North Dakota Superintendent Baesler's Education Nomination Advances to Full Senate

North Dakota State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kirsten Baesler's nomination to become the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education has advanced to the full Senate following a 12-11 party-line vote by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. If confirmed, Baesler has pledged to resign from her current state position, with Governor Kelly Armstrong set to appoint her successor until a 2026 election determines who will complete the final two years of her term. Baesler, a native of Flasher, North Dakota, has served as state superintendent since 2013 and was most recently re-elected in 2024. She expressed gratitude for the committee's support and commitment to working collaboratively to improve education for students, families, and teachers nationwide. No date has been set for the full Senate confirmation vote. The nomination was part of an en bloc approval of seven of President Trump's nominees.