The Ballot Brief
Burleigh County, North Dakota

North Dakota House District 47

5 candidates are tracked for North Dakota House District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Rosann Jacobs-Fode, Jon Lee, Cole Montoya, Michael Motschenbacher and Andrew Alexis Varvel. Candidate information follows official Burleigh County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Rosann Jacobs-Fode (Democratic-NPL), Jon Lee (R), Cole Montoya (Democratic-NPL), Michael Motschenbacher (R), Andrew Alexis Varvel (Independent) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for North Dakota House District 47. Voters choose two. Michael Motschenbacher is the sitting member, per the Legislative Assembly's members-by-district roster. Party nominees were chosen at the June 9, 2026 primary, per the North Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Voters choose 2; the top 2 finishers win seats. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Michael Motschenbacher, is on the ballot.

North Dakota › Burleigh County › North Dakota House District 47

Rosann Jacobs-Fode

Democratic-NPL

Biography

Rosann Jacobs-Fode is the Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota House District 47. Jacobs-Fode is in a 21st year of teaching, including 19 years at Bismarck High School, teaching Advanced Placement English, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Jacobs-Fode grew up on a farm on the Standing Rock Reservation before the family moved to Bismarck, and has lived in Bismarck for 32 years, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Jacobs-Fode holds a BS in English education from the University of Mary (2005), a Master of Education from UND (2013) and a Secondary Principal Credential (2014), per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Stated priorities include public education funding, career and technical education, affordable healthcare and mental health access, and transparent government spending, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Jon Lee

R

Biography

Jon Lee is the R nominee for North Dakota House District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the North Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Cole Montoya

Democratic-NPL

Biography

Cole Montoya is the Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota House District 47. Montoya is a Bismarck production assistant at KXMC-TV and previously worked as a freelance video producer, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Montoya holds an associate's degree in studio and television production from Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado, and this is Montoya's first run for elected office, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Montoya's stated priorities include housing affordability, oversight of data center construction, and representing younger constituents, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Michael Motschenbacher

R Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Continuing to lower income taxes
  • Supporting law enforcement and cracking down on career criminals
  • Strengthening families through job creation and affordable housing and childcare

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Motschenbacher is a longtime Bismarck resident first elected to the North Dakota House in 2022, per the campaign site. Motschenbacher has served on the Tax and Finance, Political Subdivisions Taxation, Education, Workforce, and Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review committees, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Andrew Alexis Varvel

Independent

Biography

Andrew Alexis Varvel is an independent candidate for North Dakota House District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the North Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

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Questions about this race

Who is running for North Dakota House District 47 in 2026?

5 candidates are tracked for North Dakota House District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Rosann Jacobs-Fode, Jon Lee, Cole Montoya, Michael Motschenbacher and Andrew Alexis Varvel. Candidate information follows official Burleigh County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the North Dakota House District 47 election in North Dakota?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for North Dakota are on the North Dakota election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Burleigh County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Burleigh County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official North Dakota election office, or see the full Burleigh County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Burleigh County ballot

16 tracked races in Burleigh County, North Dakota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
North Dakota District Court, South Central Judicial District, Judgeship No. 6North Dakota District Court, South Central Judicial District, Judgeship No. 7North Dakota District Court, South Central Judicial District, Judgeship No. 8See all 16 Burleigh County races
Candidate profiles
Rosann Jacobs-Fode, full profileJon Lee, full profileCole Montoya, full profileMichael Motschenbacher, full profileAndrew Alexis Varvel, full profileOfficial North Dakota election office