Lt. Governor-elect Michelle Strinden

Michelle Strinden is a dynamic leader, community advocate, and dedicated public servant committed to making a positive impact for all North Dakotans. With a passion for serving others and a drive for excellence, Michelle has distinguished herself as a tireless advocate for issues ranging from education and healthcare to economic development and behavioral health.

Born in Grand Forks and raised in Bismarck, Michelle developed a deep-rooted appreciation for the values of hard work, integrity, and compassion that she learned from her parents, family, and friends in the heart of North Dakota. These values have guided her throughout her personal and professional life, shaping her into the leader she is today.

Michelle’s commitment to service led her to pursue an education degree from the University of North Dakota. Equipped with a strong academic foundation and a desire to effect change, she furthered her education with a masters in counseling from Minnesota State University Moorhead. From there, she worked as a school counselor in rural Richland County and West Fargo Public Schools, including three years at the alternative high school.

After the birth of her and Tom’s third child, Michelle stepped away from her career in public education to focus on raising their family and serving her community through nonprofit work. During that period of time, Michelle chaired nonprofit boards, ran numerous events, homeschooled two children, and assisted Tom as they built their businesses.

Throughout her career, Michelle has held various leadership positions, where she has consistently demonstrated her ability to collaborate effectively, implement innovative solutions, and advocate for those in need. Her experience spans both the public and private sectors, giving her a unique perspective to the challenges facing North Dakota. Since 2018, she has served south Fargo’s District 41 in the North Dakota House of Representatives. While in the House, she served on the Education and Political Subdivisions committee before being appointed to serve on the Appropriations Committee, Human Services Subdivision in only her second session. She has been an impactful advocate during her time in the Legislature, particularly in the areas of literacy and behavioral health for which she has successfully passed several bipartisan bills including significant funding.

She is currently the Chair of the interim Juvenile Justice Committee, Chair of the North Dakota Children’s Cabinet, and serves on the interim Human Services, Healthcare, and Budget committees. Michelle also serves her state on the boards for the Anne Carlsen Center and Soul Solutions Recovery Center, an innovative addiction recovery organization in Fargo.

Michelle got her start in politics after her freshman year at UND, when Pat Traynor recruited her to join the Strinden Team, supporting her future father-in-law’s campaign for U.S. Senate in 1988. That relit the political fire in her that was encouraged by her many years of dinnertime discussions with her parents and watching “Crossfire” with her father.

Michelle, her husband Tom, and their four children, Jacob, Joseph, Benjamin, and Sarah, have lived in south Fargo for 28 years and are active members at Atonement Lutheran Church. In their free time, they enjoy spending time with family and friends at their lake cabin, watching UND hockey, and traveling.