What's next for Pomeroy?

Talk about it

A spokesman for Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy says it’s too soon to speculate what the future might bring for the nine-term incumbent who was defeated in his bid for re-election Tuesday.

The U.S. House of Representatives plans to go back into session Nov. 15 and wrap up remaining work that needs to be finished before the end of the year.

“That will be his focus,” Pomeroy spokesman Brenden Timpe said Wednesday. “It’s pretty early to be talking about what his plans are much beyond that.”

Even before the polls closed Tuesday night, Pomeroy spoke as if he knew he’d be defeated.

He made mention of a desire to continue his work in serving North Dakotans in the future.

“There’s a lot of work that I’d sure like to do on behalf of our state going forward,” Pomeroy said. “If voters decide this is Rick Berg’s chance, so be it — I wish him well, but I’m going to go on and try to find something purposeful to do.”

“There’s so many interesting things to do with one’s career,” he added.

Pomeroy has been in public service for state and federal government for the past three decades.

He was elected to the North Dakota House in 1980 and won his bid for state Insurance Commissioner in 1984. He has served in the U.S. House since 1992.

Pomeroy lost handily Tuesday, picking up nearly 45 percent of the vote against Berg, a Republican Fargo legislator.

Daum is a reporter with The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, which is owned by Forum Communications Co.

Tags: news, election, pomeroy, berg