Fargo City Commissioner Piepkorn Announces Mayoral Campaign

Longtime commissioner cites debt, crime, and downtown issues as priorities in bid for mayor's office.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Dave Piepkorn, a 18-year veteran of the Fargo City Commission, has announced his campaign for mayor of Fargo, North Dakota. Piepkorn cited the city's recent Moody's debt downgrade, rising crime and business closures downtown, and his voting record as a commissioner as key reasons for his run. Piepkorn faces competition from Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack, State Senator Josh Boschee, and National Guardsman Jake Coulter in the June 9 election.

Why it matters

Fargo's mayoral race will be a closely watched contest, as the winner will inherit a number of pressing issues facing the city, including fiscal challenges, public safety concerns, and the revitalization of the downtown area. Piepkorn's candidacy represents a shift in the city's political landscape, as he has often taken more conservative positions compared to some of his fellow commissioners.

The details

Piepkorn, who was stripped of his deputy mayor title in 2022 following controversial comments about the city's homeless population, has vowed to focus on restoring Fargo's fiscal health, cracking down on crime, and reviving the struggling downtown area if elected mayor. He has pointed to his voting record on the city commission as evidence of the type of leadership he would bring to the mayor's office.

  • Piepkorn announced his mayoral campaign on February 12, 2026.
  • Election Day is scheduled for June 9, 2026.

The players

Dave Piepkorn

An 18-year veteran of the Fargo City Commission who is running for mayor of Fargo, North Dakota.

Denise Kolpack

The current Deputy Mayor of Fargo, who is also running for mayor.

Josh Boschee

A Democratic-NPL State Senator who is running for mayor of Fargo.

Jake Coulter

A National Guardsman who is running for mayor of Fargo.

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What they’re saying

“We had a Moody's downgrade with our debt. That's going to be my first priority is to restore our balance sheet because that's critical.”

— Dave Piepkorn, Fargo City Commissioner (The Steve Hallstrom Show* on The Flag)

“The next one is we've been soft on crime and our downtown has paid the consequences. We're down huge numbers in a loss of businesses and a loss of jobs. All it takes is the right leadership and we can change this and start winning again.”

— Dave Piepkorn, Fargo City Commissioner (The Steve Hallstrom Show* on The Flag)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

Fargo's mayoral race will be a pivotal contest, as the winner will be tasked with addressing the city's fiscal challenges, public safety concerns, and the revitalization of the downtown area. Piepkorn's candidacy represents a shift in the city's political landscape, and his focus on restoring the city's financial health and cracking down on crime could resonate with some voters.