Superintendent of Public Instruction (Unexpired 2-Year Term) of North Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the North Dakota superintendent of public instruction (unexpired 2-year term) race?
Levi Bachmeier has the strongest record in the North Dakota superintendent of public instruction (unexpired 2-year term) race. Levi Bachmeier scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Levi Bachmeier's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Tracy Foss (5 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.
Nonpartisan · incumbent
Strongest record
Levi Bachmeier
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Nonpartisan
Tracy Foss
On the ballot as Tracy Layne Foss
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 75
- Qualifications
- 63
- 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.
Levi Bachmeier
- On the record2026-03-09
Declined to seek a North Dakota Republican Party letter of support for the nonpartisan office, saying a partisan process did not fit a nonpartisan office.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Mar. 9, 2026
- On the record2026-10-05
Backed a legislative proposal announced Oct. 5, 2026 for annual teacher bonuses of about $3,400 funded from Common Schools Trust Fund earnings.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Oct. 5, 2026
Tracy Foss
- On the record2026-06-17
Took voter questions at an open Dem-NPL town hall in West Fargo in June 2026.
Source: Valley News Live, June 17, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Levi Bachmeier. No public record found.
Tracy Foss. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Levi Bachmeier. No public record found.
Tracy Foss. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Levi Bachmeier. Agreed to a Plain Talk podcast debate with Tracy Foss, released Oct. 15, 2026, and campaigns through school and community visits and press interviews.
Sources: InForum, Rob Port column, Sept. 30, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Mar. 9, 2026
Tracy Foss. Agreed to the Plain Talk podcast debate with the incumbent and took voter questions at an open Dem-NPL town hall in West Fargo in June 2026.
Sources: InForum, Rob Port column, Sept. 30, 2026, Valley News Live, June 17, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Levi Bachmeier. Worked as Gov. Burgum's education policy adviser from 2016 to 2019, then West Fargo School District business manager, and has been superintendent since 2025. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Mar. 9, 2026
Tracy Foss. 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.
Levi Bachmeier. Took the oath as superintendent of public instruction on his November 2025 appointment. No misuse-of-office finding found.
Source: Wikipedia, Levi Bachmeier
Tracy Foss. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Levi Bachmeier. Superintendent since November 2025; earlier West Fargo School District business manager, education policy adviser to the governor and a high school social studies teacher.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, June 9, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Mar. 9, 2026
Tracy Foss. Has 30 years in education, about 20 as a teacher, and has worked as a paraprofessional, grant writer and career and technical education leader. Has not held public office.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Mar. 9, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Levi Bachmeier. Has named specific measures within the office's role: cutting special education and Title I paperwork and backing a proposed annual teacher bonus funded from Common Schools Trust Fund earnings.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 29, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Oct. 5, 2026
Tracy Foss. Says she would first consult educators on why teachers leave, would revisit the K-12 funding formula and supports universal school meals, stated in general terms.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 29, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, June 9, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Levi Bachmeier. Explains his priorities in press interviews and a podcast debate. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Levi Bachmeier, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 29, 2026
Tracy Foss. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, takes questions at town halls and agreed to a podcast debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Tracy Layne Foss, Valley News Live, June 17, 2026, InForum, Rob Port column, Sept. 30, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Levi Bachmeier. A West Fargo native who worked for the West Fargo School District before taking office.
Sources: Wikipedia, Levi Bachmeier, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, June 9, 2026
Tracy Foss. A Northwood Public School and Mayville State graduate who has taught in Hatton and teaches at Valley Middle School in Grand Forks.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Tracy Layne Foss, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 29, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Levi Bachmeier. Was business manager of the West Fargo School District from 2019 until his 2025 appointment. No independent performance review found.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, June 9, 2026
Tracy Foss. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Levi Bachmeier. No public record found.
Tracy Foss. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Levi Bachmeier. No public record found.
Tracy Foss. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Levi Bachmeier. No public record found.
Tracy Foss. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Levi Bachmeier. No public record found.
Tracy Foss. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Levi Bachmeier. No public record found.
Tracy Foss. 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 superintendent of public instruction (unexpired 2-year term) race?
Levi Bachmeier has the strongest record in the North Dakota superintendent of public instruction (unexpired 2-year term) race. Levi Bachmeier scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 6, 2026. Levi Bachmeier's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Tracy Foss (5 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 superintendent of public instruction (unexpired 2-year term) race in 2026?
Levi Bachmeier (Nonpartisan, incumbent), Tracy Foss (Nonpartisan). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Levi Bachmeier a good candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction (Unexpired 2-Year Term)?
Levi Bachmeier 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.
Is Tracy Foss a good candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction (Unexpired 2-Year Term)?
Tracy Foss 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.