Michael Motschenbacher
Republican | North Dakota
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Michael Motschenbacher
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 47
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Bismarck State College, Bismarck, Associate Degree, 1992-1994
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Bismarck Diocese Pre-Marriage Program, Group Coordinator-Corpus Christi Church, 2005-2026
FOCCUS, Program Facilitator, 2012-2026
Knights of Columbus, 3rd Degree Knight, 2022-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
District 47 House of Representatives, 2022-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Bismarck City Commission, 2006-2014
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
ND District 47 Republicans
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
John Hoeven (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2025)
OTHER INFORMATION
North Dakota Right to Life Candidate Survey
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Only in the case of rape and incest
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Neutral
My political opinions and my personal opinions are somewhat different on this, but from a political standpoint I believe couples seeking pregnancy through artificial methods should only produce the same amount of embryos that they are willing to bring into the world and care for. Destroying additional embryos by definition is abortion which I do not support.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
The minimum wage really should be abolished and let the free market take over and determine what the value of each employee is individually. I believe this would actually increase average wages for employees
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
We need to look into fraud and abuse of government programs and eliminate those that are not needed. We also need to reward employees that are productive and penalize employees that are non-productive instead of treating them all equal. There needs to also be accountability standards and strict guidelines as to how government grants and programs work.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
There is no mention of it in the constitutions, but is often referred to in the first amendment which prohibits Congress from making any law "respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". As long as we don't establish a national religion, then I don't think anyone can violate any assumption of a separation of church and state.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Businesses should be allowed to run according to their personal preferences without having to cave from outside pressure. If a business chooses to do so, that is fine. Same goes for individuals
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C. Medicaid and Medicare can remain for those that absolutely need it and cannot find anything else to suit their needs. But I do believe that if we don't drastically change them, these programs will eventually bankrupt the country as more and more people utilize it and less and less people are paying into it.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Disagree
I don't think the government should be keeping personal databases on people beyond criminal records
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
They are obviously a threat and we need to be extremely diligent in our efforts to assure that no enemies foreign or domestic can have the resources to hurt our country.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, I believe it is, especially for security in the middle east. We should be supportive of them but also shouldn't be engaging in wars unless absolutely necessary
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
If someone is here illegally, they need to be deported, go to the back of the line and come in legally. This is unfair to anyone who did things right and came here while following US law on immigration
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
Absolutely. The US can still fund education, but universal federal programs regarding education are not effective. Each state is different, either by demographic or educational needs and each state should be able to decide on their own what is best for their state.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
Foreign governments should have no influence in American education or politics
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Parents should make these decisions, not the government.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Agree
My opinion is whatever you do after you are an adult is up to you, but children who are not fully developed both physically and mentally should not have these life altering decisions made for them prior to adulthood.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
I think we are in a good place regarding gambling and don't need to expand it anymore beyond what we already have.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a practicing Catholic and believe we are all put on earth by God and he controls our destinies
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
You need a photo ID to prove who you are for hundreds of different reasons. Voting should be no different.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
You can't hold current generations responsible for the mistakes of previous generations, especially those that have been gone for a hundred or more years.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
Biological males hold distinct advantages over women when it comes to athletic ability and it is necessary for not only safety of female athletes, but to even the playing field and allowing women opportunities to advance without having to compete against biological males
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
Man made climate change that is a threat to our future is a farce. We all share the same atmosphere and unless 100% of countries in the world are on board with reducing harmful emissions, it is not worth the effort for the US to spend billions if not trillions to try to curb it.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Coal, oil, nuclear, and natural gas. We need to look at much more nuclear to meet our increasing demands.
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Keep our citizens safe by locking up criminals
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The only restrictions I think that are needed are convicted felons should not be allowed to have guns.
