MINOT — "I'm a lifelong North Dakotan," Greg Vetter told us on this episode of Plain Talk. "My ancestors moved here in 1888. The entire lineage since then have been North Dakota-raised, and we've all lived here."

"This is home," he said, "and I want to be part of taking care of our home."

Vetter is a first-time candidate running for the North Dakota House of Representatives in District 7, which encompasses areas of north and northeast Bismarck, alongside Steve Sauter, another newcomer who also joined us on this episode, and incumbent Sen. Michelle Axtman. ...