Fargo City Commissioner Michelle Turnberg running for mayor

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Fargo City Commissioner Michelle Turnberg, a former news anchor, has announced her campaign for mayor of Fargo, North Dakota. She joins five other candidates in the race to succeed term-limited Mayor Tim Mahoney. Turnberg was first elected to the Fargo City Commission in 2024 after unseating an incumbent. If elected mayor in the June 9 primary, the city would have to hold a special election to fill Turnberg's open commission seat.

Why it matters

The Fargo mayoral race has attracted significant interest, with six candidates vying to lead the state's largest city. Turnberg's entry as a former news anchor brings a new dynamic to the campaign, as she seeks to leverage her public profile and civic experience on the city commission.

The details

Turnberg posted her mayoral announcement on Facebook on April 6, 2026. She joins a field that includes current City Commissioners Dave Piepkorn and Denise Kolpack, North Dakota State Senator Joshua Boschee, Fargo Human Rights Commissioner Sekou Sirleaf, and National Guardsman Jake Coulter. Candidates need to submit 300 valid signatures by the April 6 filing deadline to appear on the ballot for the June 9 primary election.

• Turnberg was first elected to the Fargo City Commission in 2024.
• The deadline to file petitions to seek election as Fargo mayor was 4 p.m. on April 6, 2026.
• The Fargo mayoral primary election is scheduled for June 9, 2026.

What’s next

If elected mayor in the June 9 primary election, the city of Fargo would have to hold a special election to fill Turnberg's open city commission seat.