2024 ND Governor's race: on Families & Children

Doug Burgum: Vetoed barring biological boys from girl's school sports

Prevented biological boys from competing against biological girls in public elementary or secondary school sporting events. The bill did not impose requirements on college sports competitions and contained a provision to allow girls to compete on boys' teams.

The bill passed the House multiple times in its original form, survived an effort by the Senate to turn it into solely a study, and eventually passed both chambers and was submitted to Governor Burgum. Governor Burgum vetoed the bill, and upon reconsideration for an override vote, the House of Representatives passed the override, but the bill failed the required 2/3rds majority override vote in the Senate.

Rick Becker: Bar biological boys from girl's school sports

Prevented biological boys from competing against biological girls in public elementary or secondary school sporting events. The bill did not impose requirements on college sports competitions and contained a provision to allow girls to compete on boys' teams.

The bill passed the House multiple times in its original form, survived an effort by the Senate to turn it into solely a study, and eventually passed both chambers and was submitted to Governor Burgum. Governor Burgum vetoed the bill, and upon reconsideration for an override vote, the House of Representatives passed the override, but the bill failed the required 2/3rds majority override vote in the Senate.

Rick Becker: Traditional nuclear family is backbone of America's success

A: Strongly Agree. The traditional nuclear family has been the backbone of America's success as a country. The traditional nuclear family offers stability, emotional support, and a strong foundation for children's development. It fosters values, teaches responsibility, and provides a sense of belonging and security.

Q: Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation?

A: Strongly Agree. We must protect our children from harmful transgender and anti-American ideology--plain and simple. Men do not belong in women's sports.

Q: Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.

A: Strongly Disagree. Absolutely not. As a physician, I took the Hippocratic oath to do no harm to patients and mutilating children is very harmful.

Kelly Armstrong: Require proof of age on pornographic websites

Armstrong said he would want to see metrics on whether those types of bills are keeping people away from the state. He also said he thinks people should need to show proof of age to enter a pornographic website. "I'm very less worried about what books my kids see in a library as to what they can get on their phone," said Armstrong, referring to book ban bills that were discussed in the past session.

Armstrong said he gets frustrated when people say "culture war issues" with a negative connotation. "I've talked to a lot of people over the course of the last six months in North Dakota and those issues are really, really important to people," Armstrong said. He said much of it comes down to local control because the Stark County school board and the Cass County school board are going to have different issues to address.

Merrill Piepkorn: Attract young people by avoiding "culture war" issues

Armstrong said he would want to see metrics on whether those types of bills are keeping people away from the state. He also said he thinks people should need to show proof of age to enter a pornographic website. "I'm very less worried about what books my kids see in a library as to what they can get on their phone," said Armstrong, referring to book ban bills that were discussed in the past session. Armstrong said he gets frustrated when people say "culture war issues" with a negative connotation. "I've talked to a lot of people over the course of the last six months in North Dakota and those issues are really, really important to people."