North Dakota House Minority Leader Zac Ista Announces Retirement

The Dem-NPLer has represented Grand Forks since 2020 but will not seek reelection in 2026.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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North Dakota House Minority Leader Zac Ista has announced that he will not seek reelection in 2026. Ista has represented Grand Forks in the state House since 2020, when he was appointed to fill the term of former State Representative Matt Eidson. In his announcement, Ista cited the demands of the job and the need to spend more time with his young family as the reasons for his decision.

Why it matters

Ista's retirement will create an open seat in the North Dakota House, potentially leading to a competitive race to determine the next representative for Grand Forks' District 43. The decision also marks the end of Ista's tenure as House Minority Leader, a position he has held since 2020.

The details

Ista, a member of the Dem-NPL party, was first appointed to the North Dakota House in 2020 to fill the unexpired term of former State Representative Matt Eidson. He was subsequently elected to a full term in 2022. As House Minority Leader, Ista has been a vocal advocate for Democratic-NPL policies in the Republican-controlled legislature.

  • Ista was appointed to the North Dakota House in 2020.
  • Ista was elected to a full term in the House in 2022.
  • Ista will not seek reelection in 2026.

The players

Zac Ista

The current North Dakota House Minority Leader, who has represented Grand Forks' District 43 since 2020.

Matt Eidson

The former North Dakota State Representative whose unexpired term Ista was appointed to fill in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“Serving Grand Forks in the North Dakota House of Representatives is a great honor. The work is important and rewarding. It also demands substantial time away from my family, which is an especially difficult sacrifice while my children are young.”

— Zac Ista, North Dakota House Minority Leader (am1100theflag.com)

What’s next

Ista's retirement will set off a race to determine the next representative for Grand Forks' District 43, with both the Dem-NPL and Republican parties expected to field candidates in the 2026 election.

The takeaway

Ista's decision not to seek reelection highlights the challenges that elected officials can face in balancing their public duties with their personal and family lives. His retirement will create an open seat in the North Dakota House, setting the stage for a potentially competitive race in 2026.