Cole Montoya, a Bismarck resident and production assistant at KXMC-TV, has been endorsed by the North Dakota Dem-NPL Region 6 for the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 47.
“I am a man of the people,” Montoya said. “And, in addition to representing everyday North Dakotans, I will also be a voice for the people of my generation.”
Montoya has an associate’s degree in studio and television production from Aims Community College, Greeley, Colo., where he also completed coursework in ethics and psychology before moving to Bismarck to pursue a media career. While working, he also plans to return to college to study political science.
In addition to his current role, he also previously was a freelance video producer.
He said his work in Bismarck has given him a close-up view of community issues and kept him informed about local concerns, including the rrising cost of housing, education, and basic necessities, all of which motivated him to run for office. “All people who work full time, no matter the occupation, ought to be able to afford even the simplest of accommodations,” he said.
He also cited environmental concerns, noting that increased coal production – which even energy companies are cautious about due to natural gas and renewable energy being more cost effective, as well as rollbacks on renewable energy plans, and unregulated construction of artificial intelligence data centers threaten North Dakota’s natural landscape.
“Since moving here, I noticed that, like me, North Dakotans hold reverence for the great outdoors,” Montoya said. “We must shape our future now to preserve the state’s natural environment rather than wait for later.”
Montoya said his approach to public office would center on bridging partisan divides and amplifying the voices of the state’s young adult constituents. “I have had the privilege of hearing the many voices of those in the same boat as me,” he said, “and they’re smarter than they’ve been given credit for.”
Before entering the workforce, Montoya served as president of his high school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter and competed in wrestling for three years. He also participated in a Rotary chapter and volunteered at a soup kitchen, experiences he said taught him to listen to and learn from people who often get ignored outside of traditional commnity circles. He has also volunteered with Furry Friends Rockin’ Rescue.
Montoya said he hopes his candidacy will encourage others his age to engage in the political process. “I’m running to be a voice to the younger generations that have a lot to say but have lost the voice to really say it,” he said. “Even in elections that may seem small, everything we do matters.”
Montoya is single and this is his first run for elected office.