Pat Hart DemNPL party leader interviews Ryan Braunberger and Dist 7 candidate

Open Range is a North Dakota-based political talk show with a weekly segment based on Democratic-leaning perspective, hosted by Patrick Hart — a former state party chair, two-term statewide candidate, and construction company owner. In this episode, Hart is joined by guests Jason Toms, a first-time candidate running for the North Dakota House in District 7, and Ryan Braunberger, a sitting State Senator running for North Dakota Secretary of State. The conversation centers heavily on housing affordability and the growing economic squeeze facing everyday North Dakotans. The guests discuss skyrocketing rents, the state's shortage of 15,000 housing units, the barriers facing renters with criminal records, and the need for zoning reform and increased housing supply. Both guests argue that stable housing is foundational to solving broader issues like mental health, addiction recovery, and workforce retention. The show also tackles education, with Braunberger proposing that the Secretary of State's office partner with the Department of Public Instruction to improve civics education. Toms emphasizes the importance of supporting higher education and restoring arts programs that have been cut across the state. Tariffs and national economic policy come up briefly, with both guests criticizing tariff rebates flowing to corporations rather than consumers, and raising concerns about the impact on North Dakota farmers dealing with rising input costs and restricted export markets. The episode wraps with each candidate making their case to voters — Toms drawing on his background in nonprofit work and personal experience with mental health loss, and Braunberger emphasizing his legislative experience, approachability, and commitment to listening to constituents across the state. NorthDakotaPolitics #OpenRange #DemNPL #HousingAffordability #NorthDakotaElections #SecretaryOfState #NDLegislature