Your legislators’ report card: How District 26 scored on ND’s business future
By M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
North Dakotans, like most Americans, elect their state legislators, then send them off to state capitals across the nation to make decisions that they hope are in the best interest of our communities. But what actually happens after they cast their votes on bills that directly affect jobs, businesses, and the very fabric of North Dakota’s economy?
The Greater North Dakota Chamber (GNDC) is pulling back the curtain on just that, and their “report card” for North Dakota lawmakers is in. Their new “2025 Legislative Report: How They Voted” assigns each ND legislator a grade based on their voting record. The report highlights a stark contrast in the final grade for District 26 legislators, Dale Patten and Roger Maki.
What’s the GNDC’s “Report Card” All About?
The GNDC functions as North Dakota’s cheerleader for businesses. The GNDC is a statewide group with the common goal of promoting economic growth. To this end, they choose 30 key bills from each legislative session–bills that they assert are key for protecting business climate, building a skilled workforce, and investing in infrastructure.
Their scoring system is pretty simple: if a legislator votes the way the GNDC believes helps businesses, they get points. If they vote against those interests, they lose points. Plus, there are bonus points for important bills or if a lawmaker takes the lead in sponsoring a pro-business bill. Legislators who score 85 percent or higher get a special badge of honor: “Chamber Champions.” It means that according to the GNDC, they’re consistently putting North Dakota’s economy first.
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