Fox News predicts Republican Kelly Armstrong will win the North Dakota governor's race

The Fox News Decision Desk expects Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., to win the race for governor of North Dakota.

Armstrong, who holds North Dakota's only congressional seat, defeated Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller for the Republican nomination in the Republican primary in June after winning the party's endorsement earlier that year. He was challenged in the general election by Democrat Merrill Piepkorn and independent candidate Michael Coachman.

Miller had won the support of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who had been running for the Republican presidential nomination and was also reportedly a potential candidate for former President Trump's candidacy.

REP. ARMSTRONG WINS GOP NOMINATION TO SUCCESSOR GOVERNER. DOUG BURGUM IN NORTH DAKOTA

Burgum served two terms and decided not to seek a third term. Armstrong was elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 after serving in the state Senate. He is a lawyer and former state GOP chairman.

“The short answer is: I want to go home and start working – I miss people. I miss my friends. I miss my neighbors. I miss being in North Dakota, I really do,” Armstrong said in a January interview with The Associated Press.

“Serving the state in Congress has been an absolute – the greatest – privilege of my life, but I really want to come home. I miss my friends in the legislature. I miss the people who are more interested in solving problems than finding mediocre social media fame.”

North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum during the second Republican debate earlier this year. (Robyn Beck)

Republicans hold the governor's office since 1992. No Democrat has won a statewide election in North Dakota since 2012. In some general elections, only Republican candidates ran.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Armstrong will take office in mid-December and has won the support of former President Trump, who praised Armstrong for defending him through “two sham impeachments.”

“Kelly Armstrong has my full and unqualified approval to be the next governor of the great state of North Dakota – HE WILL NOT FILE HER,” Trump said on social media.

Get the latest updates on the 2024 election, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital Election Center.