Superintendent of Public Instruction North Dakota in Statewide, North Dakota

2026 Primary Election

• Levi Bachmeier — Incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction in West Fargo, ND

  Levi Bachmeier was appointed North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction by Gov. Kelly Armstrong in October 2025, officially taking office in November. A West Fargo native, he brings experience as a classroom teacher, business manager for the West Fargo School District, and education policy adviser to former Gov. Doug Burgum. He has also served on multiple state education boards. Bachmeier is campaigning on a "back to basics" platform, emphasizing strong schools, teacher support, family engagement, and high expectations. His priorities include improving student outcomes, keeping partisan politics out of classrooms, promoting parental rights, and retaining teachers through efficient spending to ensure students graduate ready for the real world.

• Tracy Layne Foss — Educator in ND

  Tracy Layne Foss is a lifelong educator with over 30 years of experience, running for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction in the special primary on June 9, 2026. Her campaign emphasizes ensuring all students have access to healthy meals and receive adequate resources through thoughtful implementation of federal IDEA legislation. She advocates for supporting and respecting teachers, focusing on meaningful accountability measures beyond high-stakes testing, and fully funding legislative mandates for strong schools. Foss aims to address the root problems facing schools rather than just symptoms. She has received an endorsement from the North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party.

• Charles Tuttle — Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction in Minot, ND

  Charles Tuttle is a long-standing activist in North Dakota politics, currently running as a Nonpartisan candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction in the state's 2026 special primary election on June 9. He previously sought the same office in 2020, demonstrating prior engagement in state-level elections. Based in Minot, his campaign has recorded contributions for his electoral bids, and he maintains an online presence for his campaign.