Public Service Commissioner of North Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the North Dakota public service commissioner race?
No candidate in the North Dakota public service commissioner race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Sheri Haugen-Hoffart (7 of 15 criteria) and John Pederson (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
Democratic-NPL
John Pederson
On the ballot as John M Pederson
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 75
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart
- On the record2024-11
Voted against Summit Carbon Solutions' pipeline permit when the commission rejected it in 2023, then joined a unanimous vote approving the revised application in November 2024.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 18, 2026
- Credit2026-03
Serves on the board of directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and as vice president of the Mid-America Regulatory Conference.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Mar. 28, 2026
John Pederson
- On the record2026-07-23
Called at a Fargo news conference for the commission to disavow its staff attorney's court argument that it cannot weigh public safety in siting an interstate pipeline.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 28, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. No public record found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. No public record found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. Campaigned at public Republican rallies and answered North Dakota Monitor questions on rates and pipelines; limited some answers citing pending litigation. No 2026 general election debate for this race was found.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, June 10, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 18, 2026
John Pederson. Took voter questions at an open Dem-NPL town hall in West Fargo and a May 2026 candidate forum in Lincoln, and held a July 2026 news conference. No 2026 general election debate for this race was found.
Sources: Valley News Live, June 17, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 28, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. Public service commissioner since February 2022 after posts as deputy state treasurer and in state agencies. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. Has held the sworn office of public service commissioner since February 2022. No misuse-of-office finding found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. Public service commissioner since February 2022, elected to the seat that November; earlier deputy state treasurer and education director of the Securities Department.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Mar. 28, 2026
John Pederson. A history and economics professor at Mayville State University. Has not held elective office.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 20, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. Manages the commission's consumer affairs portfolio, sits on the national utility regulators' association board and is vice president of the Mid-America Regulatory Conference. Positions are stated in general terms.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Mar. 28, 2026
John Pederson. Has stated positions on case-by-case review of carbon capture projects, eminent domain, an all-of-the-above energy mix and pipeline siting safety, in general terms.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 18, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 20, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. Publishes a campaign site describing her priorities and answers press questions. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
John Pederson. Explains positions at town halls, forums and a news conference. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and no campaign website was found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, John Pederson (North Dakota), North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 28, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. Born in Rugby; a lifelong North Dakotan educated at the University of North Dakota and the University of Mary.
John Pederson. Lives in Mayville, where he teaches at Mayville State University.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 28, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. No public record found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. No public record found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. No public record found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. No public record found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. No public record found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart. No public record found.
John Pederson. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the North Dakota public service commissioner race?
No candidate in the North Dakota public service commissioner race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 6, 2026. Sheri Haugen-Hoffart (7 of 15 criteria) and John Pederson (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the North Dakota public service commissioner race in 2026?
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart (Republican, incumbent), John Pederson (Democratic-NPL). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Sheri Haugen-Hoffart a good candidate for Public Service Commissioner?
Sheri Haugen-Hoffart has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is John Pederson a good candidate for Public Service Commissioner?
John Pederson has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every North Dakota race scored, and the North Dakota 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.