Nicole Derenne

Nicole Derenne earned a high school diploma from Pius IX High School, graduate degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 2003, a graduate degree from the University of North Dakota in 2021, and a Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota in 2025. Her career experience includes working as a higher education.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a long-term resident of Grand Forks and a community leader. I hold a Doctor of Education and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Dakota. I work at UND as a teaching associate professor in the Department of Art and Design. In this role, I have led shared governance committees, including the Budget, Essential Studies, and Online Distance Education committees within the University Senate. Before working at UND, I served as Executive Director of non-profit organizations.

I am running for the House of Representatives to bring a collaborative, thoughtful, and balanced voice to the state legislature. Grand Forks has been good to my family and me, and I want to make the community where I am raising my three children and building our future the best place it can be.

I show up prepared, listen carefully, and work across the aisle. I know how to build coalitions, find common ground, and make evidence-based decisions. These skills have been central to my career and my community leadership roles, and I will exercise them in the best interests of our community and the state.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Education: My campaign is about schools funded to succeed and supporting students, teachers, faculty, and staff. Education intersects with nearly every issue. The ND constitution mandates that the state legislature provide free and accessible public education. I take this commitment seriously and will work to establish more predictable funding streams to support what schools need, as well as advocate for enrollment stabilization mechanisms in the funding formula. I also support fully funding breakfast and lunches in K-12 schools. I support funding higher education, especially online learning, which makes paths to degrees accessible. I do not support school vouchers.My campaign is also about wellness. The 2025 Big Beautiful Bill's new Medicaid work requirements and eligibility rechecks will likely cause eligible recipients to lose coverage, leading to increased uninsured rates among families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities. The new limits on Medicaid provider taxes, which the state uses to generate matching funds, will be especially harmful to rural hospitals. I will fight to cover federal funding lapses to make the implementation of these changes as least burdensome as possible. I will advocate for the 52% of North Dakota nursing home residents with Medicaid-funded care and for the continued support of the 23% of women who receive Medicaid-covered prenatal care and births.My campaign is also about local issues, specifically low-income housing shortages and access to agricultural markets.

Grand Forks needs at least 6,000 more units to meet population growth demand. Rent has increased 31% since 2022, and the average home price is $293,000. I will advocate for investing in affordable housing development and expanding tax incentives for developers to build affordable units.

North Dakota protects family farms by banning corporate agriculture. I will work to bring that same logic to the buyer side. I will fight for stronger market access by supporting cooperatives, expanding local and regional food networks, and pushing back against market consolidation, especially as crop receipt payments return to baseline.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am especially passionate about ensuring our schools and communities have the resources they need to succeed in the digital age.

I will work to prepare North Dakotans for AI in education and the workforce. I will work to fund the implementation of the K-12 AI Guidance Framework, ensure digital literacy in higher-ed teacher preparation programs, and partner with local libraries to serve as digital literacy hubs for adults and families.

I will work to establish a responsible state regulatory framework for AI data centers that addresses energy and water use, noise, siting, rate-protection mechanisms, grid updates, and community benefit agreements tied to local ordinances. Such a framework would protect residents and assure developers.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

North Dakota Democratic NPL

District 42