# Julie Fedorchak

Julie Ann Fedorchak (née Liffrig; born September 28, 1968) is an American politician who is the U.S. representative for North Dakota's at-large congressional district and the first woman elected to the House of Representatives from North Dakota. She previously served as a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission. She was appointed to the commission by Governor Jack Dalrymple in December 2012 and easily won reelection to that position three times: to a two-year term in 2014, to a six-year term in 2016, and to another six-year term in 2022.

## Background

Fedorchak was born in Williston, North Dakota in 1968. She is the youngest of eight children to parents Duane and Doris Liffrig. Duane previously served as Highway Commissioner to former Governor of North Dakota Allen Olson.
Fedorchak graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She later served as communications director for Governor Ed Schafer before becoming a columnist for the Bismarck Tribune and holding numerous other media roles.
Fedorchak has also served on numerous boards.

## Public Service Commission

In December 2012, Governor Jack Dalrymple appointed Fedorchak to the North Dakota Public Service Commission after a seat opened. She later won an election to hold the seat in 2014. Shortly after being fully elected to the commission, Fedorchak was also swiftly elected to chair the commission for a two-year term.
Fedorchak was later re-elected in 2016 and in 2022 by wide margins.
Fedorchak has overseen and assisted the commission in numerous projects and investments while also offering transparent information.

## U.S. House of Representatives
### 2024 election

In February 2024, Fedorchak announced her entry into the race for North Dakota's open U.S. House seat. Fedorchak cited matters such as abortion, energy, and agriculture as issues she would focus on as a representative.
Her main primary opponents were former state Representative Rick Becker, farmer Alex Balazs, activist Sharlet Mohr, and Miss America 2018 Cara Mund for the Republican nomination. During the NDGOP endorsement convention, candidate Rick Becker encouraged his supporters to write in spoiler ballots to prevent an endorsement from going through. After 2 failed ballots, Fedorchak withdrew from the endorsement to allow the convention to continue, giving Alex Balazs the endorsment.
Fedorchak received the most state level endorsements of any candidate in the race, including over 50 legislators, U.S. Senator John Hoeven, Governor Doug Burgum, and former President Donald Trump.
In the June 11 primary, Fedorchak won the Republican nomination with 46% of the vote. She would face Democrat Trygve Hammer in the general election. Shortly after the primary, Fedorchak's campaign filed an FEC complaint regarding election interference after a mass of texts and emails were sent falsely stating she had dropped out of the race on the day of the election.
Fedorchak defeated Hammer in the election 69% to 30%, making her the first woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota. She is also the first Republican woman elected to Congress from North Dakota and the first woman to represent North Dakota in Congress since Heidi Heitkamp, who served in the U.S. Senate from 2013 to 2019.

### Tenure

Fedorchak was sworn in on January 3, 2025. She was chosen in her first term to serve on the Energy and Commerce committee, where her predecessor had served as the Vice-Chair. Fedorchak is also the first freshman member in 14 years to be appointed to the committee.

## Personal life

Fedorchak has had 3 children with her husband, Michael Fedorchak. She enjoys being active, reading, and traveling in her free time. They have been members of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit congregation in Bismarck for 30 years.
Fedorchak's father, Duane, suffers from Alzheimer's disease.

## Electoral history

North Dakota Public Service Commissioner special election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 156,596 | 65.99 |
| | Democratic–NPL | Tyler Axness | 80,319 | 33.84 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 401 | 0.17 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 237,316 | 100.00 |
North Dakota Public Service Commissioner election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 218,961 | 68.76 |
| | Democratic–NPL | Marlo Hunte-Beaubrun | 72,028 | 22.62 |
| | Libertarian | Thomas Skadeland | 26,913 | 8.45 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 563 | 0.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 318,465 | 100.00 |
North Dakota Public Service Commissioner election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 165,183 | 71.3 |
| | Democratic–NPL | Melanie Moniz | 66,196 | 28.57 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 311 | 0.13 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 231,690 | 100.00 |
North Dakota At-Large Congressional District Republican Primary, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 43,137 | 45.90 |
| | Republican | Rick Becker | 27,771 | 29.57 |
| | Republican | Cara Mund | 18,343 | 19.53 |
| | Republican | Alexander C. Balazs | 3,758 | 4.00 |
| | Republican | Sharlet Mohr | 795 | 0.35 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 109 | 0.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 93,913 | 100.00 |
2024 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Julie Fedorchak | 249,101 | 69.24% | +7.04% |
| | Democratic–NPL | Trygve Hammer | 109,231 | 30.36% | N/A |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1,455 | 0.40% | +0.17% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 359,787 | 100.00% | N/A |