North Dakota Democrats are wondering - what will it take for Republicans in the state to denounce Donald Trump?
Karla Hanson is a candidate for the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 44. She says up until recently, she and her husband have encouraged their young sons to watch political debates and discuss them as a family. Hanson says so far this year, she's watched Trump mock a disabled reporter and disrespect a Gold Star family - but due to recent developments, she and her husband sat down with their sons to discuss some comments made by Trump.
"My sons don't have perfect behavior as their teachers will attest! But even at ages 9 and 11, they know that this behavior from Trump is wrong, and unnacceptable."
Hanson and other Democrats are calling on Republican leadership in the state to denounce the presidential candidacy of Donald Trump. Josh Boschee represents District 44 in the North Dakota House of Representatives. He says Trump's behavior impedes the work of rape and sexual assault crisis workers, and many voters he has spoken with are growing frustrated. He says over the past two weeks, calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline have increased by 33 percent. He says Republican leadership has had plenty of time to speak up - and they haven't.
"We'd hoped that our Republican colleagues would have done what was right, and what we feel many of them should have done as leaders. And it's 12 days, and we haven't heard anything. So we figured it was time."
Party Chairwoman and District 42 Representative Kylie Overson says Donald Trump's demeanor, words and actions have disappointed her this political season - but she says she's more disappointed in North Dakota's Republican party's unwavering support of the candidate. Overson says as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, she's attended several events and listened to many women recount their stories - and it's resulted in her thinking about her own personal experience with sexual assault. Overson says just condemning Trump's words is not enough.
"Sexual assault is not a joke, it is not locker room talk - not EVER. It is a crime, and it is a serious violation of someone's privacy, and of their body. To dismiss those who have come forward to share their stories is not only wrong, it is disrespectful and shows a true lack of understanding of the impact of sexual assault and rape. I keep wondering what it will take for Republicans like Kevin Cramer, John Hoeven or Doug Burgum to withdraw their support for Trump. I thought, certainly bragging about sexual assault of women would be the tipping point - I held my breath and thought, maybe this would be the time they would stand up for the women of North Dakota. But I was wrong."
Overson says it should not take political pressure to step up for victims - she says it's the right thing to do.