Michael Howe (politician)

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Michael Howe
A monochrome portrait photo of a man with short hair, 5 o'clock shadow, wearing a suit coat and tie; he is looking and facing the center of the camera with a happy expression.
Howe in 2023
Secretary of State of North Dakota
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 2023
GovernorDoug Burgum
Kelly Armstrong
Preceded byAlvin Jaeger
Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives
from the 22nd district
In office
December 1, 2016 – November 9, 2022
Preceded byWesley Belter
Succeeded byJonathan Warrey
Personal details
Born (1986-09-20) September 20, 1986 (age 39)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKatie Ralston
EducationNorth Dakota State University (BS)

Michael Howe (born September 20, 1986)[1] is an American politician serving as the North Dakota Secretary of State. Elected in November 2022, he assumed office on January 1, 2023.

Early life and education

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Michael Howe was born September 20, 1986.[2] Howe earned a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast journalism and mass communication from North Dakota State University in 2010.[2]

Career

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In 2011 and 2012, Howe served as a legislative correspondent and legislative assistant for Congressman Rick Berg. He also served as an agricultural policy advisor to Berg.[3] In 2013, he was the director of legislative affairs and communications director for the North Dakota Corn Growers Association.

Howe was the campaign manager of Kelly Armstrong's successful 2018 campaign to represent North Dakota in the U.S. House of Representatives.[1]

North Dakota House of Representatives

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Howe was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 2016 and assumed office on December 1, 2016. Howe served as a member of the House Water Topics Overview Committee.[4]

After winning election to be the Secretary of State, Howe resigned from the House on November 9, 2022. Local Republicans appointed Jonathan Warrey to the fill Howe's vacancy.[5]

North Dakota Secretary of State

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In January 2022, Howe declared his candidacy for North Dakota secretary of state in that years midterm elections[6] as the incumbent secretary, Alvin Jaeger, opted to retire after seven terms in office.[7] Howe defeated rancher Marvin Lepp in the republican primary and went on to beat university administrator and Democratic-NPL nominee Jeffrey Powell and independent candidate Charles Tuttle in the general election.[8][9][10][11]

Howe's office has launched numerous efforts to get easier access for elections to new U.S. citizens.[12]

In September 2023, Howe defended a ban on ballot measures led by individuals and groups from outside of North Dakota, which was primarily for a measure that would've set term limits for congressional members in the state.[13]

In November 2023, Howe and North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley appealed a ruling by district judge Peter Welte that forced the state to redraw its legislative districts ahead of the 2024 elections that forced the state to give the Spirit Lake Tribe and Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation their own specific district.[14][15][16] The appeal was heard by the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals,[17] and the court ruled in favor of the state the next year, which under the ruling would mean only the United States Department of Justice could bring Voting Rights Act lawsuits, which would negate the lawsuit by the NAACP that forced the new districts in North Dakota.[18][19] However, the United States Supreme Court paused the ruling in 2025 and as of July is pending review by the court.[20][21][22][23][24][25]

In May 2024, Howe was critical of a bill in congress that would have tightened ID checking for voting to protect against illegal immigrants and noncitizens from voting, stating that the bill would force North Dakota into doing voter registration and that the state already has protections against it.[26]

Personal life

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Howe's wife, Katie Ralston Howe, is the Former Miss North Dakota[27] and served as Governor Doug Burgum's Workforce Development director, she continues to hold the position into the gubernatorial term of Kelly Armstrong.[28][29]

References

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  1. ^ a b Macpherson, James (March 19, 2022). "Howe's SOS plan: Modernize office, build faith in elections". Associated Press. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Howe, Michael, ed. (November 2023). "Executive Branch". North Dakota Blue Book 2023-2025. Bismarck, North Dakota: North Dakota Department of State. p. 375. Retrieved August 19, 2024 – via State Historical Society of North Dakota.
  3. ^ "Michael Howe's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "Michael Howe". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  5. ^ Turley, Jeremy (November 11, 2022). "Casselton business executive replaces incoming secretary of state in North Dakota House". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Casselton lawmaker to run for North Dakota secretary of state". Grand Forks Herald. January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  7. ^ Crane, Joel (January 19, 2022). "Howe announces run for secretary of state". www.kfyrtv.com. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  8. ^ https://mydakotan.com/2022/03/lepp-announces-candidacy-for-nd-secretary-of-state/
  9. ^ "Powell announces Secretary of State run". Williston Herald. April 11, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2022.
  10. ^ https://results.sos.nd.gov/ResultsSW.aspx?text=All&type=SW&map=CTY&eid=Next2sICxjI.
  11. ^ https://results.sos.nd.gov/ResultsSW.aspx?text=All&type=SW&map=CTY&eid=vxUYQ0lrpP4.
  12. ^ Froslie, Erin Hemme (December 18, 2023). "Voter outreach aims to ease election access for new US citizens • North Dakota Monitor". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  13. ^ https://www.kfyrtv.com/2023/10/01/backers-north-dakota-congressional-age-limits-sue-over-out-of-state-petitioner-ban/
  14. ^ "Federal Judge Rules North Dakota's Legislative Districts Violate Voting Rights Act". Democracy Docket. November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  15. ^ Beach, Jeff (January 8, 2024). "Judge selects legislative district map in tribal voting rights case • North Dakota Monitor". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  16. ^ "In wake of Voting Rights Act ruling, North Dakota to appeal decision that protected tribes' rights". AP News. November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  17. ^ Steurer, Mary (October 22, 2024). "Tribes, state argue redistricting case to federal appeals court • North Dakota Monitor". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  18. ^ Sneed, Tierney (May 14, 2025). "Federal appeals court deals major blow to Voting Rights Act | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  19. ^ "8th Circuit blocks 'backup theory' for enforcing Voting Rights Act, leaving private plaintiffs without recourse". ABA Journal. Debra Cassens Weiss. Archived from the original on June 16, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  20. ^ https://www.phillytrib.com/news/supreme-court-justice-pauses-ruling-weakening-voting-rights-act/article_d7d109e9-7970-408d-9dec-cb6fd8f751a9.html
  21. ^ http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/supreme-court-blocks-north-dakota-redistricting-ruling-that-would-gut-key-part-of-voting-rights-act/ar-AA1JeWEQ
  22. ^ https://www.courthousenews.com/kavanaugh-pauses-major-voting-rights-fight-over-tribal-vote-dilution-in-north-dakota/
  23. ^ https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/07/north-dakota-urges-supreme-court-to-leave-in-place-decision-that-could-weaken-vra/
  24. ^ "SCOTUS to Get Yet Another Chance to Weaken VRA with North Dakota Case". Democracy Docket. July 9, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  25. ^ Fund, Native American Rights (September 2, 2025). "Native American Voters Bring Voting Rights Act case to the Supreme Court". Native American Rights Fund. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  26. ^ Steurer, Mary (May 16, 2024). "Federal bill on noncitizen voting could have unique impact for North Dakota • North Dakota Monitor". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  27. ^ article, Sun Staff Share Share this (June 16, 2009). "New Miss N.D. ready for busy year". Jamestown Sun. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  28. ^ Achterling, Michael (March 15, 2024). "Child care a theme of North Dakota workforce grants • North Dakota Monitor". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  29. ^ Cooperative, Michael Standaert, North Dakota News (February 10, 2025). "Bill proposes repeal of North Dakota immigration office amid workforce crisis • North Dakota Monitor". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved November 12, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)