District 31, ND – Senator Don Schaible, a lifelong farmer, educator, and public-service leader, announced today that he will seek re-election to represent District 31 in the North Dakota Senate.
First elected in 2010, Schaible has built a reputation as a steady, results-driven conservative who focuses on practical solutions for education, emergency services, and property-tax reform. He currently serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Budget Section, and Government Finance Committee, and represents North Dakota on both the Energy Council Executive Committee and the Education Commission of the States Steering Committee.
“District 31 deserves experienced leadership that understands rural life and brings people together to solve problems,” Schaible said. “Our families, farms, schools, and local volunteers form the backbone of this state. My focus has always been on supporting them with smart policy and responsible spending.”
A Record of Service
Raised on a family farm near Mott, Schaible and his family now operate a diversified grain operation spanning more than 10,000 acres. He has spent decades in community service including 20 years on the Mott and Mott-Regent School Board, 25 years with the Volunteer Fire Department, and 26 years with the Mott Ambulance Service, earning life membership in the ND Firefighter Association.
Schaible currently serves as Vice Chair of the Emergency Response Committee, leading a statewide study on the recruitment and retention of rural volunteer firefighters and ambulance personnel, an issue he calls “vital to the survival of rural North Dakota”. He also represents Hettinger County on the Southwest Water Board and serves on the Board of Directors for the Mott Health Care Center.
Conservative Leadership with Results
During the 69th Legislative Assembly, Schaible helped advance the state’s balanced $20.26 billion budget while protecting North Dakota’s savings and maintaining low debt. The overall budget increased by only 2 percent over the biennium, well below the rate of inflation, reflecting a continued commitment to fiscal responsibility.
He also supported major property-tax relief legislation that raised the homeowner credit to $1,600 and established a 3 percent cap on local property-tax growth, funded through Legacy Fund earnings.
“We delivered historic property-tax relief for homeowners, but we also have more work to do,” Schaible said. “I want to see fair relief extended to our farmers and small-business owners so our rural economy can grow for the next generation.”
Throughout his service, Schaible has focused on policies that deliver real results for North Dakotans, not politics. His leadership as chair of the Senate Education Committee and as Senate Pro Tempore of the 68th Assembly reflects a career built on putting North Dakotans first. A strong advocate for public education, Schaible has also supported fair and accountable school choice options, ensuring every student, regardless of where they live or learn, has access to quality education without creating entitlements for a few.
Priorities for the Next Session
If re-elected, Schaible plans to continue focusing on:
- Pro-Life Advocate: Will continue to fight for pro-life issues, protecting North Dakota’s most vulnerable citizens.
- Rural Emergency Services & Volunteer Support: Advancing recommendations from the statewide EMS study to keep rural fire and ambulance departments sustainable.
- Education & Workforce Readiness: Modernizing career-tech and local school funding to strengthen rural education.
- Property Tax Reform & Fiscal Discipline: Ensuring tax relief is broad-based and sustainable through Legacy Fund earnings.
- Water & Infrastructure Investment: Continuing his work with Southwest Water and local projects that support agriculture and community growth.
- Energy and Resource Development: Balancing responsible regulation with job creation across North Dakota’s energy sector.
- Sustainable State Budget: Ensuring the state lives within its means by maintaining a balanced budget built on available revenue, not on growing, unsustainable spending commitments.
About Senator Don Schaible
Don Schaible was born in Elgin and raised on the family farm near Mott. He earned an associate degree in Mechanized Agriculture from NDSU and has devoted more than four decades to farming and public service. He and his wife Carmen have four children and seven grandchildren.
Recognized for his leadership, Schaible has received awards from the ND Council of Education Leaders and the ND Music Educators Association for his support of students and schools. He is known for his straightforward style and his commitment to building strong, sustainable communities across District 31.