Grand Forks-area Republicans select UND faculty member to fill lawmaker vacancy
Grand Forks-area Republicans selected a University of North Dakota faculty member to fill the legislative seat vacated by Rep. Emily O’Brien.
Dustin McNally, assistant dean of student success for the College of Engineering and Mines at UND, was selected Saturday after multiple rounds of voting by Republican members of District 42.
“I just want all the people in my district to know that I’m listening to them and trying my best to represent their views,” McNally told the North Dakota Monitor on Monday.
O’Brien resigned her seat in August after accepting a position to become the deputy commissioner for the Department of Health and Human Services. She had served in the Legislature since 2017.
McNally challenged Sen. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, during the 2024 Republican primary, but failed to secure the party’s nomination after receiving 44% of the vote in the two-way contest.
“I knocked on 1,000 doors, and talked to people and flyered, so people have heard from me and did vote for me,” he said. “I just didn’t get enough votes. So, I think it made sense for me to be the representative because the people know me.”
"We don’t just want another vote for someone that is just going to vote on bills, but we need a leader in our district, in the Legislature."
Dustin McNally
District 42 Representative