When Public Servants Serve Themselves

A Story of Power, Profit, and Control

In politics, there are two kinds of people: those who serve the public and those who serve themselves. And when the line between public service and self-service gets blurred, when power goes unchecked, what's left isn't governance—it's greed. It's a culture of corruption that stretches from the smallest towns in North Dakota to the grand stages of Washington, D.C.

Now, I'm not saying all public officials are corrupt, but when you see someone benefiting directly from the industries they're supposed to regulate, it's hard not to raise an eyebrow—or both. My opponent, Julie Fedorchak, isn't just playing in this gray area, she's built a mansion in it. She stands to make millions from projects she should be overseeing with a critical eye. But when your wallet gets fatter every time you look the other way, it's hard to stay impartial.

It's like Mayor Eric Adams or Donald Trump taking campaign bribes from foreign governments. The faces change, but the playbook remains the same: power concentrated in a few hands, with little to no accountability. Adams and Trump may be New York and Washington scandals, but the rot isn't exclusive to big cities and flashy headlines. Here in North Dakota, we're seeing the same thing. As North Dakota's Public Service Commissioner, my opponent, Julie, has been lining her pockets with money from the very industries she's tasked with regulating, smiling for the cameras, and cashing in behind the scenes. 

In a recent debate, she had a lot of nasty things to say about the EPA and carbon capture, yet she stands to make millions off of a carbon capture pipeline that she is supposed to be regulating. She signed a contract to cash in early and stands to make millions once it's completed. While claiming to hate government overreach, she allowed eminent domain to seize surrounding land for a pipeline that benefits her. Public service for Julie isn't about serving—it's about self-serving.

Julie's stance on abortion is equally deceptive. She proudly supports North Dakota's trigger ban, with a so-called exception for rape and incest, but only up to six weeks—before most women even know they're pregnant. While a judge recently blocked the ban, our only abortion clinic has left the state and is unlikely to return. Julie's control over women's bodies doesn't stop there; in a state that's a maternal care desert, with fleeing OB-GYNs and 1 in 6 women facing fertility issues, she also wants to ban IVF, placing ideology over families' well-being.

It's hypocrisy at its finest, and it's not just happening here—it's a national trend. We're watching Republican leaders around the country cozy up to corporate interests while they strip away personal freedoms, all in the name of "small government." But how small is a government that lets its officials rake in millions while pretending to serve the people? How small is a government that controls women's bodies but gives free rein to industries that harm the environment and exploit the economy?

This isn't just a North Dakota problem. It's an American problem. Across the country, we see officials like Julie pushing policies that benefit the few at the expense of the many. They claim to stand for "freedom," but that freedom doesn't extend to women, to working families, or to the landowners whose property is being seized for profit. They talk about small government, but they support big government in service of personal profit.

The corruption, the hypocrisy, the erosion of our rights—should unite us in opposition to a system that's failing the American people. I'm not here to get rich off of public office. I'm here because I believe that government should work for the people, not against them. We need leaders who don't take money from the industries they regulate and who don't exploit their positions for personal gain.

We have to face the hard truth, if we don't fight back, people like Julie will continue to win. They have the money, they have the connections, and they have the power. But we have something more important- the people. We have the will to say enough is enough. We have the passion to fight for a government that's actually by the people and for the people.

This race is not a long shot—it's close, and the outcome could go either way. But what happens next depends on us coming together to make a stand. This isn't just about one election in one state; this is about sending a message across the nation that we're done with business as usual. We're done with corruption, we're done with hypocrisy, and we're done letting our rights be stripped away.

If you believe in a future where public servants truly serve the public—where leadership means putting people before profit—I ask for your support. Together, we can tip the scales in this race and restore trust in a system that's too often rigged for the few.

Join me in this effort. Your support can help make this vision a reality. Together, we can chart a new path that belongs to the people.

The stakes are high, and time is short. Together, we can win this.

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With the U.S. House seat open, the race for North Dakota’s sole congressional district has never been more competitive.

Trygve Hammer is a Navy and Marine Corps veteran, a former public school teacher, and a freight rail conductor. He was appointed to the Naval Academy from the fleet and served as a Marine helicopter pilot, forward air controller, and infantry officer.

From bunking down in oilfield camps to engaging uninterested teenagers in the classroom, Trygve’s career has been a tour of duty in the trenches of American life. Trygve’s commitment to public service is unwavering. He lives by the ethos “Officers Eat Last” and is ready to serve as North Dakota’s next Congressman, putting the people's needs first.

Watch Trygve’s campaign launch video here.