FARGO - Republican incumbent Doug Goehring appeared in incomplete and unofficial results Tuesday to be withstanding a challenge from Democrat Ryan Taylor in a race for North Dakota agriculture commissioner overshadowed by energy issues.
With 381 of 427 precincts reporting, Goehring led Taylor 57 percent to 43 percent.
"I have been pleased with the outpouring of support from across the state," Goehring said. "I felt good about where things had been. We've got a lot to be happy about and proud of in our state."
The race was in the spotlight because the agriculture commissioner holds one of three seats - all occupied by Republicans - on the powerful North Dakota Industrial Commission, a key oil and gas regulator.
Goehring had to campaign without support from the conservative North Dakota Farm Bureau, which had backed a primary challenger against him, despite his close, long-standing ties to the organization.
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He also faced criticism for an investigation two years ago into remarks he made to female staff members in the department. Goehring apologized for the statements he characterized as "politically incorrect."
Taylor, who ranches near Towner, portrayed Goehring as a divisive leader whose department experienced high turnover after he was appointed to the office in 2009 and elected to his first full term the following year. He said farmers needed a commissioner who would not be a "rubber stamp" for the energy industry.
The Democrat advocated for more deference to landowners facing disruptions from oil and gas development, while the Republican argued that the Industrial Commission was able to strike the right balance.
Taylor's "Landowners Bill of Rights" would have allowed wells to be set back farther from occupied dwellings, a quarter of a mile instead of 500 feet. He also advocated for installing flow meters and cutoff valves in pipelines to prevent spills.
Goehring, who farms near Menoken, said the cutoff valves and flow meters actually offer little protection, and instead advocated for better pipeline monitoring, including testing acoustic methods.
During the campaign, Goehring said "federal overreach" is a major problem facing farmers and ranchers. Both candidates called for being vigilant in reviewing proposed federal regulations that would be overly burdensome.
The agriculture commissioner is paid an annual salary of $102,418 and serves a four-year term.
