Julie Fedorchak | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Dakota'sat-large district | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Kelly Armstrong |
| Member of theNorth Dakota Public Service Commission | |
| In office December 31, 2012 – January 3, 2025 | |
| Governor | Jack Dalrymple Doug Burgum Kelly Armstrong |
| Preceded by | Kevin Cramer |
| Succeeded by | Jill Kringstad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Julie Ann Liffrig (1968-09-28)September 28, 1968 (age 57) Williston, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Michael Fedorchak |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of North Dakota (BA) |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
Julie Ann Fedorchak[1] (néeLiffrig;[2] born September 28, 1968) is an American politician serving as theU.S. representative forNorth Dakota's at-large congressional district since 2025. A member of theRepublican Party, Fedorchak is the first woman elected to the House of Representatives from North Dakota. She previously served as a member of theNorth Dakota Public Service Commission from 2012 to 2025 after being appointed by GovernorJack Dalrymple.[3]
Fedorchak was born inWilliston, North Dakota in 1968.[4] She is the youngest of eight children to parents Duane and Doris Liffrig. Duane previously served as Highway Commissioner to formerGovernor of North DakotaAllen Olson.[citation needed]
Fedorchak graduated from theUniversity of North Dakota with aBachelor of Arts inJournalism.[5] She later served as communications director for GovernorEd Schafer before becoming a columnist for theBismarck Tribune and holding numerous other media roles.[6]
Fedorchak has also served on numerous boards.[7]
In December 2012, GovernorJack Dalrymple appointed Fedorchak to theNorth Dakota Public Service Commission after a seat opened. She later won an election to hold the seat in2014.[8] Shortly after being fully elected to the commission, Fedorchak was also swiftly elected to chair the commission for a two-year term.[9]
Fedorchak was later re-elected in2016 and in2022 by wide margins.[10]
Fedorchak has overseen and assisted the commission in numerous projects and investments while also offering transparent information.[11]
In February 2024, Fedorchak announced her entry into the race forNorth Dakota's open U.S. House seat.[12][13] Fedorchak cited matters such asabortion,energy, andagriculture as issues she would focus on as a representative.[14]Her main primary opponents were formerstate RepresentativeRick Becker, farmer Alex Balazs, activist Sharlet Mohr, andMiss America 2018Cara Mund for theRepublican nomination.[15][16][17]
During theNDGOP endorsement convention, candidate Rick Becker encouraged his supporters to write inspoiler ballots to prevent an endorsement from going through.[18][19] After 2 failed ballots, Fedorchak withdrew from the endorsement to allow the convention to continue, giving Alex Balazs the endorsment.[20] Fedorchak received the most state level endorsements of any candidate in the race, including over 50 legislators,U.S. SenatorJohn Hoeven,GovernorDoug Burgum, and formerPresidentDonald Trump.[21][22]
In the June 11 primary, Fedorchak won the Republican nomination with 46% of the vote.[23] She would face Democrat Trygve Hammer in the general election.[24] Shortly after the primary, Fedorchak's campaign filed anFEC complaint regarding election interference after a mass of texts and emails were sent falsely stating she had dropped out of the race on the day of the election.[25][26][27]
Fedorchak defeated Hammer in the election 69% to 30%, making her the first woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota.[28][29] She is also the first Republican woman elected to Congress from North Dakota and the first woman to represent North Dakota in Congress sinceHeidi Heitkamp, who served in theU.S. Senate from 2013 to 2019.[30]
Fedorchak was sworn in on January 3, 2025.[31] She was chosen in her first term to serve on theEnergy and Commerce committee, where her predecessor had served as the Vice-Chair.[32] Fedorchak is also the first freshman member in 14 years to be appointed to the committee.[33]
Following a trend of congress members hostingTown hall meetings with constituents, Fedorchak hosted a virtual town hall on March 25, 2025.[34] When asked about the meeting being virtual, Fedorchak stated “I simply haven’t found any other venue that allows me to talk to like tonight 3,000 North Dakotans probably more than that because of Facebook and the online options.”[35] She has since hosted numerous online town halls.[36][37] Fedorchak has faced harsh criticism from constituents over the virtual platform.[38][39][40]
On April 10, 2025, Fedorchak introduced legislation to remove the tax credits given in theInflation Reduction Act tosolar andwind energy, saying the credits pose “unprecedented reliability risks to the nations electrical grid due to their intermittent nature.”[41] However, she stated projects currently operating receiving these credits should continue to.[42]
In July of 2025, Fedorchak spoke out in avid support of theBig Beautiful Bill.[43][44][45] She was also vocal in support of theUnited States strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.[46] Fedorchak called for the release of theEpstein Files,[47] later in November voted with almost every other member of Congress to release the files.[48]
In August, Fedorchak and other freshman members visitedIsrael.[49]
During the2025 United States government shutdown, Fedorchak stated she would support and potentially purpose plans to punish congress for allowing shutdowns, she further expressed enthusiasm at the senate eventually passing a bill.[50][51] Two days after the shutdown ended, Fedorchak announced her intention to introduce legislation that would withhold congressional pay during shutdowns.[52]
Fedorchak has had three children with her husband, Michael Fedorchak.[5] They have been members of theCathedral of the Holy Spirit congregation in Bismarck for 30 years.[53]
Fedorchak's father, Duane, suffered fromAlzheimer's disease before dying in 2015.[54]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 156,596 | 65.99 | |
| Democratic–NPL | Tyler Axness | 80,319 | 33.84 | |
| Write-in | 401 | 0.17 | ||
| Total votes | 237,316 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 218,961 | 68.76 | |
| Democratic–NPL | Marlo Hunte-Beaubrun | 72,028 | 22.62 | |
| Libertarian | Thomas Skadeland | 26,913 | 8.45 | |
| Write-in | 563 | 0.18 | ||
| Total votes | 318,465 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 165,183 | 71.3 | |
| Democratic–NPL | Melanie Moniz | 66,196 | 28.57 | |
| Write-in | 311 | 0.13 | ||
| Total votes | 231,690 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 43,137 | 45.90 | |
| Republican | Rick Becker | 27,771 | 29.57 | |
| Republican | Cara Mund | 18,343 | 19.53 | |
| Republican | Alexander C. Balazs | 3,758 | 4.00 | |
| Republican | Sharlet Mohr | 795 | 0.35 | |
| Write-in | 109 | 0.12 | ||
| Total votes | 93,913 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 249,101 | 69.24% | +7.04% | |
| Democratic–NPL | Trygve Hammer | 109,231 | 30.36% | N/A | |
| Write-in | 1,455 | 0.40% | +0.17% | ||
| Total votes | 359,787 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theNorth Dakota Public Service Commission 2012–2025 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNorth Dakota's at-large congressional district 2025–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 385th | Succeeded by |
| One seat at-large (1889–1903) |   | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two seats at-large (1903–1913) |
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| Three districts (1913–1933) |
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| Two seats at-large (1933–1963) |
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| Two districts (1963–1973) |
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| One seat at-large (1973–present) | |||||||