GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The Latest on the North Dakota GOP endorsing convention (all times local):

8:20 p.m.

A Mandan businessman has won the GOP's endorsement for secretary of state over the longest-serving Republican official in the North Dakota Capitol.

Republican delegates at the GOP convention in Grand Forks on Saturday endorsed Will Gardner over Al Jaeger.

Jaeger has served more than two decades in the office that is best known for supervising elections. The former Fargo real estate salesman was first elected in 1992.

Fargo Rep. Josh Boschee got the Democratic endorsement for the seat last month.

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6:30 p.m.

North Dakota Republicans have endorsed state Sen. Kelly Armstrong of Dickinson for U.S. House.

Armstrong is a lawyer and the former chairman of the state GOP party. He won the nomination over Grafton Sen. Tom Campbell and former U.S. Marine Tiffany Abentroth and three others.

A convention endorsement only guarantees a candidate a spot on the June 12 primary ballot and party support against any challengers.

Campbell and Abentroth have signalled they will continue to the primary, even though they did not get the party endorsement.

Any candidate may file petitions to run in the primary, although such challenges are rare. The most recent exception was in 2014 when former Microsoft executive Doug Burgum defeated North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem in the Republican primary for governor, after party faithful endorsed Stenehjem as their preferred candidate.

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10:40 a.m.

North Dakota Republican convention delegates have endorsed state Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger to run for a second full term.

Rauschenberger went unchallenged for the endorsement Saturday in Grand Forks.

The 35-year-old Republican was appointed in 2013 by Gov. Jack Dalrymple and elected by voters in 2014.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Kylie Oversen was endorsed last month by her party to run for the position.

The Tax Department collects an assortment of state taxes, including taxes on income, sales, alcohol, tobacco, motor fuels, oil, natural gas, coal, telecommunications and financial institutions.

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10:30 am.

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has the approval of Republican convention delegates to run for another term.

The former Grand Forks attorney and state legislator went unchallenged for the endorsement Saturday in Grand Forks.

Stenehjem was first elected attorney general in 2000. He is running for his sixth term as the state's top law enforcement officer.

Democrats last month endorsed David Thompson for attorney general. Thompson is a trial lawyer from Grand Forks.

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8:50 a.m.

North Dakota Republican activists say their state convention is one of the GOP's best-attended gatherings.

More than 1,600 Republican delegates will be picking their preferred candidates for eight offices on Saturday in Grand Forks.

Delegates will endorse Rep. Kevin Cramer for the seat held by Democrat Heidi Heitkamp. The Senate race has big stakes for the state and the nation, with Republicans banking on it to keep control of the chamber.

The most competitive race will be settled Saturday. Delegates will choose from six candidates for the U.S. House endorsement. State Sens. Kelly Armstrong and Tom Campbell and former U.S. Marine Tiffany Abentroth are among several hopefuls.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke also is scheduled to speak Saturday.

North Dakota Democrats held their convention last month.

News from © The Associated Press, 2018