David Andahl

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = David Andahl

| birth_name = David Dean Andahl

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1964|10|30}}

| birth_place = Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|10|5|1964|10|30}}

| death_cause = COVID-19

| office = Member-elect of the
North Dakota House of Representatives
from the 8th district

| term = Died before taking office

| predecessor = Jeff Delzer

| successor = Jeff Delzer

| death_place = North Dakota, U.S.

| resting_place =

| education = Bismarck State College (AS)

| occupation = Politician, rancher, land developer, driver

| organization =

| known_for =

| party = Republican

| children =

| awards =

| website = {{URL|https://davidandahl.com/}}

}}

David Dean Andahl{{cite news |last=Krishnankutty |first=Pia |title=US Republican candidate elected to state legislature in North Dakota, a month after his death |url=https://theprint.in/world/us-republican-candidate-elected-to-state-legislature-in-north-dakota-a-month-after-his-death/537573/ |date=November 5, 2020 |work=ThePrint |access-date=November 5, 2020 |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125095452/https://theprint.in/world/us-republican-candidate-elected-to-state-legislature-in-north-dakota-a-month-after-his-death/537573/ |url-status=live }} (October 30, 1964 – October 5, 2020) was an American politician, rancher, land developer and driver.{{Cite web|last=Kaur|first=Harmeet|date=November 4, 2020|title=A North Dakota state legislature candidate who died from Covid-19 appears to have won his election|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/04/politics/north-dakota-candidate-died-covid-wins-election-trnd/index.html|access-date=2020-11-04|website=CNN|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121073424/https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/04/politics/north-dakota-candidate-died-covid-wins-election-trnd/index.html|url-status=live}} In the 2020 election, Andahl defeated longtime incumbent Jeff Delzer in the Republican primary for a seat in the North Dakota House of Representatives, but died a month before the November general election due to complications from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota, at age 55. Andahl remained on the ballot and was elected posthumously.

Early life and education

Andahl was born on October 30, 1964, in Bismarck, North Dakota, to Ronald and Patricia Andahl and graduated from Century High School. He received his associate degree from Bismarck State College and studied animal science at North Dakota State University.

Career

He was a farmer, contractor and rancher.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastgatefuneral.com/obituary/david-andahl?lud=34B356A9B599E04A1DA7CCA717A02EEA|title=Obituary for David Dean Andahl at Parkway Funeral and Cremation Service|website=Eastgatefuneral.com|access-date=5 November 2020|archive-date=November 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110163658/https://www.eastgatefuneral.com/obituary/david-andahl?lud=34B356A9B599E04A1DA7CCA717A02EEA|url-status=live}} Andahl spent sixteen years on the Burleigh County Planning and Zoning Commission, and chaired it for eight years. A Republican, he was a part of the Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign.{{Cite news|last=Vigdor|first=Neil|date=2020-10-07|title=A North Dakota candidate who died of Covid-19 remains on the ballot.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/07/us/politics/a-north-dakota-candidate-who-died-of-covid-19-remains-on-the-ballot.html|access-date=2020-11-04|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121092818/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/07/us/politics/a-north-dakota-candidate-who-died-of-covid-19-remains-on-the-ballot.html|url-status=live}} At the time of his house election he was the sitting chairman of the Lignite Energy Council, a lobbying and pressure group for the coal industry in North Dakota.{{cite web |last1=MacPherson |first1=James |title=North Dakota candidate died from COVID-19 but won anyway. The governor may not be able to fill his seat. |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/election-north-dakota-house-coronavirus-dead-winner-20201104.html |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=9 January 2025}}

= 2020 North Dakota House election =

In the 2020 election, Andahl was a candidate for the North Dakota House of Representatives. In the Republican primary, Andahl defeated Jeff Delzer.{{Cite news|last=Reinan|first=John|date=October 17, 2020|title=North Dakota legislative candidate dies of COVID-19, will still be on November ballot|url=https://www.startribune.com/north-dakota-legislative-candidate-dies-of-covid-19-will-still-be-on-november-ballot/572772861/|access-date=2020-11-04|newspaper=Star Tribune|archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601063005/https://www.startribune.com/north-dakota-legislative-candidate-dies-of-covid-19-will-still-be-on-november-ballot/572772861/|url-status=live}} North Dakota's Governor, Doug Burgum, and junior Senator Kevin Cramer both endorsed his run for the state house.{{Cite news|last=Armus|first=Teo|date=November 4, 2020|title=A North Dakota Republican died of covid-19 in October. He still won his election.|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/covid-candidate-north-dakota-election/|access-date=2020-11-04|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201104142231/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/11/04/covid-candidate-north-dakota-election/|url-status=live}}

In October 2020, Andahl contracted COVID-19 and died from its complications at the age of 55.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-06|title=Legislative candidate who won heated primary dies from virus|url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-bismarck-north-dakota-d689e0cf40dc9b7406af3f30bb2ff67b|access-date=2020-11-04|website=Apnews.com|archive-date=November 4, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201104155039/https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-bismarck-north-dakota-d689e0cf40dc9b7406af3f30bb2ff67b|url-status=live}} Following Andahl's death, North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued an opinion stating that if a candidate wins an election posthumously, the result would be a vacancy and state law gives the choice of his replacement to the district's chapter of the Republican Party.{{cite news|author=Adam Willis|title=After a candidate's death in District 8, AG validates secretary of state's election plan|url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/government-and-politics/6715946-After-a-candidates-death-in-District-8-AG-validates-secretary-of-states-election-plan|access-date=2020-11-04|newspaper=Grand Forks Herald|language=en}}

On November 4, Governor Doug Burgum appointed Wade Boeshans to the seat, arguing that since no other North Dakota law applied to the situation, he was empowered to make an appointment by a provision of the North Dakota state constitution stating that the governor "may fill a vacancy in any office by appointment if no other method is provided by this constitution or by law".{{cite web | title = Burgum fulfills constitutional duty, appoints Wade Boeshans to unfilled District 8 House seat | publisher = North Dakota Office of the Governor | date = November 4, 2020 | access-date = November 22, 2020 | url = https://www.governor.nd.gov/news/burgum-fulfills-constitutional-duty-appoints-wade-boeshans-unfilled-district-8-house-seat | archive-date = November 25, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201125015507/https://www.governor.nd.gov/news/burgum-fulfills-constitutional-duty-appoints-wade-boeshans-unfilled-district-8-house-seat | url-status = live }} The North Dakota Legislative Assembly sued to block the appointment, arguing that the Governor had exceeded his authority; the legislature instead appointed incumbent Jeff Delzer to the seat. On November 24, 2020, the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled that Burgum does not have the authority to appoint a person to fill the vacant house seat.{{Cite web |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/24/court-north-dakota-governor-cant-fill-dead-candidate-seat |title=Court: North Dakota governor can't fill dead candidate seat |access-date=September 20, 2024 |archive-date=February 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210217112538/https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/11/24/court-north-dakota-governor-cant-fill-dead-candidate-seat |url-status=live }}

References

Category:1964 births

Category:2020 deaths

Category:20th-century American people

Category:21st-century members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly

Category:Bismarck State College alumni

Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in North Dakota

Category:Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign

Category:Farmers from North Dakota

Category:North Dakota State University alumni

Category:Politicians elected posthumously

Category:Politicians from Bismarck, North Dakota

Category:Republican Party members of the North Dakota House of Representatives