Public Service Commissioner (Unexpired 2-Year Term) of North Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the North Dakota public service commissioner (unexpired 2-year term) race?
Jill Kringstad has the strongest record in the North Dakota public service commissioner (unexpired 2-year term) race. Jill Kringstad scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Jill Kringstad's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Scot Kelsh (7 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic-NPL
Scot Kelsh
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 58
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Jill Kringstad
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- 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.
Scot Kelsh
- On the record2026-07-23
Said at a Fargo news conference that if state law bars the PSC from considering public safety in pipeline siting, the Legislature should change it.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 28, 2026
Jill Kringstad
- Credit2025-01-06
Appointed to the Public Service Commission in January 2025 after about a decade on its staff, latterly as director of business operations.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, June 10, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Scot Kelsh. No public record found.
Jill Kringstad. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Scot Kelsh. No public record found.
Jill Kringstad. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Scot Kelsh. Took voter questions at open Dem-NPL town halls in West Fargo and Valley City 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, KNOX News Radio, July 22, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 2026
Jill Kringstad. Campaigned at public Republican rallies and answered North Dakota Monitor questions on rates, pipelines and pipeline safety. 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, July 28, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Scot Kelsh. Served in the North Dakota House for 18 years and as a Fargo firefighter. No censure, reprimand or legislative conduct finding found.
Jill Kringstad. Worked on the commission staff from 2015, latterly as director of business operations, and has been a commissioner since January 2025. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jill Kringstad, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 20, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Scot Kelsh. Took the oath as a state representative for nine sessions, 1997 to 2013. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Jill Kringstad. Has held the sworn office of public service commissioner since January 2025. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Jill Kringstad
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Scot Kelsh. Represented Fargo's District 11 in the North Dakota House from 1997 to 2014, serving on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee; trained as an architect and worked as a firefighter.
Jill Kringstad. Commissioner since January 2025 after about a decade on the commission staff, including as director of business operations; a licensed CPA who began her career at Basin Electric Power Cooperative.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Jill Kringstad, Campaign site, Meet Jill
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Scot Kelsh. Served on the House Energy and Natural Resources and Finance and Taxation committees and on interim energy transmission and natural resources committees; his campaign positions are general.
Jill Kringstad. Leads the commission's pipeline and transmission siting, gas economic regulation and railroad safety portfolios and is its liaison to the regional grid operator MISO.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Jill, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 20, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Scot Kelsh. 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, Scot Kelsh, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 28, 2026
Jill Kringstad. Publishes a campaign site and answers press questions. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, Meet Jill, Ballotpedia, Jill Kringstad
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Scot Kelsh. Lives in Fargo and represented Fargo's District 11 in the Legislature for 18 years.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 28, 2026, North Dakota Legislative Branch, Scot Kelsh
Jill Kringstad. Born in Bismarck and a Bismarck Century High School graduate.
Source: Campaign site, Meet Jill
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Scot Kelsh. No public record found.
Jill Kringstad. Served as director of business operations for the Public Service Commission before her appointment. No independent performance review found.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, June 10, 2026
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Scot Kelsh. No public record found.
Jill Kringstad. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Scot Kelsh. No public record found.
Jill Kringstad. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Scot Kelsh. No public record found.
Jill Kringstad. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Scot Kelsh. No public record found.
Jill Kringstad. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Scot Kelsh. No public record found.
Jill Kringstad. 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 (unexpired 2-year term) race?
Jill Kringstad has the strongest record in the North Dakota public service commissioner (unexpired 2-year term) race. Jill Kringstad scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Jill Kringstad's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Scot Kelsh (7 of 15 criteria) has 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 (unexpired 2-year term) race in 2026?
Scot Kelsh (Democratic-NPL), Jill Kringstad (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Scot Kelsh a good candidate for Public Service Commissioner (Unexpired 2-Year Term)?
Scot Kelsh 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 Jill Kringstad a good candidate for Public Service Commissioner (Unexpired 2-Year Term)?
Jill Kringstad scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
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.