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Kelly Armstrong
RepublicanGovernor of North Dakota| Age | 49 (b. 1976-10-08) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 2024-01-01 (~2 yrs) |
| Education | Dickinson High School (1995); B.A. in Psychology, University of North Dakota (2001); J.D., University of North Dakota School of Law (2003); first year of law school at College of William & Mary |
| Prior occupation | Attorney (partner at Reichert Armstrong law firm; criminal defense, including DUI defense) and oil and gas businessman (vice president of The Armstrong Corp.) |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Dickinson, North Dakota |
| Marital status | Married — Kjersti Armstrong (nee Hoiby) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | North Dakota (raised in Dickinson; Governor's residence Bismarck) |
| Notable relatives | Father Michael Armstrong, an oil-industry businessman who founded The Armstrong Corp.; no relatives in elected politics reported |
Pending research: race / ethnicity · religion · languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 2012 |
| Previous offices | North Dakota State Senator, District 36 (2012-2018) · Chair, North Dakota Republican Party (2015-2018) · U.S. Representative, North Dakota at-large district (2019-2024) |
| Caucuses | Republican Study Committee (during U.S. House tenure) · Republican Governance Group (during U.S. House tenure) |
| Leadership | Vice Chair, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee (118th Congress) · Chair, North Dakota Republican Party (2015-2018) · Co-chair, Congressional Friends of Norway Caucus |
| Ideology | Conservative Republican; one of 47 House Republicans who voted for the Respect for Marriage Act (2022); as governor vetoed a library content/book-restriction bill and a private-school voucher bill, drawing a censure from the North Dakota GOP |
| Signature legislation | Historic 2025 North Dakota property tax relief and reform package (HB 1176), more than tripling the primary residence property tax credit from $500 to $1,600/year, funded by the Legacy Fund, with a 3% cap on local property tax budget increases · Senate Bill 2201 (2025), expanding eligibility for the primary residence property tax credit · DUI law reform legislation as a North Dakota state senator |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $4,802,351–$16,271,000 (2018) · estimate
| The Armstrong Corp. (11% ownership; oil and gas exploration) | business_owned · 2022 |
| 4 Point Investments / oil well royalty interests (royalty income from 475 oil wells in 2022, up from 301 in 2018) | other · $2,900,000–$11,500,000 · 2018 |
Top industries: Oil & gas
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — 2001 DUI conviction (Virginia)
In January 2001, while attending college/law school in Virginia, Kelly Armstrong was cited for driving under the influence and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge in March 2001. The North Dakota Department of Transportation subsequently suspended his driver's license for 91 days. Armstrong initially appealed the suspension, arguing the state misinterpreted blood-alcohol-content thresholds, but withdrew the appeal in August 2001. He has publicly acknowledged the conviction, calling it 'a mistake and a very humbling experience,' and later worked as a DUI defense attorney and championed tougher DUI laws as a state senator. This occurred before his political career.
convicted — 2018 Wireless Device / Texting While Driving Guilty Plea
Armstrong was cited on June 16, 2018 in Stark County, North Dakota for using a wireless communication device while driving (texting while driving). He pleaded guilty on June 20, 2018 and paid a $100 fine. The incident came to light during his 2018 U.S. House campaign.