Bachmeier announces 2026 run for North Dakota schools chief
North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction Levi Bachmeier on Monday announced his campaign to continue in the role past the November election.
Bachmeier was appointed to the position by Gov. Kelly Armstrong in November 2025 following the departure of longtime DPI head Kirsten Baesler, who left state government to take the role of assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education at the U.S. Department of Education. Voters in November will decide who completes the four-year term Baesler won in 2024.
Before his appointment, Bachmeier was a West Fargo schools official and education adviser to former Gov. Doug Burgum. He has also been a track and field coach and taught social studies on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Bachmeier previously said it is his goal to visit every school district in the state while serving as superintendent.
He is running on a "back to basics" focus, with the belief that North Dakota thrives when its kids thrive, according to Monday's statement.
Our public schools are good today, but they can be great. That starts with putting kids first, supporting great teachers and making sure resources are going where they matter most: into the classroom, not bureaucracy.