Larimore Farmer to Fill Vacated North Dakota House Seat

Dave Rustebakke selected by GOP committee to serve remainder of term

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:56pm

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A serene painting of a lone farmer standing in a golden wheat field, the warm sunlight casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the changing role of agriculture in the state's politics.A farmer's transition to public service reflects the changing political landscape of rural North Dakota.Bismarck Today

Larimore farmer Dave Rustebakke has been selected by a committee of North Dakota Republicans to fill a state House seat that was recently vacated by Jared Hagert, who resigned in February to take a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency. Rustebakke plans to run for election in November to serve the remainder of the term, which expires in 2028.

Why it matters

This appointment maintains Republican control of the state House seat and allows Rustebakke, a local farmer, to transition into a political role representing his community in the state legislature.

The details

Rustebakke was chosen on Saturday by a committee of Republicans from District 20 to fill the vacated seat. He says he is planning to retire from farming soon and is looking for new challenges in public service.

  • Jared Hagert resigned from the state House seat in February 2026 to take a job with the USDA.
  • The committee of North Dakota Republicans selected Dave Rustebakke to fill the vacated seat on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Dave Rustebakke

A farmer from Larimore, North Dakota who was selected to fill a vacated state House seat.

Jared Hagert

The former state House representative who resigned in February 2026 to take a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency.

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What’s next

Rustebakke plans to run for election in November 2026 to serve the remainder of the term, which expires in 2028.

The takeaway

This appointment allows a local farmer to transition into a political role representing his community in the North Dakota state legislature, maintaining Republican control of the seat.