Republican North Dakota State Rep. Eric Murphy lost his primary Tuesday after introducing what one pro-life leader described as the “most pro abortion bill” in state history.
Murphy landed 3rd place with 24.3% of the vote, Grand Rapid Herald reported Wednesday. He reportedly told ProPublica that he believed his bill will cost him Republican support ahead of the election.
Murphy didn’t respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
“We are extremely pleased with the results, because Eric Murphy introduced the most pro-abortion bill our state has ever seen,” North Dakota Right for Life Executive Director Bridget Turbide told the DCNF. “Jill Chandler, former Executive Director of Relate Care Clinic, Grand Forks pregnancy center, stepped up to the plate to challenge him in the primary and won! The pro-life movement in ND couldn’t have asked for a better outcome!”
“I served with integrity and political courage. I worked for the betterment of K12 public education and healthcare in NoDak,” Rep. Murphy said in an X post Wednesday morning. “It is tough to say goodbye, but this is a pause. Not done yet.”
Well, it is tough to lose an election, but at this point without some miracle, I have lost. I served with integrity and political courage. I worked for the betterment of K12 public education and healthcare in NoDak. It is tough to say goodbye, but this is a pause. Not done yet.
Should North Dakota reconsider its strict abortion laws?— Eric J. Murphy (@LoveLipids) June 10, 2026
Abortion is illegal from conception onwards with limited exceptions in North Dakota. Murphy introduced HB 1488 last January, aiming to let women abort their children for any reason during the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The House shot it down 87-6 the next month.
Murphy read two cases during a hearing about women who died in Texas after not being able to receive treatment after a miscarriage, according to ProPublica.
“Physicians felt compelled to follow the law … and both women died so that an inane law could be followed,” Murphy said.
North Dakota’s abortion ban doesn’t classify removing a dead unborn child from the womb as an abortion.
Chandler and research executive Mike Holmes advanced to face the two Democratic nominees for District 43’s seats in November, according to Ballotpedia.
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