Ballotpedia: Merrill Piepkorn

Merrill is originally from Stanley, Mountrail County, North Dakota. He earned his bachelor's degree in speech, communication, and theatre arts from Concordia College. He volunteers with the Horace Mann Area Neighborhood Association and is a member of Messiah Lutheran Church. He lives with his wife in Fargo, and they have 1 son and 2 granddaughters.

Merrill is currently the president of Prairie Airwaves Inc. He previously worked as a producer for Dakota Air: The Radio Show, and has worked with Prairie Public Broadcasting and various other film, television, and radio projects. He was also a full-time musician and continues to perform part-time.

Merrill Piepkorn is a state senator in District 44 in North Dakota. He was first elected in 2016 and is serving his 4th term. He has held the position of assistant minority leader in the North Dakota State Senate since 2023.

North Dakota Monitor

Supports freezing property taxes for low-income seniors over 65.

Advocates making the existing low-income "cash back rebate program" automatic.

Opposes eliminating income tax for high-income earners.

Opposes implementing a statewide sales tax.

Supports expanding the primary residence tax credit from a one-time $500 refund to an annual $1,000 payment.

- Supports freezing property taxes for low-income seniors over 65.
- Advocates making the existing low-income "cash back rebate program" automatic.
- Opposes eliminating income tax for high-income earners.
- Opposes implementing a statewide sales tax.
- Supports expanding the primary residence tax credit from a one-time $500 refund to an annual $1,000 payment.

Economy

As of October 2, 2024, Merrill Piepkorn’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Candidate website

Supports access to abortion and wants to "protect health care providers, who shouldn’t be punished for practicing their professions to keep women safe."

Wants to "protect health care providers, who shouldn’t be punished for practicing their professions to keep women safe."

- Supports abortion access.
- Wants to "protect health care providers, who shouldn’t be punished for practicing their professions to keep women safe."

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Public Safety

Supports helping pay down student loan debt for those who commit to living and working in North Dakota.

Supports subsidizing childcare staff salaries to ensure safe and affordable childcare.

Opposes school vouchers, which are programs that use tax dollars for private schools.

Supports providing school lunches for all children.

Advocates stopping cuts to higher education and providing enrollment incentives.

- Supports helping pay down student loan debt for those who commit to living and working in North Dakota.
- Supports subsidizing childcare staff salaries to ensure safe and affordable childcare.
- Opposes school vouchers, which are programs that use tax dollars for private schools.
- Supports providing school lunches for all children.
- Advocates stopping cuts to higher education and providing enrollment incentives.

Education

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Merrill Piepkorn

Merrill is originally from Stanley, Mountrail County, North Dakota. He earned his bachelor's degree in speech, communication, and theatre arts from Concordia College. Merrill volunteers with the Horace Mann Area Neighborhood Association and is a member of Messiah Lutheran Church. He lives with his wife in Fargo, and they have 1 son and 2 granddaughters.

Merrill is currently the president of Prairie Airwaves Inc. He previously worked as a producer for Dakota Air: The Radio Show, and has worked with Prairie Public Broadcasting and various other film, television, and radio projects. Merrill was also a full-time musician and continues to perform part-time.

Merrill Piepkorn currently serves as the State Senator for District 44 in North Dakota. He was first elected in 2016 and is serving his 4th term. Merrill has held the position of Assistant Minority Leader in the North Dakota State Senate since 2023.

Believes in the importance of community support and protecting the rights of all citizens.

Believes in transparency and accountability in financial management.

Served as a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner from 2015 to 2018.

Supports small business growth and agricultural development.

Supports addressing workforce issues, culture wars, and rebuilding trust in government.

Believes in "fairness in taxes" and supports the idea that the state can eliminate property taxes.

Advocates for making the existing low-income "cash back rebate program" automatic.

- Supports freezing property taxes for low-income seniors over 65.
- Advocates for making the existing low-income "cash back rebate program" automatic.
- Opposes eliminating income tax for high-income earners.
- Opposes implementing a statewide sales tax.
- Supports expanding the primary residence tax credit from a one-time $500 refund to an annual $1,000 payment.

Wants to support "coal and oil workers and communities" as the energy landscape changes.

Believes in harvesting resources wisely while protecting the environment.

Believes in improving electric vehicle efficiency in cold weather.

Believes in sustainable agricultural practices and environmental conservation.

Believes market demand for resources like lignite coal-based electricity from North Dakota will fluctuate over time, saying, "if Minnesota, now one of the major consumers of the electricity produced from our lignite coal, doesn’t want to buy that electricity, they don’t have to. Simple as that."

Supports the agricultural and energy sectors.

Believes in encouraging state innovation to improve healthcare access and increase the number of providers and facilities.

Supports access to abortion and voted against restrictive reproductive healthcare bills.

Believes in working with insurance companies to expand coverage.

Believes in protecting voting rights and ensuring fair elections.

Supports the right to vote and fair elections.

Believes in prioritizing the needs of North Dakota over partisanship.

Supports voting rights and fair elections.

Believes in not discouraging current and potential future residents, and wants to work on voting rights and elections issues collaboratively.

Believes in strong public safety measures to protect families, drawing from personal experience of moving to Fargo during elementary school.

Believes local schools, fire, police, and emergency services rely on state support.

Believes women's lives are currently at risk.

Has experience in pressure washing, sandblasting, and painting.

Opposes reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

Opposes the right to carry a gun without a permit.

Believes in supporting public education infrastructure and teacher pay.

Advocates for stopping cuts to higher education and providing enrollment incentives.

- Supports helping pay down student loan debt for those who commit to living and working in North Dakota.
- Supports subsidizing childcare staff salaries to ensure safe and affordable childcare.
- Opposes school vouchers, which are programs that use tax dollars for private schools.
- Supports providing school lunches for all children.
- Advocates for stopping cuts to higher education and providing enrollment incentives.

Believes in rejecting extremism and supporting bipartisan solutions for foreign policy.

Believes in embracing future opportunities and challenges.

Supports allowing the state to manage its own affairs.

Supports "walking the walk" in foreign policy, contrasting with politicians who say one thing but act against constituents' interests.

As of October 7, 2024, Merrill Piepkorn’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Merrill Piepkorn has served as a North Dakota State Senator for District 44 since 2017 and is the Assistant Minority Leader in the ND State Senate as of 2023. He previously worked at Prairie Public Broadcasting from 2000 to 2016 and KDLM Radio in Detroit Lakes from 1984 to 1992. Piepkorn has also been a part-time working musician since 1986 and was a full-time musician from 1974 to 1986. Additionally, he has been involved in various startups, including a pressure washing, sandblasting, and painting business, as well as rentals and real estate holding, and general contracting.

- The governor ensures efficient administration of the state and enforcement of laws.
- The governor serves as commander-in-chief of the state's military and can mobilize forces to maintain order.
- The governor advocates for their legislative agenda and has the power to veto bills passed by the legislature, which can be overridden by a supermajority vote.
- The governor has authority to grant reprieves, commutations, and pardons.
- Requirements to be governor include being a US citizen, a qualified voter in North Dakota, at least 30 years old, and a resident of North Dakota for five years prior to election.