Rick Becker, a Republican running for North Dakota’s lone seat in the House of Representatives, has received an endorsement from former 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy. Becker, a plastic surgeon and former state representative, is running in a three-way Republican primary in June to determine who will advance to the November general election. Ramaswamy endorsed Becker due to his opposition to a government-funded CO2 pipeline project across the Midwest, including North Dakota, and his commitment to defending property rights.
Becker, who aligns himself with the populist wing of the GOP and former President Trump, has garnered support from members of the House Freedom Caucus, including former Chairman Scott Perry and several representatives. Ramaswamy, who previously dropped out of the primary and campaigned for Trump, endorsed Becker based on his refusal to bow to the bipartisan Establishment’s support of the CO2 pipeline project. Becker has also been endorsed by other conservative figures and has actively opposed the pipeline project and eminent domain use.
During his time as a state representative, Becker founded the ultra-conservative Bastiat Caucus within the state House to challenge Republican officials to push further to the right. This group was named after 19th-century French economist Frédéric Bastiat and advocated for conservative principles in the state legislature. Becker’s fellow Republican primary candidates include Julie Fedorchak, a longtime member of North Dakota’s Public Service Commission, and former State Department official Alex Balazs. The lone Democrat in the race is Marine Corps veteran Trygve Hammer.
Becker has previously ran for U.S. Senate as an independent against incumbent Republican Senator John Hoeven and Democratic candidate Katrina Christiansen, who is running again this year. Ramaswamy praised Becker as an “American patriot” who shares his commitment to defending the truth against the “radical WOKE mob” and lauded his refusal to bow to the bipartisan Establishment’s support of the CO2 pipeline project. Despite not receiving an endorsement from former President Trump in the race, Becker has actively sought to align himself with the populist wing of the GOP.
The upcoming June primary will determine which Republican candidate will advance to the November general election to compete for North Dakota’s lone seat in the House of Representatives. Becker’s opposition to the government-funded CO2 pipeline project and his commitment to defending property rights have earned him endorsements from both conservative figures and former 2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. As a plastic surgeon and former state representative, Becker has actively opposed the pipeline project and aligned himself with the populist wing of the GOP.
