Scot Kelsh

Background

Kelsh is a retired firefighter and architect and a former North Dakota state representative who served District 11 in the state House from 1996 to 2014. A 2026 candidate profile identifies him as a Fargo resident and says he has four children.

Sources: North Dakota Living — Election 2026: The statewide candidates

What the candidate has said

Statements are attributed to the linked sources.

• Public hearings

  He argued that members of the public should be heard earlier in major pipeline and transmission proceedings, saying people feel they are not being heard.

  InForum — Public Service Commission debate between Jill Kringstad and Scot Kelsh

• Data centers

  He said the grid and generation capacity are not ready for sudden, large electricity-demand increases from data centers and argued that existing ratepayers should not subsidize those customers.

  InForum — Public Service Commission debate between Jill Kringstad and Scot Kelsh

• Local transparency

  He supports open energy and industrial development, early local-government involvement, and eliminating nondisclosure agreements between large industrial developers and local governments.

  North Dakota Living — Election 2026: The statewide candidates