Cara Mund, the former Miss America who made headlines for her anti-Trump stance, faced defeat in her bid for North Dakota’s sole seat in the United States House of Representatives. Despite her ambitions to become the state’s first female representative, Mund fell short in the Republican primary race.
Mund rose to fame when she clinched the Miss America title in 2017 at the age of 23, marking a significant achievement for North Dakota. Her journey from public schools to Brown University for her undergraduate studies, followed by earning a law degree from Harvard Law School, captured the public’s attention. Transitioning into politics, she launched her campaign for Congress as an Independent candidate.
The vacancy in the congressional seat arose as Rep. Kelly Armstrong pursued North Dakota’s executive role, following Gov. Doug Burgum’s decision not to seek reelection. Mund entered the Republican primary race with hopes of filling this political vacuum.
However, her campaign faced a setback as she was overtaken by Julie Fedorchak, who secured 46% of the vote in North Dakota’s 1st Congressional District. Mund finished in third place, with 19.6% of the vote, unable to secure the nomination.
Throughout her campaign, Mund had been vocal about her opposition to former President Donald Trump and North Dakota’s abortion laws. She made headlines for her condemnation of Trump, particularly after his conviction in a hush money trial.
In a post on social media platform X, Mund expressed her pride in being the only Republican candidate in North Dakota who did not support Trump, referring to him as a “convicted felon.” She reiterated her commitment to being a voice for North Dakota and emphasized her vision for leading the party towards “law and order” and a place on the “right side of history.”
Despite her loss, Mund’s campaign has sparked discussions about the role of beauty pageant winners in politics and the changing dynamics within the Republican Party.
