Kelly Armstrong in 2024 ND Governor's race
On Drugs:
Rated B- by NORML: medical marijuana ok but not recreational
NORML Politician Info: rated B-- Candidate: Kelly Armstrong (R-ND): Holds office US House District At-Large; Candidate in race for Governor on Nov. 5, 2024
- NORML Summary: MEDICAL USE: Kelly Armstrong
has gone on record to say that he does not support legalizing marijuana, and confirmed these statements with his "No" vote on the MORE Act. He has not displayed any anti-medical marijuana sentiment, and voted in favor of the SAFE Banking Act.
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Comments:
- The congressman is a cosponsor on the STATES Act, which "Amends the Controlled Substances Act, so that its provisions no longer apply to any person acting in compliance with State law relating to the manufacture, production,
possession, or distribution of marijuana." (12/17/19)
- U.S. House candidate Kelly Armstrong said during a debate that [he would not] vote in favor of the recreational marijuana measure on the state's November ballot. (9/19/18)
Source: NORML "Smoke the Vote" on 2024 North Dakota Governor race
Aug 8, 2024
On Civil Rights:
Supported legislation targeting LGBTQ youth
When two Republican candidates for governor--Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong--squared off in a debate, they appeared to agree more often than not. Miller and Armstrong were also both supportive of North Dakota's abortion ban,
as well as a spate of recent legislation targeting LGBTQ youth--including a law forbidding transgender girls and women from competing in female sports in K-12 and college, and another banning transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming care.
Source: North Dakota Monitor on 2024 North Dakota Governor debate
Apr 23, 2024
On Education:
Best workforce recruitment tool is our higher ed system
Armstrong emphasized the importance of drawing in young people and retaining them after graduation. "Our best workforce recruitment tool is our higher ed system," Armstrong said.Piepkorn agreed, pointing out that with state support in recent years,
businesses have been expanding apprenticeships and paid internships to students. He added local unions have ramped up their apprenticeship training programs geared toward younger workers to get them into high-paying career fields sooner.
Armstrong said he doesn't have the "silver bullet" to fix complicated workforce issues, but addressing housing, health care and educational needs would be a good start to drawing more potential to the state. "I don't know if we can handle $2 billion
economic development with no plan to build housing and no plan to recruit employees," Armstrong said. "It doesn't do North Dakota any good if that new business is poaching from existing businesses when you already have 15,000 to 30,000 open jobs."
Source: Bismarck Tribune on 2024 North Dakota Governor race
Sep 13, 2024
On Education:
Supports school choice, but not vouchers
[Democratic State Senator Merrill] Piepkorn said the state should increase its funding commitments for public education before any extra funding is allocated for a school choice program. "Taking money away, right now, from public education for vouchers,
any money you take and send in that direction, is going to mean less money for the public education we have now," Piepkorn said.[Republican U.S. Rep. Kelly]
Armstrong said he believes in school choice but doesn't think vouchers would be a good approach because private schools could raise their tuition to take advantage of the new state money. "It doesn't need to be either-or,"
Armstrong said. "We can fund our public school system and we can have the best public school system in the country, and we can still allow for significantly more parental autonomy in school choice."
Source: North Dakota Monitor on 2024 North Dakota Governor debate
Oct 10, 2024
On Families & Children:
Require proof of age on pornographic websites
Piepkorn said the Legislature passing "bad bills" such as a ban on abortion and laws affecting transgender people has kept younger people away from North Dakota.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.
Source: Bismarck Tribune on 2024 North Dakota Governor race
Sep 13, 2024
On Gun Control:
Triggers never pull themselves; bills go after guns
Armstrong and Piepkorn disagreed on banning binary triggers, which can change a semi-automatic firearm into a faster, automatic-like firing style. Piepkorn said, if the Legislature sent him a bill as governor that banned the device, he would
sign it. "I would think that after seeing the results of it, similar to a bump stock, that they would realize that it isn't necessary and it is harmful," Piepkorn said. "In no way does this restrict your Second Amendment rights to own a firearm."
Armstrong said "triggers never pull themselves," and said he's spent six years in Washington pushing back against lawmakers who do want to ban guns that are used in
North Dakota for hunting and recreation. He added gun control legislation proposed by Democrats in Washington "is going after the guns."
Source: North Dakota Monitor on 2024 North Dakota Governor debate
Oct 8, 2024
Page last updated: Oct 31, 2024