Candidate · November 3, 2026

Trygve Hammer

On the ballot for U.S. House · North Dakota's At-Large District

Democratic-NPL PartyChallenger
raised through Oct 14, 2026
$371K
cash on hand
$42K
issues with public statements
10

§1On the ballot

Why this matters: This is exactly how the candidate appears on your ballot, from the state's official candidate list.

OfficeU.S. House · North Dakota's At-Large District1
Party on the ballotDemocratic-NPL Party1,2
StatusChallenger
Also on the ballot

§2Who they are

Why this matters: Background and experience help you judge how someone might do the job. These come from public records and the candidate's own materials.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

According to his campaign website, Trygve Hammer graduated from Velva High School in North Dakota, enlisted in the Navy and was appointed from the fleet to the U.S. Naval Academy, class of 1990.3 It says he served in the Marine Corps as a helicopter pilot, forward air controller, military attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Rome and instructor and company officer at the Naval Academy, deployed to Iraq in 2003 and retired from the Marine Corps Reserve as a major in 2010.3 It says he worked as an airline pilot, defense contractor and security consultant, and that after returning to North Dakota in 2016 he taught grades 7 through 12 science at a rural school and worked on Bakken oil rigs and as a freight rail conductor.3 It says he currently works as a counselor for Job Corps in Minot.3

Why they say they're running

His campaign website says he is running so that everyday North Dakotans are represented in Washington and so that government works for all of them.3,4 It also says he is running to bring the values of working people back to Congress.5

Websites and accounts

§3What they've said on the issues

Why this matters: These are positions the candidate has stated publicly — on their campaign website or in public statements — summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Issues they haven't spoken about publicly are left out.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Each issue has its own range of views. A position is marked on that range only when the candidate's own statement clearly matches one option; there is no overall left–right score.

Health Care

Health insurance system

His campaign website lists affordable health care among his priorities, saying insurance costs are a burden for many North Dakota families and that people should not have to choose between their health and paying for rent or food.4,5

Abortion and Reproductive Health

Abortion law

His campaign website says he is running because North Dakota should elect a House member who is pro-worker, pro-choice and pro-democracy.3

Social Security and Medicare

Social Security benefit levels

His campaign website lists defending Social Security among his priorities and says he would put North Dakota seniors first and protect their benefits.4,5

Social Security retirement age

His campaign website's Social Security section objects to efforts by House Republicans to raise the retirement age, saying they are doing so rather than raising taxes on their wealthiest donors.5

Taxes and Budget

Corporate tax rate

His campaign website lists tax fairness among his priorities, saying profitable corporations and the ultra wealthy should pay their fair share and that regular North Dakotans should not carry the tax burden alone.4,5

Economy, Jobs and Trade

Who sets tariffs

His campaign website says rural communities need Congress to use its constitutional power to impose tariffs.5

  1. Give the president broader power to impose tariffs without a vote of Congress, such as under emergency powers
  2. Keep current law, which lets the president impose tariffs under specific trade laws but not the emergency-powers law
  3. Let tariffs start, but end them unless Congress approves within a set time
  4. Require Congress to approve new tariffs before they take effect
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Tribal Nations, Territories and DC

Who has authority on tribal lands

His campaign website's tribal sovereignty page says he supports tribal civil and criminal jurisdiction over tribal lands and expanding tribal criminal jurisdiction, including over drug offenses.7

  1. Expand tribal governments' authority, including over crimes by non-Native people on tribal lands
  2. Keep the current division of authority
  3. Give states more authority over crimes, taxes and regulation on tribal lands
Marked: the option their statement matches.

Family and Social Policy

Food assistance (SNAP)

His campaign website's tribal sovereignty page says he supports tribal control over programs such as SNAP and lists support for the SNAP Tribal Food Sovereignty Act.7

Technology, Privacy and AI

High-speed internet access

His campaign website's tribal sovereignty page says he supports including tribal nations in the federal BEAD broadband program to help close the digital divide.7

Elections and Government Reform

Voter ID

His campaign website's tribal sovereignty page lists ensuring access to polling places and recognizing tribal IDs among his priorities.7

§4Money

Why this matters: Campaigns report where their money comes from and how much they have left. Outside groups that spend on their own, without coordinating with the campaign, report that too.

Reported to the Federal Election Commission for the 2025–2026 election cycle, through October 14, 2026.8

Raised$370,969
Spent$328,860
Cash on hand$42,109

Where the money came from

Individual donors$360K · 97%
PACs and other political committees$10K · 3%
The candidate's own money (gifts and loans)$15 · 0%
Other receipts (other loans, refunds, interest)$900 · 0%

§5Financial disclosures

Why this matters: Federal candidates and members of Congress must report their assets, income, debts and outside jobs, and members must report stock trades. These filings show possible conflicts of interest.