By: Michael Achterling
BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) – A longstanding North Dakota lawmaker and chair of the House Appropriations Committee is not seeking reelection.
Rep. Don Vigesaa, R-Cooperstown, announced his plans to retire after 23 years of service. He will continue to represent District 29 in central North Dakota until his term ends Nov. 30.
“I’m 73 next month,” Vigesaa said in an interview Tuesday. “I just thought, I’ve got three children and eight grandchildren that are starting to be involved in athletics and music, and we want to be part of their lives and be able to go to those events at any point.”
Vigesaa served as a key lawmaker in crafting the state budget in 2023 and 2025 sessions. His leadership positions also included serving as assistant House majority leader and, more recently, co-leading the Joint Appropriations Committee during the special session that allocated nearly $400 million for state health initiatives over the next two years.
“I just feel like it is time,” he said.
Vigesaa, who owned a car dealership, said his favorite piece of legislation during his career was eliminating a new vehicle rebate from being included in the state’s 5% vehicle excise tax.
Until that bill passed in 2009, people were paying 5% to the state on rebates they received when buying a new car, he said.
“I had customers ask me, ‘Now, why do I have to pay tax on the rebate amount?’” Vigesaa said. “Well, I got that fixed.”
House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, said he breathed a sigh of relief when Vigesaa agreed to become chair of the House Appropriations Committee in 2023 because he was detail-oriented and analytical. Vigesaa served in that role again in the 2025 session.
“When he gets up on the floor and speaks, people have a lot of respect for him and know that he comes from a place of having done his homework and research before he comments,” Lefor said.
Vigesaa was a mentor for Lefor when he began serving in 2015.
“I couldn’t have gotten anyone better,” Lefor said. “He’s just a very sharp man — very high class — and the legislative assembly is certainly going to miss a man of his caliber.”
Vigesaa said he believes anyone wanting to run for legislative office should jump into the process and try it.
“It is a real privilege to deal with the citizens of our state,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’m going to remember some of the legislative process things, but the most lasting memories are going to be the lifelong friendships you develop while you are serving.”
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