North Dakota's Governor Candidate to Regulate Oil and Gas Industry
- Kelly Armstrong, a Republican candidate for governor in North Dakota, has extensive financial ties to the oil and gas industry, earning significant income from oil wells.
- If elected, he would lead regulatory boards overseeing the industry, raising ethical concerns due to the state's weak financial disclosure rules.
- Experts warn that Armstrong's governorship could test the effectiveness of North Dakota's ethics guidelines, highlighting potential conflicts of interest.
In North Dakota, concerns have arisen regarding Kelly Armstrong, a Republican candidate for governor, due to his extensive financial ties to the oil and gas industry. Elected to Congress in 2018, Armstrong disclosed significant income from oil wells and relationships with major oil producers, including receiving up to $50,000 in royalties from Hess Corp. If elected, he would oversee regulatory boards that impact these companies, raising ethical questions about potential conflicts of interest. North Dakota's weak financial disclosure rules further complicate the situation, as they allow for minimal transparency regarding elected officials' financial interests. Armstrong has stated he does not believe his financial ties will create conflicts, and he has no plans to divest or place his holdings in a blind trust. The state's Ethics Commission has limited power, only acting on complaints and lacking enforcement mechanisms for violations. This environment has led to skepticism among ethics experts, who criticize the state's approach to managing conflicts of interest. The implications of Armstrong's potential governorship could test the effectiveness of existing ethical guidelines in North Dakota, particularly as he would be in a position to influence decisions affecting his financial interests.