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Ryan Braunberger

Democratic-NPL candidate for Secretary of State, North Dakota · Challenger

North Dakota state senator (District 10) and Democratic-NPL Senate Minority Caucus Leader; independent contractor

Ryan Braunberger is a Democratic-NPL state senator from Fargo who has represented District 10 in the North Dakota Senate since December 2022 and serves as Senate Minority Caucus Leader. He is the Democratic-NPL nominee for Secretary of State and faces incumbent Republican Michael Howe on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.

Where Braunberger stands

Election security

Says North Dakota's elections are secure, free and fair. Notes that every ballot is paper, including the printout from express voting machines, and that the paper is what gets counted. Says state IT staff constantly monitor for hacking threats.

Voter data sharing with the federal government

Says North Dakota should keep protecting its citizens' privacy. Argues it would be hard for a secretary of state to share the voter data because the Department of Transportation owns it.

Mail-in voting

Says President Trump's executive order on mail-in voting, which the Supreme Court struck down, would have disenfranchised North Dakota voters. Notes that 35 of the state's 53 counties have only one polling place and rely heavily on mail voting.

Local control of elections

Says he would focus on fair elections and on letting local governments control their own elections. Cites efforts by Gov. Armstrong and Secretary Howe to stop Fargo's approval voting system.

Voter confidence and turnout

Says the state needs to boost confidence in election systems and increase civic engagement. Argues that unproven claims about election integrity create mistrust.

Background

• North Dakota State Senator, District 10, 2022–present (re-elected 2024)
• Senate Democratic-NPL Minority Caucus Leader
• Independent contractor
• A.A., Southeastern Technical College
• B.S., Minnesota State University Moorhead

In the news

• Dem-NPL executive branch candidates share platform during Grand Forks campaign stop Grand Forks Herald, October 17, 2026
• DEM-NPL Secretary of State candidate says Trump executive order would have disenfranchised North Dakota voters Prairie Public, September 17, 2026

Also running for Secretary of State

• Michael Howe Republican

Sources

• Wikipedia: 2026 North Dakota Secretary of State election
• Wikipedia: Ryan Braunberger
• Ballotpedia: Ryan Braunberger
• New Rockford Transcript sample ballot public notice (Oct. 19, 2026)
• North Dakota Monitor: Secretary of state candidates say elections are secure
• KFGO reprint of North Dakota Monitor article
• Prairie Public: Braunberger on the mail-in voting executive order
• Grand Forks Herald: Dem-NPL candidates' forum

Last researched October 23, 2026. Written in neutral language from the sources above. Spot an error? See how to report it.