Fargo Mayoral Debate Set for April 21

Five candidates will face off in a structured, nonpartisan format at the Fargo Theatre.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:13pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of the Fargo Theatre's exterior, with a small crowd of people gathered outside the entrance, conveying the anticipation and civic engagement surrounding the upcoming mayoral debate.The Fargo Theatre, a local landmark, will host the highly anticipated mayoral debate, drawing a crowd eager to hear the candidates' visions for the city's future.Fargo Today

The Fargo mayoral debate is scheduled for April 21 at the Fargo Theatre, bringing together all five candidates in a structured, nonpartisan format. The goal is to give voters a clear look at where each candidate stands on key issues impacting the city and its residents. The debate will include opening and closing statements, moderated questions, and rebuttal opportunities.

Why it matters

With five candidates in the race, the debate provides an important opportunity for Fargo voters to directly compare the positions and qualifications of the mayoral hopefuls. The nonpartisan format aims to move beyond campaign rhetoric and social media ads to give residents a substantive look at the candidates.

The details

The Fargo mayoral debate will take place on Tuesday, April 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fargo Theatre. The event is free and open to the public, with a live broadcast on WDAY Xtra and streaming on InForum.com. Voters can also submit questions for the candidates by registering on the FMWF Chamber of Commerce website.

  • The Fargo mayoral debate is scheduled for April 21, 2026 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The players

Sekou Sirleaf

Chairman of the Fargo Human Rights Commission and mayoral candidate.

Dave Piepkorn

Fargo City Commissioner and mayoral candidate.

Michelle Turnberg

Fargo City Commissioner and mayoral candidate.

Josh Boschee

North Dakota State Senator and mayoral candidate.

Denise Kolpack

Fargo Deputy Mayor and mayoral candidate.

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What they’re saying

“We have five candidates. That makes it a little bit more challenging to ... wrangle them all together, but we've got a great format put together where we'll talk about a number of different topics that really impact, not only, again, the city of Fargo, but the business community and the residents.”

— Cale Dunwoody, FMWF Chamber of Commerce VP of Public Policy

The takeaway

The Fargo mayoral debate provides a crucial opportunity for voters to directly compare the positions and qualifications of the five candidates vying to lead the city. The nonpartisan format aims to move beyond campaign rhetoric and give residents a substantive look at the key issues facing Fargo.