Wayne Stenehjem

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Wayne Stenehjem (February 5, 1953 – January 28, 2022) was an American lawyer and Republican politician who served as the 29th Attorney General of North Dakota from 2000 until his death in 2022. He previously served in the North Dakota House of Representatives (1976–1980) and the North Dakota Senate (1980–2000). He ran for North Dakota governor in 2016 but lost the Republican primary to Doug Burgum.

Born in Mohall, North Dakota, Stenehjem graduated from Bismarck High School, Bismarck State College, and earned a BA and JD from the University of North Dakota. He was married to Beth Bakke Stenehjem and had one son, Andrew.

As attorney general, he pushed meth-related reforms, proposing limits on certain products used to manufacture meth, mandatory treatment for first-time drug offenders, and higher penalties for drug crimes. He was reelected as attorney general in 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018 by wide margins. He announced in 2021 that he would not seek reelection in 2022. He died on January 28, 2022, in Bismarck after being hospitalized for an inflamed ulcer.

Stenehjem's family included his brother Bob Stenehjem, who was the North Dakota Senate Majority Leader, and Allan Stenehjem, a former state representative and lobbyist.

Controversies: In 2014, a dispute arose involving Agent Arnie Rummel of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, who worked under the AG's office. Rummel had seized a payloader suspected of being stolen; the case ended with a cash settlement after Rummel was found in contempt. Stenehjem said the payloader was returned to its rightful owner. There were also allegations that Stenehjem misled investigators and deleted voicemails from Ray Holmberg, who was investigated for, and later convicted of, child sex tourism.