INSIDE THE POLITICAL BATTLES SHAPING NORTH DAKOTA

On this episode of Open Range, host Gary Emineth welcomes Dustin Gawrylow of the Watchdog Network to examine pressing issues shaping politics in North Dakota and beyond.
They begin with the North Dakota Ethics Commission, where Republicans are accused of blocking and weakening the commission’s ability to meet its constitutional mandate. While the majority party criticizes its lack of productivity, they are simultaneously accused of stonewalling its progress.
The discussion then shifts to political activism and heated debates, with both men warning that the climate has grown hostile and counterproductive. Gawrylow calls for a return to constructive debate instead of toxic division.
They also dig into the controversial CO2 pipeline in South Dakota, highlighting how Republicans there have taken a bold stand against it. With conservatives dominating South Dakota’s Legislature and party structure, Gawrylow raises the question of whether similar shifts could happen in North Dakota, especially since oil industry money in the state has long shaped political outcomes.
Finally, the conversation turns to the Freedom Caucus movement, which is expanding across states like Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota, but struggling to gain traction in North Dakota. Gawrylow and Emineth weigh what this means for conservative politics in the region.