Trygve
Hammer
Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota's at-large U.S. House seat; Marine veteran and Job Corps counselor from Minot
- sources
- 15
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 6
Background
Trygve Hammer is the 2026 Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota's at-large U.S. House seat, challenging incumbent Rep. Julie Fedorchak in the November 3, 2026 general election. He previously ran for the same seat as the Democratic candidate in 2024. [Sources 12, 14]
Hammer grew up in North Dakota and graduated from Velva High School before receiving an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1990. He served in the Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot, forward air controller, military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Rome, and Naval Academy instructor and company officer, including a deployment to Iraq in 2003. He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a major in 2010. [Source 7]
After his military career, Hammer held a wide range of civilian roles, including airline pilot, defense contractor, security consultant, rural-school science teacher, Bakken oil-rig roughneck, and freight rail conductor. At the time of his campaign, he was working as a counselor for Job Corps in Minot, North Dakota. [Source 7]
Hammer has not previously held elected office, according to the sources reviewed. His campaign website is hammerfornd.com, and he is the Democratic-NPL's endorsed federal candidate for 2026. [Sources 13, 14]
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic-NPL
- Running for
- U.S. House · District At-large, North Dakota
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Counselor, Job Corps (Minot, ND)
- Website
- hammerfornd.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 14debateHammer and Fedorchak scheduled to debate on Forum Communications' Plain Talk podcast
A debate between Hammer and Fedorchak was scheduled for release on the Plain Talk podcast at 4 p.m. Central on October 14. As of October 12, the debate had not yet occurred.
Fedorchak withdraws from Prairie Public debate - Fargo · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9newsPost-debate coverage: Hammer supported war-powers resolutions on Iran and backed anti-gerrymandering bill
Debate coverage reported that Hammer said he would have supported House war-powers resolutions on the Iran conflict and that oil prices rose when the war began. He also said he would support an anti-gerrymandering bill.
North Dakota US House challengers advocate for change · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9endorsementHammer received Democratic-NPL endorsement after Neville lost endorsement vote to him
October 9 debate coverage noted that independent candidate Helene Neville had sought the Democratic-NPL endorsement and lost to Hammer. The endorsement vote date and tally were not specified in the report.
North Dakota US House challengers advocate for change · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8debateHammer debates independents Neville and Tuttle at Prairie Public forum; Fedorchak absent
Hammer participated in the Prairie Public 'Face to Face' debate alongside independent candidates Helene Neville and Charles Tuttle. Republican incumbent Julie Fedorchak did not attend. Hammer addressed AI/data-center regulation, the Iran war, anti-gerrymandering, and affordability, saying Congress should take back its authority and end the Iran war.
Face To Face | Face to Face: North Dakota US House Debate | Season 2026 · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 5newsHammer calls for AI regulation and data-center transparency in candidate issue spotlight
In an issue spotlight on AI and data centers, Hammer called for more transparency and regulation, stating: 'We need regulation, and Congress needs to act to ensure that the AI economy does not hurt regular working people.'
Issue spotlight: North Dakota US House candidates discuss AI regulation, data centers · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 3newsHammer's fundraising reported down roughly 60% in contributions and cash on hand
A Grand Forks Herald editorial, citing reporting by Plain Talk's Rob Port, noted that Hammer's contributions and cash on hand were each down roughly 60%. The comparison period and underlying figures were not specified in the editorial.
Fedorchak still has the favor of North Dakota voters; reelect her to the US House · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29newsHammer argues Congress should assert authority over Iran war and tariffs to address affordability
In a candidate issue spotlight, Hammer described a 'K'-shaped economy and said tariffs—particularly those involving Canada—were a major source of higher costs. He argued Congress should reassert its authority over the Iran war and tariffs to help lower prices.
North Dakota US House candidates differ on solutions to affordability · Oct 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 18newsFedorchak withdraws from Prairie Public debate after format change, Hammer says he'll still participate
Fedorchak said she had agreed to a one-hour debate with Hammer but withdrew after Prairie Public added two independent candidates and extended the event to 90 minutes. Prairie Public said it invites all candidates on the ballot. Hammer said he planned to participate with the independent candidates regardless.
Fedorchak withdraws from Prairie Public debate - Fargo · Sep 18, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Democrats Serve organizationListed as an endorser by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. ivoterguide.com
- North Dakota Democratic-NPL, District 12/29 officialListed as an endorser by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given and date could not be independently verified. ivoterguide.com
- North Dakota AFL-CIO unionListed as an endorser by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. The AFL-CIO's own 2026 endorsed-candidates page (dated June 30, 2026) does not list Hammer. ivoterguide.com
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) unionListed as an endorser by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. The IBEW entry on that page appears separately under campaign contributions, not as a dated endorsement. ivoterguide.com
- Defend The Vote organizationListed as an endorser by iVoterGuide; no endorsement date given. wedefendthevote.org
- North Dakota Democratic-NPL officialDelegates endorsed Hammer at the party's state convention. Confirmed by the Democratic-NPL's 2026 candidate page and contemporaneous reporting. yahoo.com · Mar 7, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $190K
- Spent
- $123K
- Cash on hand
- $67K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6ND01049(opens in a new tab)
Sources 15
- [1] Make Your Voting Plan - League of Women Voters of North Dakota(opens in a new tab) Oct 10, 2026
- [2] Face To Face | Face to Face: North Dakota US House Debate | Season 2026(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] North Dakota US House challengers advocate for change(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [4] North Dakota US House candidates differ on solutions to affordability(opens in a new tab) Oct 7, 2026
- [5] Issue spotlight: North Dakota US House candidates discuss AI regulation, data centers(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [6] Fedorchak still has the favor of North Dakota voters; reelect her to the US House(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [7] Issue spotlight: North Dakota US House candidates differ on solutions to affordability(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [8] Election 2026: The statewide candidates | North Dakota Living(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [9] Fedorchak withdraws from Prairie Public debate - Fargo(opens in a new tab) Sep 18, 2026
- [10] Trygve Hammer - Representative in Congress(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [11] Meet Trygve — Trygve Hammer for ND(opens in a new tab) Sep 11, 2026
- [12] Priorities(opens in a new tab) Sep 11, 2026
- [13] Congress Archives(opens in a new tab) Aug 10, 2026
- [14] Issue spotlight: North Dakota’s US House candidates reflect on immigration policy - KVRR Local News(opens in a new tab) Jun 1, 2026
- [15] Trygve Hammer tapped for another run for North Dakota US ...(opens in a new tab) Mar 7, 2026