North Dakota Republican Scandals | Updated List of GOP Scandals in ND

Scandal Categories

North Dakota Republican U.S. Congress Member & Candidate Scandals

  • Paul SchaffnerPaul SchaffnerFmr. U.S. Senate Candidate
       
    2/16/18
    Solicited sex via text message from a woman he thought was a prostitute, but who was actually a police officer
    According to screenshots of the text conversation released by the police

North Dakota Republican Executive Branch Scandals

  • Drew WrigleyDrew WrigleyAttorney General [R-ND]
       
    9/02/15
    Had an extramarital affair with a married woman during his time as Lt. Governor and only admitted to it after a citizen journalist exposed it online
    According to a report by The Forum
  • Will GardnerWill GardnerFmr. Sec. of State Candidate
       
    5/20/18
    Was caught by police with his pants undone and his shirt untucked while peering into the windows of a female dormitory at North Dakota State University when he was 29 years old
    According to charging documents filed by university police

North Dakota Republican State Legislator Scandals

  • Ray HolmbergRay HolmbergFmr. State Senator [R-ND]Instagram icon4k
    Instagram icon4k  
    10/30/23
    Traveled to the Czech Republic for the purpose of paying to have sex with minors under the age of 18 multiple times over a five-year period
    10/30/23
    Downloaded felony images depicting children being sexually abused and tried to conceal his identity by using fake online personas
    According to charging documents filed by federal officials
  • Randy BoehningRandy BoehningFmr. State Representative
       
    4/29/15
    Sent nude images of himself to men decades younger than him on a gay dating website around the same time he voted against an anti-discrimination bill that intended to provide additional protections to the LGBTQ community
    According to private messages on a gay dating website provided by a young man he was in communication with
  • Nico RiosState Representative [R-ND]
       
    12/23/23
    Spewed homophobic and racist taunts against police officers who pulled him over for swerving in and out of his lane and also failed a field sobriety test, refused to take a breathalyzer and threatened the officers by saying that he would "regret" arresting him because he knew the state AG and claimed he could falsely tell him that he was mistreated by the officers
    According to charging documents filed by local police