Virus-Infested North Dakota Elects Legislator Who Died of COVID-19

North Dakota re-elected Governor Doug Burgum, who championed a Libertarian “light touch” coronavirus policy, even though the state’s COVID-19 rate leads the country. The state is so pro-coronavirus that it elected a state legislator who had already died of COVID-19.

More:

“A North Dakota state legislature candidate who died from Covid-19 appears to have won his election,” Harmeet Kaur, CNN

“A North Dakota Republican died of covid-19 in October. He still won his election.” Teo Armus, Washington Post

Updates:

“With North Dakota hospitals at 100% capacity, Burgum announces COVID-positive nurses can stay at work,” Jeremy Turley, Grand Forks Herald

“North Dakota nurses call for mask mandate, reject policy allowing COVID-19-positive workers to stay on job,” Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill

Related:

“Coronavirus surge is filling North Dakota’s hospitals,” James MacPherson, Associated Press

“Dr. Deborah Birx calls out North Dakota for poor mask use during pandemic,” Meredith Deliso, ABC News

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Zygote Liberation Front Loses in North Dakota

On Tuesday North Dakota voters did not approve Measure One, which would have amended the State Constitution by adding one sentence: “The inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of development must be recognized and protected.”

The North Dakota pro-life group behind this fetal personhood proposal didn’t like it called a “personhood” proposal, but that’s what it was. It would have outlawed not only abortions, but also other procedures such as in vitro fertilization. As one medical group observed, Measure One would have granted constitutional legal rights to fertilized eggs.

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North Dakota Racism Referendum

In a referendum yesterday, North Dakotans voted to retire their state university’s “Fighting Sioux” nickname and symbols. We cannot confirm the rumor that University of North Dakota teams will henceforth be called the “Fighting Space Aliens” (above: new team logo?).

The North Dakota state legislature had passed a law directing UND to use the “Fighting Sioux” nickname and logo in perpetuity even though many constituents feel the practice is racist. “Sioux” is derived from an Ojibwe term for the Lakota people, many of whom live in the state, and is often regarded as an insult. The NCAA considers racial and ethnic logos and mascots “hostile and abusive” and sanctions teams for their use, and UND is one of the last holdouts. Perhaps this referendum will convince the National Football League to change the name and logo of the “Washington Ethnic Slurs.”

North Dakota ballot measure results here.

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