Republican
Family & roots
Chris Olson, 39, is a husband, father of five, and lifelong North Dakotan rooted in the values of hard work and community. Raised in the Regan area and now living near Baldwin, Chris and his wife Rebekah operate a small cow-calf operation while also raising forage and cash crops.
Career & experience
In addition to running their farm, Chris works full-time as a union millwright and for the last three years has served as a general foreman at a power plant near Stanton. His career reflects a deep, hands-on understanding of North Dakota's energy sector, built over years of experience in both the field and on the job site.
Chris's professional background spans work with the Bureau of Land Management on a Montana wildfire crew, as a soil conservationist and rangeland specialist with the NRCS in Ramsey County, and as a rangeland technician with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Nebraska. He has also worked as an equipment operator, field geologist, and in the environmental department of a North Dakota lignite mine. Earlier in his career, he owned and operated a land management and consulting business. For the past seven years he has been a member of Millwright Local 1091 out of Bismarck.
Education
Chris earned degrees from North Dakota State University in Natural Resource Management and Rangeland Science — pairing decades of practical experience with formal training in the science of stewardship.
Why he's running
Through this diverse experience, Chris has developed a deep respect for North Dakota's lignite industry, the workers who power it, and the critical role it plays in keeping energy reliable and affordable. He also understands firsthand the importance of protecting the land that sustains the state's farmers and ranchers.
Chris is running for the Public Service Commission because he believes North Dakotans deserve leadership grounded in real-world experience — not bureaucracy. He is committed to protecting the rights of citizens, supporting responsible energy development, and ensuring decisions made in Bismarck reflect the values and needs of the people they serve.