INSIDE THE ND HOUSE SHAKE-UP: BRANDON PRICHARD, LORI VANWINKLE, AND SANDI SANFORD

On this episode of Open Range, former North Dakota legislator Brandon Prichard takes a hard look at recent political developments shaking the statehouse. Brandon sits down with State Representative Lori VanWinkle of District 3 (Minot) to discuss the recent resignation of fellow legislator Jeremy Olson. Lori opens up about the signs she noticed long before Olson stepped down and walks viewers through the timeline that led up to the resignation. She also raises concerns about how House leadership handled the situation—and how they’ve treated her personally. Brandon and Lori ask tough questions: Were any legislative rules broken? And if so, why hasn’t there been more accountability?
Later in the program, North Dakota GOP Chairwoman Sandi Sanford joins Brandon for an honest conversation about the state of the party. They dive deeper into the Olson situation and debate whether the NDGOP should release a formal statement. Sandi explains what actions the party can realistically take and how they’ve responded to the disturbing Ray Holmberg case, including steps the NDGOP has taken to support victims of human trafficking. Finally, Brandon and Sandi look at district re-organization efforts happening statewide. They discuss issues some districts are having with following bylaws and rules, and why it’s so important to stick to proper procedures when rebuilding trust from the ground up.