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Democrats endorse for Congress and US Senate

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North Dakota Democrats endorsed candidates for US House and US Senate Saturday.

But the delegates to the state Convention in Bismarck left four offices unfilled: Public Service Commissioner, Auditor, Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner. Those could be filled by the party's executive committee. Party chairman Kylie Overson says the party has until April 11th to fill those races -- and she says she's been approached by people who are interested in running.

Delegates did endorse Chase Iron Eyes for the US House. He will challenge incumbent Kevin Cramer. Iron Eyes is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and is a Native American activist.

Reports surfaced that Iron Eyes had earlier convictions on felony charges. He addressed those in his acceptance speech.

"I will tell you that I did make mistakes," Iron Eyes said. "I developed a serious alcohol problem. I was a different person."

Iron Eyes says through his family, he straightened up -- and has been sober for 10 years.

Iron Eyes says the thing that inspired him to run was Cramer's support of Donald Trump.

"I saw Cramer cozying up to Donald Trump," Iron Eyes told the delegates. "I don't even need to say any more. We represent the antithesis to fear, to ignorance, to hate."

The day's surprise was the candidate for US Senate.

"After looking death straight in the eye for the past two years, my friend, Rep. Eliot Glassheim (D-Grand Forks) should have no trouble looking John Hoeven in the face, as he challenges him for the US Senate," said Rep. Connie Triplett (D-Grand Forks).

Glassheim suffered from lung cancer. He had to leave the 2015 Legislative Session early, and was airlifted to Grand Forks. But Triplett told the Democratic NPL Convention Glassheim had been receiving a new experimental drug – and the cancer is in remission. She says he talked to Glassheim a few days before the convention, and he told her he was willing to run.

"He said, 'Did you hear that my last CT scan was clear?'" Triplett said.

Glassheim didn’t make the trip – but spoke briefly to the delegates via Skype. He said he wanted to engage Hoeven in a discussion of the issues.

"We will give the people of North Dakota reasonable solutions to real problems," Glassheim said.

Glassheim’s North Dakota House term is up – and he did not seek re-election to his Legislative seat.

Earlier, delegates endorsed Rep. Marvin Nelson (D-Rolla) for Governor, and Sen. Joan Heckaman (D-New Rockford) as Lieutenant Governor.

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