The executive committee for North Dakota’s District 11 has selected state Democratic-NPL Party Chair Adam Goldwyn to complete the remaining months of a legislative term left vacant by the death of Rep. Liz Conmy, who was killed in an April plane crash.
Goldwyn, a professor at North Dakota State University who has chaired the state Democratic party since 2023, will serve in the Fargo-area House seat through Nov. 30. He told party officials he will not seek election to the position this fall.
Why It Matters
The appointment resolves the immediate vacancy created by Conmy’s death while preserving term-limit eligibility for candidates who may seek longer legislative careers. North Dakota lawmakers face constitutional term limits, and Goldwyn’s decision to serve the partial term without running for election prevents another candidate from having those months count against their maximum years of service.
The district faces continued uncertainty about how to field a Democratic candidate for the November general election, with party officials reviewing legal interpretations of state election law following Conmy’s death after the candidate withdrawal deadline.
What Happened
Conmy, who was seeking her second term representing District 11 in the North Dakota House, died April 25 in a plane crash that occurred in Minnesota. Her death came after the state’s deadline for candidates to withdraw from the June 9 primary ballot.
The District 11 Democratic executive committee appointed Goldwyn to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the current term. Goldwyn, who lived near Conmy, cited his relationship with the late lawmaker as significant to his willingness to serve the abbreviated term.
According to Greg Clark, chair of the district’s Democratic organization, the executive committee prioritized selecting someone who aligned with party values and had known Conmy personally. Goldwyn is married to Anastassiya Andrianova, a Democratic candidate running for a District 11 House seat in this year’s election.
By the Numbers
Goldwyn will serve approximately six months in the appointed position, from now through Nov. 30. Conmy’s name remains on the June 9 primary ballot because her death occurred after the withdrawal deadline. The district party is encouraging voters to cast ballots for Conmy in the primary despite her death.
Independent candidates have until Aug. 31 to file paperwork for placement on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Democrats did not submit a candidate by the recent deadline to be certified as a write-in candidate in the primary.
Republican Doug Sharbono of Fargo filed last week to run as a certified write-in candidate for the District 11 House seat. The district previously had no Republican candidate in the race.
Zoom Out
State election law creates procedural complications when candidates die after withdrawal deadlines but before elections. The Secretary of State’s Office has ruled that Conmy’s name cannot be forwarded to the November general ballot, but Democrats and the Secretary of State’s office have offered different interpretations of the process for replacing her as a candidate.
North Dakota is one of multiple states where term limits apply to state legislators, making the calculus around partial-term appointments significant for political parties managing candidate recruitment and long-term legislative strategy.
What’s Next
District 11 Democratic officials said they will determine their approach to fielding a November candidate after the June 9 primary results are known. Clark indicated the district is evaluating legal options for replacing Conmy on the general election ballot.
The district party continues to receive legal interpretations regarding the candidate-replacement process. Goldwyn will serve in the largely ceremonial role through November, as the Legislature is not in session during this period.