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North Dakota Rep. Christy of Fargo dies at 43 • North Dakota Monitor [1]
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Date: 2025-02-19
North Dakota state Rep. Josh Christy, R-Fargo, died Tuesday, his colleague announced during Wednesday’s House floor session.
Christy, 43, elected to represent District 27 in 2022, was serving in his second legislative session.
“Throughout his time here he exemplified what it meant to be a true servant leader,” said Rep. Jeremy Olson, R-Arnegard, during a commemoration on the House floor.
Olson referred to Christy as a “gentle giant” because his presence could bring calm with an approach that was humble and service-oriented.
“He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who asked regardless of the issue or the challenge,” he said. “Josh was a man of principle. One who lived by the highest standards of integrity and his service as a legislator will be forever remembered with respect and admiration.”
Gov. Kelly Armstrong directed flags to be flown at half-staff until after Christy’s funeral, which had yet to be scheduled.
“Josh Christy was a passionate advocate for the residents of District 27 and all North Dakotans, a loving husband and doting father to three beautiful daughters, and someone I was honored to call a friend,” Armstrong said in a statement.
Christy is survived by his wife, Mary, and three daughters, 12-year-old twins and a 9-year-old.
“These girls were the center of his life,” said Olson, reading a statement. “His love for them was evident in everything he did, and his commitment to them shaped his character as a husband and a father.”
Sen. Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, also from District 27, said Olson had found his niche in artificial intelligence over the interim and was excited to bring bills to protect citizens from deep fakes and computer-generated images. Four of his bills are still making their way through the committee process.
“It was so fun to watch someone start out and not really sure where they were going and then find their thing,” she said.
Corey Mock, North Dakota’s chief information officer and a former Democratic lawmaker, said Christy’s work on technology will have a lasting impact on the state.
“His expertise and passion for technology were unmatched, and his leadership was instrumental in shaping North Dakota’s approach to artificial intelligence,” Mock said.
Roers said Christy was a little shy, so door-knocking during the campaign wasn’t his favorite thing. But once he did it a few times, people in the community found they could easily talk with him about anything.
Roers said she went to the hospital on Tuesday night to visit with the family.
“It’s going to be some tough days ahead for them and we’ll have to figure out how to move forward here, but it’s nothing compared to what it will take for them to move forward,” Roers said.
John Bjornson, director of the Legislative Council, said the process for replacing Christy is similar to when a lawmaker resigns. Party leaders in District 27 will have up to 21 days to appoint a replacement who will serve the remainder of his four-year term that expires in 2026.
The House and Senate held a moment of silence for Christy Wednesday.
Family members and friends of Christy attended the House floor session Wednesday. Greg Tehven, an organizer for TedxFargo, said Christy built the first website for the group back in 2011. Tehven said Christy’s positivity, encouragement and spirit were staples of his character.
“He was blessed with the ability to see the good in others,” said Tehven, co-founder and CEO of Emerging Prairie. “Just a real desire to encourage folks to consider serving in North Dakota.”
Bjornson said many of the lawmakers live in hotels during the session and they grow close because of that.
Christy is the first lawmaker to die during a legislative session since Rep. Clarence Martin, R-Lefor, died on Feb. 9, 1997, according to Legislative Council.
This story was updated with additional comments.
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