Another day, another gut punch for North Dakota drivers. Gas prices have rocketed to an average of $3.95 per gallon in a mere 72 hours, leaving wallets lighter and tempers shorter. This isn’t just a minor fluctuation; it’s a direct hit to household budgets.
The situation is especially galling when the national average hovers at a more palatable $3.78. While North Dakotans feel the squeeze, don’t expect Governor Doug Armstrong to offer anything beyond recycled talking points.
Armstrong’s Empty Promises and the Political Shell Game
Governor Doug Armstrong stood before the cameras on May 1, 2026, in Bismarck, delivering what amounted to a masterclass in political evasion. He acknowledged the “frustration,” of course. He dutifully blamed “global market dynamics.” And he reiterated his “long-standing support for domestic energy production.” A predictable performance, if ever there was one.
“We understand the frustration North Dakotans are feeling at the pump. This is largely a reflection of global market dynamics, not state policy. My administration is committed to supporting our domestic energy producers, which is the most sustainable path to long-term price stability and energy independence for our nation and our state.”
— Governor Doug Armstrong, May 1, 2026, KX News
“Long-term stability” doesn’t pay for gas today, does it? That’s a comfort for tomorrow’s theoretical budget, not for the very real bills piling up right now. North Dakota State Treasurer Sarah Jenkins, a Bismarck resident, articulated the widespread frustration succinctly to KX News:
“It’s getting ridiculous. I drive 40 miles round trip for work every day. This extra money for gas means less for groceries or anything else. The state needs to do something.”
— North Dakota State Treasurer Sarah Jenkins, KX News
She’s absolutely right. And what is Armstrong’s concrete response to this immediate crisis? More talk about supporting the very industry that, despite its immense profits, isn’t delivering relief to its own citizens. It’s a classic political shell game: point to an external force while conveniently ignoring the levers of power right at home.
The North Dakota Paradox: Oil Rich, Wallet Poor
Here’s the inconvenient truth Armstrong conveniently sidesteps, a reality that should infuriate every driver in the state: North Dakota is an oil-producing powerhouse. We are the “Roughrider State,” pumping black gold from our very soil. Yet, our gas prices are often higher than the national average.
Why? Because most of that crude oil leaves the state for refining elsewhere. Then, the refined gasoline gets shipped back across hundreds, if not thousands, of miles. All those transportation costs? You, the North Dakota consumer, pay every single cent of them.
We suffer from severely limited in-state refining capacity. So, our own oil gets shipped out, processed elsewhere, and then shipped back to us. This adds massive logistical costs, a burden that falls squarely on your shoulders.
Governor Armstrong’s “commitment to domestic energy production” sounds grand on paper, a noble pursuit for national energy independence. But let’s be clear: it’s a commitment that primarily benefits oil companies and pads state revenue from that production, not necessarily the poor schmuck at the pump paying $3.95 a gallon.
West Texas Intermediate crude is trading robustly at $84 per barrel. The industry is doing just fine, thank you very much.
The Governor’s Real Agenda: Revenue Over Relief
Let’s be brutally honest about what’s really happening here: Governor Armstrong is prioritizing the state’s energy sector revenue and the industry’s bottom line over immediate consumer relief. His administration views this escalating cost as an “external” issue, a convenient excuse to avoid touching state revenue. Consider a gas tax holiday, which would immediately shave off our 23 cents per gallon state excise tax. Such a move would require legislative approval and, crucially, would impact the state’s coffers. Armstrong is “wary of short-term fixes that might impact state revenue.” That, North Dakotans, is the real story, the unspoken priority.
He talks about “energy independence,” but North Dakotans are anything but independent from global price swings or the logistical nightmares of our own state’s oil leaving and returning. The “mainstream narrative” from the Governor is about nebulous global markets. The stark reality? It’s about who pays the price for our state’s energy strategy. And right now, it’s you, every time you fill up your tank.
So, as you watch the numbers climb at the pump, remember this: Governor Armstrong isn’t just watching global markets; he’s actively prioritizing industry profits and state revenue over your immediate financial relief. It’s time North Dakotans demand more than platitudes – we deserve a Governor who puts our wallets first, not just the state’s coffers.
Source: Google News
