By: Jeff Beach (North Dakota Monitor)
The executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party is resigning to become a lobbyist for a school choice organization.
Andrew Nyhus said he has a contract with the American Federation for Children.
Nyhus said school choice is a topic he has been passionate about but felt obligated to stay neutral in his role with the NDGOP. School choice, which can include private school vouchers, refers to programs that offer alternatives to students’ assigned public school.
Nyhus said the school choice issue “has the most potential to be transformative for society, for the state.”
The North Dakota Legislature is considering options for Education Saving Accounts. House Bill 1540 has a hearing Monday and Senate Bill 2400 has a hearing Tuesday.
Senate Bill 2241 seeks to establish public charter schools.
Nyhus, who lives in Fargo, said after the legislative session, he will look at what opportunities are available.
GOP Chair Sandi Sanford said the party would begin looking for a new executive director in May. She added the party would be interested in having Nyhus come back, but that he needed a break after jumping into the role in December 2023 and serving through the 2024 election.
“I want what’s best for him,” Sanford said.
Nyhus said he enjoyed his role with the GOP, which dominates North Dakota politics.
Nyhus and Sanford agreed that it was a good time for the party to look for a new executive director in a non-election year.
