McKenzie County Farmer - Latest News

Travis Bateman
Farmer Staff Writer

McKenzie County voters delivered decisions Tuesday in two of the county’s most closely watched races, delivering votes for sheriff and narrowing the field in a competitive county commission contest during North Dakota’s primary election.

According to unofficial results reported by the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Election Night Reporting system, incumbent Sheriff Matthew Johansen very narrowly surpassed challenger John Hance in the race for McKenzie County Sheriff.

Johansen received 797 votes, or 51.92 percent, while Hance earned 731 votes, or 47.62 percent. The race was decided by just 66 votes after all precincts reported, reflecting a highly competitive contest that drew significant public interest throughout the campaign season.
Both continue on until the general election in November.

The sheriff’s race became one of the most discussed contests in McKenzie County this year. Throughout the campaign, both candidates have emphasized leadership, public safety, employee retention, transparency, emergency services coordination, and the future direction of the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office.

Johansen campaigned on his record as sheriff, highlighting agency operations, community partnerships, public safety initiatives, and ongoing efforts to meet the demands of one of North Dakota’s largest and fastest-growing counties.

Hance, who brings more than three decades of combined military, corrections, private security, and law enforcement experience to the race, challenged voters to consider a different vision for the sheriff’s office. His campaign is focused on leadership, organizational culture, accountability, and strengthening relationships within the community and public safety network.

The close margin demonstrated strong support for both candidates and underscored the importance voters placed on the future leadership of the sheriff’s office.

Skarda Finishes First in 
Commission Race
In the county commission race, voters selected incumbent Kathy Skarda and challenger Rex Korslien as the top two vote-getters in a three-candidate field.

Unofficial results showed Skarda receiving 1,008 votes, or 38.9 percent of ballots cast. Korslien followed with 900 votes, or 34.74 percent. Kerry Thompson received 663 votes, accounting for 25.59 percent of the vote.

A total of 2,591 votes were cast in the commission contest, where voters were allowed to vote for two candidates.

Skarda’s first-place finish represents a strong showing for the longtime commissioner, who has served on the McKenzie County Commission for more than a decade. During her campaign, she emphasized responsible fiscal management, infrastructure improvements, economic development, and maintaining county services while preparing for future growth.
Korslien, a rancher, township official, and former oilfield superintendent, secured the second-highest vote total. Throughout his campaign, he focused on responsible growth, agriculture, property rights, infrastructure planning, and ensuring county government remains responsive to residents.

Thompson, an oilfield professional and longtime McKenzie County resident, campaigned on his business experience, community involvement, and commitment to preparing the county for future generations. Despite a competitive campaign, he finished third in the field.

Strong Voter Interest in 
Local Government
The primary election generated substantial public interest, particularly in the sheriff’s race and county commission contest. Candidate interviews and a debate throughout the spring drew residents from across McKenzie County and highlighted issues ranging from public safety and emergency response to infrastructure, critical incidents, professional standards, law enforcement coverage of the county, communication of government agencies and officials, economic development, property taxes, and county governance.

The narrow margin in the sheriff’s race reflected an engaged electorate and demonstrated that voters were closely divided on which candidate should possess the gold star and head the primary law enforcement agency in the county.

Similarly, the commission results reflected continued public interest in how county leaders will manage growth, infrastructure investments, public safety funding, and long-term planning amid ongoing economic activity in the Bakken region.

Looking Ahead to November
Tuesday’s results set the stage for the November General Election, where voters will make their final selections for several county offices.

Johansen emerged from the primary with a narrow victory and will continue his campaign toward November with Hance expected to continue challenging for the top cop job of the county. The election also highlighted the strong support both sheriff candidates received from voters and the significant interest surrounding the future leadership of the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office.

In the commission race, Skarda and Korslien emerged as the top vote-getters, while Thompson’s campaign concluded after a competitive three-way contest.
As McKenzie County continues to address issues related to growth, infrastructure, economic development, public safety, and quality of life, the officials ultimately elected in November will play an important role in shaping the county’s future.
Election officials are expected to canvass and certify the unofficial results later in June.

Election Results at a Glance
McKenzie County Sheriff
• Matthew Johansen - 797 votes (51.92 percent)
• John Hance - 731 votes (47.62 percent)
McKenzie County Commission (Vote for Two)
• Kathy Skarda - 1,008 votes (38.90 percent)
• Rex Korslien - 900 votes (34.74 percent)
• Kerry Thompson - 663 votes (25.59 percent)
Total Votes Cast
• Sheriff Race: 1,535
• Commission Race: 2,591

Low Voter Turnout Shapes 
Election Outcomes
While the sheriff’s race was decided by a narrow margin and the county commission contest attracted significant public discussion, overall voter participation remained relatively low.

According to unofficial turnout data reported by the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Election Night Reporting system, 1,593 of McKenzie County’s 9,871 registered voters cast ballots in the 2026 Primary Election, resulting in a turnout rate of just 16.14 percent.
The county’s participation rate fell below the statewide turnout rate of 20.28 percent, where 121,758 of North Dakota’s 600,394 eligible voters cast ballots.

The turnout figures mean that fewer than one in six registered McKenzie County voters participated in deciding the candidates who will advance toward the November General Election.

The low participation rate is particularly noteworthy given the intense public interest surrounding the sheriff’s race and county commission contest. Community forums, candidate debates, social media discussions, and local media coverage generated substantial attention throughout the campaign season, yet a large majority of registered voters ultimately did not cast ballots.

In the sheriff’s race, the 66-vote difference between Johansen and Hance represented less than one percent of McKenzie County’s registered voters. Election observers often point to such margins as evidence that individual votes can have a significant impact in local elections, where turnout is typically much lower than in presidential or gubernatorial election years.

Local election officials and civic organizations have long emphasized that county-level offices often have the most direct impact on residents’ daily lives through decisions involving public safety, infrastructure, property taxes, emergency services, roads, planning and zoning, and county budgets. Tuesday’s turnout figures highlight the ongoing challenge of engaging voters in local primary elections despite the importance of those positions.