Reflecting On My Time As Chair

With a heavy but grateful heart, I wanted to let you know that I will not be seeking a fourth term as Chairwoman of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. Two years ago, when I decided to run for my third term, my now husband and I decided together that it would be the last term (for now). This job has been fulfilling, challenging, exhausting, energizing, and much more. Stepping away is extremely difficult, but I know I will be leaving the party in a good position and in good hands. We have the best staff and volunteers around and I know they will be trustworthy stewards of our collective work. And, for myself, I am excited to find new ways to engage with the party and new opportunities to serve my community, state, and country.

Since the start of my tenure as Chair, the Dem-NPL has accomplished a lot. Together, we have:

· Paid off nearly $100,000 in debt and now consistently sustain a strong financial position;

· Maintained a talented, close-knit team of staff at our headquarters and across the state;

· Recruited and supported the most diverse, talented slate of candidates, for three consecutive cycles, that our state has ever seen, including historically high numbers of women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ candidates;

· Strengthened relationships with allied organizations and communities;

· Created a space for community caucuses within the Dem-NPL, resulting in increased engagement amongst historically disenfranchised or underrepresented groups;

· Built and maintained strong relationships with tribal leaders in North Dakota, which will be furthered by the recently formed Native American Caucus and the hiring of a year-round Native American Outreach Director;

· Improved relationships with our national partners, resulting in increased funding and expanded mentorship opportunities;

· Exponentially increased interest in running for state party leadership roles; and

· So much more that is difficult to quantify or qualify.

Too often, we only look to electoral results to measure the “success” in politics. Those of us who do this work, though, understand that success means many different things. It means changing the conversation, bringing new voices to the table, and building and maintaining an infrastructure that will outlast your time of service. By that measure, the last 6 years have been wildly successful. On more than one occasion, we’ve outraised the ND Republican Party. We are always bringing new volunteers, staff, candidates, and supporters to the table that better reflect the diversity in our communities. And we’ve created a robust grassroots infrastructure for the next leadership team to build on and grow.

More than six years ago, when I was first asked to run for this position, I never could have imagined the many ways it would change my life. I am so proud to have been the second woman to ever serve the Dem-NPL as Chair and the longest-serving Chair since George Gaukler ended his storied tenure in 1995. I am proud of the many young people and women who have seen themselves reflected in my work and in the work of our team, and who know that they are welcomed and supported in this party.

Most of all, I will be eternally grateful for the friendships I have gained, both across our beautiful state and across this beloved country. Representing the Dem-NPL and the state of North Dakota on the national stage has been the honor of a lifetime. I will cherish the memories I have made and the lessons I have learned. Getting to travel to every corner of my home state has been an immense pleasure and has made me appreciate where I come from and how I was raised even more than I already did.

I want to thank the countless people who have supported me and supported the Dem-NPL during my tenure. I hope your support and love for this party only continues to grow. While I will no longer be the Chair, I will not be going far. I look forward to continuing to support our grassroots efforts and will proudly work with the next leadership team that is elected to build on our successes and continue improving our outcomes.

With deepest gratitude and respect,

Kylie Michelle Oversen