Kelly Armstrong on Civil Rights

	Kelly Armstrong 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

Gender neutral terms in state laws, for same-sex marriages

North Dakota's Republican-led Senate rejected a measure that would have changed state law to reflect the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that same-sex couples have the right to marry. The bill failed 15-31. North Dakota law lists "one man, one woman" or "husband and wife" for everything from marriages and divorces to fishing licenses [The proposed legislation changes those terms to gender-neutral "person" and "spouse"].

The Supreme Court in 2015 declared that same-sex couples have the right to marry nationwide, and a federal judge ruled shortly afterward that North Dakota's ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional.

GOP Sen. Kelly Armstrong said rejecting the measure is only symbolic since same-sex marriage is now legal nationwide. "I think it's a pretty drastic over-estimation that we would end up in litigation if we don't pass this bill," Armstrong said.

Legislative Outcome: Bill Failed Senate, 15-31-1, Jan. 10, 2017 ; Sen. Kelly Armstrong voted YEA.

Source: Billings Gazette on North Dakota voting record: SB 2043 , Jan 10, 2017

Don't add sexual orientation to definition of discrimination

N.D. Legislative voting records for S.B. 2279 Sen.Armstrong voted NAY:

ADDED "sexual orientation" to the definition of state policy against discrimination: "It is the policy of this state to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, the presence of any mental or physical disability, or sexual orientation This status applies to employment relations, public accommodations, housing, state and local government services, and credit transactions.
DEFINES "sexual orientation" as actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity.
DEFINES "gender identity" means actual or perceived gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual's designated gender at birth.

Legislative Outcome:

Senate vote 25-22-0 on Feb. 17
House vote 35-56-3 on April 2, 2015 (bill failed)

Source: North Dakota Legislative voting records for S.B. 2279 , Feb 17, 2015

Keep deadline for ratifying Equal Rights Amendment.

Armstrong voted NAY Removing deadline for ERA ratification

H.J.Res.17: Removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment: This joint resolution eliminates the deadline for the ratification of the ERA, which prohibits discrimination based on sex. The amendment was proposed to the states in House Joint Resolution 208 of the 92nd Congress, as agreed to in the Senate on March 22, 1972. The amendment shall be part of the Constitution whenever ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states.

Opinion to vote YES (Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL-7): The ERA was first proposed in 1923, shortly after women gained the right to vote. [The original] 1979 deadline was later extended before it expired. By the end of 1982, 35 of the 38 required state legislatures had voted to ratify the ERA. Nevada ratified the ERA in 2017, Illinois in 2018 and, in January 2020, Virginia became the 38th and final state required to ratify it. If passed in the Senate, H.J. Res. 79 would remove the arbitrary 1982 deadline.

Opinion to vote NO (Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1): H. J. Res 17 would retroactively remove the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Regardless of your thoughts on the ERA, the deadline for the states to ratify the amendment expired four decades ago. By passing this resolution, House Democrats are virtue signaling and trying to take a shortcut around what is required in our constitutional amendment process. Those who want to pass an ERA will need to start this process from the beginning. Today`s vote mocks the intentionally high bar set by our Founders to make changes to our precious Constitution.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 222-204-4 on 03/17/2021; received in the Senate and read on 3/23. [OnTheIssues notes on the duration for ratification that the 27th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress in 1789 and was ratified by 3/4 of the States and became law in 1992, a ratification period of 202 years].

Source: Congressional vote 21-HJR17 on Jan 21, 2021

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*Other governors on Civil Rights:*			*Kelly Armstrong on other issues:*
*ND Gubernatorial:* Doug Burgum Merrill Piepkorn Rick Becker *ND Senatorial:* John Hoeven Katrina Christiansen Kevin Cramer Michael J. Steele Rick Becker	*Gubernatorial Debates 2023:* KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D) vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R) vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R) vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R) LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited) vs.Jeff Landry(R) vs.Shawn Wilson(D) vs.John Schroder(R) vs.Sharon Hewitt(R) MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R) vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew) vs.Brandon Presley(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2024:* DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited); vs. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D) vs. County Exec. Matt Meyer (D) vs. State Rep.Mike Ramone (R) IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited); vs. Sen. Mike Braun (R) vs. Suzanne Crouch (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Eric Doden (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Attorney General Curtis Hill (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Jennifer McCormick (D) MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited): vs. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) vs. State Senator Bill Eigel (R) vs. Lt.Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) vs. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D) MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) vs. Ryan Busse (D) vs. State Rep. Tanner Smith (R, lost June 4 primary)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):* NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited); vs. Lt.Gov. Mark Robinson (R) vs. Attorney General Josh Stein (D) vs. Treasurer Dale Folwell (R, lost March 5 primary) vs. Justice Michael Morgan (D, lost March 5 primary) vs. State Senator Andy Wells (R,withdrew) vs. Rep.Mark Walker (R, withdrew) ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R, retiring) vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R) vs. U.S.Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R) vs. State Sen.Merrill Piepkorn (D) NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring) vs. U.S.Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Mayor Joyce Craig (D) vs. Acting Gov.Chuck Morse (R) vs. Exec.Councilor Cinde Warmington (D) UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R) vs. Minority Leader Brian King (D) VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) vs. Lt.Gov.David Zuckerman (D, withdrew) vs. Selectman Peter Duval (D) vs. Commissioner Esther Charlestin (D) WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring); vs. Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) vs. U.S.Rep.Dave Reichert (R) vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R) vs. Hilary Franz (D, withdrew to run for U.S.Rep.) WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited) vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D) vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew) vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R, lost May 14 primary) vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R, lost May 14 primary)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]