Long-shot Democrat ends campaign for North Dakota governor

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A long-shot candidate for North Dakota governor has ended his campaign. Travis Hipsher, a little-known Democrat from Neche, said Sunday (March 31, 2024) he is ending his campaign. Hipsher says he didn’t have the numbers to continue to pursue the party’s endorsement at its convention later this week in Fargo. His exit essentially clears the way for state Sen. Merrill Piepkorn to clinch the Democratic gubernatorial endorsement. Republicans are also set to endorse candidates at their state convention later this week in Fargo, but some candidates are taking their campaigns directly to voters in the June 11 primary election.