Fargo City Commissioner Announces Mayoral Campaign

Michelle Turnberg vows to focus on core city services if elected

Apr. 7, 2026 at 1:47am

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A realistic oil painting of a city hall building in warm, golden light, with deep shadows across the facade, conveying a sense of civic duty and political change.Fargo's mayoral race heats up as a veteran city leader looks to leverage her experience to address core municipal issues.Fargo Today

Fargo City Commissioner Michelle Turnberg has announced her campaign for mayor, promising to prioritize key municipal services like police, fire, streets, and water if elected. Turnberg, who was first elected to the City Commission in 2024, said she would also like to see the city's needle exchange program ended and the Resource and Recovery Center run by a nonprofit organization.

Why it matters

Fargo's mayoral race is heating up, with several candidates vying to lead the city. Turnberg's announcement adds another experienced voice to the mix, as she looks to leverage her City Commission experience to address issues like public safety, infrastructure, and social services.

The details

Turnberg announced her mayoral campaign on 'The Jay Thomas Show', outlining her priorities if elected. She said she would focus on core city services like the police and fire departments, first responders, streets, and water. Turnberg also stated she would like to see the city's needle exchange program ended and the Resource and Recovery Center be run by a nonprofit organization.

  • Turnberg was elected to the Fargo City Commission in June 2024.
  • Candidates had until 4:00 PM on Monday, April 6 to file their petitions to be on the June 9 primary election ballot.

The players

Michelle Turnberg

Fargo City Commissioner who has announced her campaign for mayor.

Denise Kolpack

Fargo Deputy Mayor, also running for mayor.

Dave Piepkorn

Fargo City Commissioner, also running for mayor.

Josh Boschee

Dem-NPL State Senator, also running for mayor.

Sekou Sirleaf

Fargo Human Rights Commission Chair, also running for mayor.

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What they’re saying

“I would focus on core city services like the police and fire departments, first responders, streets and water.”

— Michelle Turnberg, Fargo City Commissioner

What’s next

The Fargo mayoral primary election is scheduled for June 9, 2026.

The takeaway

Turnberg's campaign promises to prioritize essential municipal services like public safety and infrastructure, while also addressing social issues like the needle exchange program. Her experience on the City Commission could give her an advantage, but she faces a crowded field of candidates in the race to lead Fargo.