- Criminal justice: "- he is concerned with the increasing number of Americans being put into jail. It seems the legislative solution to every social problem is a life sentence. Jail and watch lists should be for the worse of the worse, and reform should be our goal for the rest. He is especially concerned that more and more children (as young as 9) are being made life time criminals while at the same time government agents are granted immunity for their illegal actions. He also believes that any public official who violates their oath of office by not supporting the state and Federal Constitution, should be criminally charged with perjury. He would also like the state to actively fight cybercrime Generally it seems officials like to portray all Americans as either saints or sinners with all the sinners placed behind bars. But in the real world we are all a mixture of saint and sinner, and if our sins were all known then we would all likely be in jail. Thus we have to allow for some human stupidity and forgive those who have made mistakes."[1]
- Size of government: "Less government, less taxes and more freedom. Riemers would like the size and budget of state government decreased by 10% a year."[1]
- Education: "More emphasis on education instead of socialization. Supports vouchers for those who don’t want public education. Supports getting university professors back into the classrooms instead of living the elite academia life style. Supports lowering the cost of higher education."[1]
- Water Resource: "The state must built structures and programs to get water where it is needed, and away from where it isn’t. If ancient Romans could transfer water hundreds of miles with slave built aqueducts, we certainly should be able to do better then we do now."[1]
- Energy: "We should encourage additional transmission lines to move our wind generated electricity. But, for a long term energy solution and to decrease greenhouse gases this country needs dependable 24 hour a day renewable electricity, and that can only be had with geothermal power. Riemers would also like to see a slow- down of North Dakota oil development so it can be better managed."[1]
- Military bases: While it is nice to have them here, there really is no need for two large Air Force bases in North Dakota, and the only reason we still have two bases is due to the political muscle of our senators and not because our country needs them. Riemers believes one of the bases should be closed."[1]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 Roland Riemers the ND Gadfly, "Third candidate for governor's race," April 22, 2012
- ↑ North Dakota Libertarian Party, "2014 candidates," accessed December 16, 2013
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedHerald - ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bismark Tribune, "General Election Results," accessed November 6, 2012
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedbt - ↑ The Jamestown Sun, "Libertarian governor candidate won't be on the ballot," July 6, 2012
- ↑ The Jamestown Sun, "Grand Forks man running for governor won't be on ballot," July 6, 2012
