John Kelly

John Kelly is the Democratic candidate for the North Dakota State Senate, District 29, in the November 3, 2026 general election, facing Republican incumbent Terry Wanzek.[1][2] A farmer and U.S. Army veteran, he says his priorities are free school meals, the state's corporate farming law, and rural health care funding.[2][3]

Kelly earned a high school diploma from Marian High School and a bachelor's degree from Norwich University in 1976, and Ballotpedia lists his profession as farmer.[2] He served in the U.S. Army from 1977 to 1995.[2] In a Ballotpedia survey, Kelly said he lives on a farm south of Pekin, North Dakota, served as a field artillery officer, and later worked 15 years in retail and 12 years as a certified nursing assistant before retiring.[3] He said he has been married for 43 years and has lived in North Dakota for more than 40.[3]

Kelly advanced from the Democratic primary on June 9, 2026, receiving 834 votes.[2] In his survey responses, he said he is running so that every public school student in kindergarten through 12th grade has access to free breakfasts and lunches.[3] He also said he wants to strengthen the Corporate Farming Law and find funding to offset Medicaid cuts affecting rural hospitals, and named public education, agriculture and rural health care as his policy interests.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.