John M Pederson

Background

Pederson is a history and economics professor at Mayville State University, where he has taught since 1998. He is from Mayville and has held leadership roles, including on the national governing body of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; he and his wife have two children.

Sources: North Dakota Living, Election 2026: The statewide candidates

What the candidate has said

Statements are attributed to the linked sources.

• PSC oversight

  Pederson says PSC oversight should serve the public rather than developers, and that major projects should be scrutinized rather than automatically approved. He supports long-term planning, transparency, coordination among decision-makers, and giving affected stakeholders a voice, including on data-center development and infrastructure.

  North Dakota Living, Election 2026: The statewide candidates

• Ratepayers and input

  At the 2026 candidate forum, Pederson said ratepayers should come first, public input should be meaningful, energy development should be responsible, and projects should require bonding for proper decommissioning.

  Eight statewide candidates speak at Wahpeton forum; opponents absent