Brandy Pyle
{{Short description|American politician (born 1980)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Brandy Pyle
|image =
|caption =
|office = Member of the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 22nd district
|term_start = December 1, 2016
|term_end =
|alongside = Jonathan Warrey
|predecessor = Peter F. Silbernagel
|successor =
|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|9|11}}
|birth_place =
|spouse = Nicolas
|children = 4
|party = Republican
|education = University of Minnesota (BS)
}}
Brandy L. Pyle (born September 11, 1980) is an American politician who has served in the North Dakota House of Representatives from the 22nd district since 2016.{{cite web|last=Wieck |first=Angie |url=https://www.westfargopioneer.com/news/4155318-district-22-get-new-representatives-nd-house |title=District 22 to get new representatives in ND House |publisher=West Fargo Pioneer |date=2016-11-08 |access-date=2019-02-21}}{{cite web|url=https://www.legis.nd.gov/biography/brandy-pyle |title=Brandy Pyle |publisher=Legis.nd.gov |access-date=2019-02-21}}
Education and Career
Pyle graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor’s in Finance and served on the Cass County Park Board before her election. She also served in the Minnesota National Guard for 6 years.{{Cite web |title=Brandy L. Pyle {{!}} North Dakota Legislative Branch |url=https://ndlegis.gov/biography/brandy-l-pyle |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ndlegis.gov}} Pyle is also a volunteer for the Fargo National Cemetery.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-27 |title=Ceremony at Fargo National Cemetery to honor Vietnam War veterans |url=https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/ceremony-at-fargo-national-cemetery-to-honor-vietnam-war-veterans |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=InForum |language=en}}
Pyle was interviewed in 2013 after two BNSF trains collided and their oil cars caught fire a few miles out from her family farm near Casselton, North Dakota.{{Cite web |date=2013-12-31 |title=Trains collide, oil cars catch fire |url=https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/trains-collide-oil-cars-catch-fire |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Jamestown Sun |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Casselton, ND, Evacuation Order Lifted After Fiery Train Collision |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/casselton-residents-urged-evacuate-oil-train-collision/story?id=21376966 |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=ABC News |language=en}}
North Dakota House of Representatives
Pyle ran in 2016 for the open state house seat for district 22.{{Cite web |date=2016-02-10 |title=Leader of failed ND property tax ban running for state House |url=https://www.inforum.com/newsmd/leader-of-failed-nd-property-tax-ban-running-for-state-house |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=InForum |language=en}} Pyle and fellow Republican Michael Howe were elected in both the primary and general elections, defeating democrats Marijo and Allan Peterson.{{Cite web |title=North Dakota Secretary of State |url=https://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=LEGALL&map=DIST&cty=22&name=Legislative%20District%2022&eid=gR2niKy4-fY |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=results.sos.nd.gov}}{{Cite web |title=North Dakota Secretary of State |url=https://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?type=LEGALL&map=DIST&cty=22&name=Legislative%20District%2022&eid=NT3DecKycoM |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=results.sos.nd.gov}} She would later be re-elected in 2020 and 2024.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=Pyle announces reelection bid for 3rd term in North Dakota House of Representatives |url=https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/pyle-announces-reelection-bid-for-3rd-term-in-north-dakota-house-of-representatives |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=InForum |language=en}}
Throughout her tenure, Pyle has voted against and been a vocal opponent to most culture war legislation, including book banning and funding cuts to Prairie Public Broadcastinghttps://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/port-north-dakotas-culture-warriors-are-flounderinghttps://www.insideradio.com/free/north-dakota-house-votes-to-defund-public-broadcasting/article_3a48c5ea-f022-11ef-87df-4313e299b6d4.html In 2025, Pyle stated she felt regret for voting in favour of a bill that would call on the Supreme Court to overturn the desicion that legalised gay marriage nationwide.https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/port-3-republican-lawmakers-say-they-regret-vote-for-anti-gay-resolution
In 2021, Pyle was a leading voice in the effort to expel fellow representative Luke Simons of Dickinson over sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, Pyle being on the receiving end of some harassment alongside other legislators and capital interns.https://www.kfyrtv.com/2021/02/25/nd-lawmaker-apologizes-for-telling-colleague-youre-not-my-effing-mother/https://kfgo.com/2021/02/25/north-dakota-lawmaker-accused-of-sexual-harassment/ Pyle was interviewed frequently, specifically expressing frustration that Simons was doing fundraising work in the midst of the allegations reaching the public.https://www.inforum.com/opinion/plain-talk-rep-brandy-pyle-calls-lawmakers-fundraising-amid-harassment-claims-a-slap-in-the-face On May 4, 2021, the house voted to expel Simons from the legislature 69-25.https://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/north-dakota-house-expels-rep-luke-simons-after-sexual-harassment-allegationshttps://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-f6d9a0aab71fde5d681b41443541449a
Personal life
Pyle is married to her husband, Nicolas, who she has 4 kids with. She is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian church.https://ndlegis.gov/biography/brandy-l-pyle
References
{{Reflist}}
{{North Dakota House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pyle, Brandy}}
Category:Republican Party members of the North Dakota House of Representatives
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Women state legislators in North Dakota
Category:21st-century members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly