Drew Wrigley

Drew Wrigley
Born	Drew Howard Wrigley 10 10, 1965
Birthplace	Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Known for	Attorney General of North Dakota, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
Education	University of North Dakota (BA) American University (JD)
Spouse(s)	Kathleen (m. 1998; div. 2025)

Drew Howard Wrigley (born October 10, 1965) is an American lawyer and politician who serves as the 30th Attorney General of North Dakota. A member of the Republican Party, Wrigley has held prominent positions in North Dakota government and federal law enforcement for more than two decades, including two separate terms as the United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota and service as the 37th Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota. Born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota, Wrigley first entered public service as deputy chief of staff to then-Governor John Hoeven before being appointed U.S. Attorney by President George W. Bush in 2001. He later served as lieutenant governor under Governor Jack Dalrymple from 2010 to 2016, and returned to the U.S. Attorney's office under President Donald Trump from 2019 to 2021. In January 2022, Wrigley announced his candidacy for attorney general, and weeks later, following the unexpected death of incumbent Wayne Stenehjem, Governor Doug Burgum appointed Wrigley to fill the remainder of the term. He won election to a full four-year term in November 2022, receiving 71% of the vote. In February 2026, Wrigley announced his intention to seek reelection as attorney general.

Early Life

Drew Howard Wrigley was born on October 10, 1965, in Bismarck, North Dakota. He grew up in the state capital and pursued higher education in North Dakota before attending law school on the East Coast. Wrigley obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, and subsequently earned his Juris Doctor from American University in Washington, D.C.

After completing his legal education, Wrigley returned to North Dakota and entered public service. He served as deputy chief of staff to Governor John Hoeven, a position that placed him at the center of state government operations and provided him with significant experience in executive-level governance. This role under Hoeven established Wrigley's presence in Republican political circles in North Dakota and set the stage for his subsequent appointments to federal office.

Education

Wrigley attended the University of North Dakota, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then pursued legal studies at American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., where he received his Juris Doctor degree. His legal training at American University prepared him for a career that would span both state-level governance and federal prosecution.

Career

Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Hoeven

Before holding elected or presidentially appointed office, Wrigley served as deputy chief of staff to Governor John Hoeven. In this capacity, he gained experience in the executive branch of North Dakota state government and developed relationships within the state's Republican political establishment. The position provided Wrigley with a foundation in government administration that informed his later roles in federal and state office.

First Term as U.S. Attorney (2001–2009)

In 2001, President George W. Bush nominated Wrigley to serve as the United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. He was confirmed by the United States Senate and took office on November 6, 2001, succeeding John Schneider in the position.

As U.S. Attorney, Wrigley served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District of North Dakota, overseeing federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation on behalf of the United States government within the district. He held the position for nearly eight years, serving through the entirety of the Bush administration's two terms. His tenure in the role ended on September 11, 2009, and he was succeeded by Tim Purdon, who was appointed by President Barack Obama.

Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota (2010–2016)

Following his service as U.S. Attorney, Wrigley transitioned back to state government. In December 2010, Governor Jack Dalrymple—who had assumed the governorship when John Hoeven was elected to the U.S. Senate—appointed Wrigley to serve as the 37th Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota. Wrigley succeeded Dalrymple himself in the lieutenant governor's office, as Dalrymple had previously held that position before ascending to the governorship.

As lieutenant governor, Wrigley served as the state's second-highest executive officer. He held the position from December 7, 2010, until December 15, 2016. During his tenure, he served alongside Governor Dalrymple throughout the remainder of Dalrymple's term in office. Wrigley was succeeded as lieutenant governor by Brent Sanford, who took office alongside Governor Doug Burgum in December 2016.

Second Term as U.S. Attorney (2019–2021)

In 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Wrigley for a second stint as U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota. The nomination was considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved it in February 2019. Wrigley was confirmed by the full Senate and was sworn in as U.S. Attorney on April 17, 2019, succeeding Tim Purdon (who had succeeded him a decade earlier).

Wrigley's second term was announced as part of President Trump's seventeenth wave of U.S. Attorney nominees.

Following the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021, the Department of Justice initiated a transition of U.S. Attorneys across the country. Wrigley resigned from the position, effective February 28, 2021. The Biden administration's transition of Trump-appointed U.S. Attorneys was part of a broader changeover, though certain attorneys involved in politically sensitive investigations were initially spared from the transition. Wrigley was succeeded by Mac Schneider.

Attorney General of North Dakota (2022–present)

Appointment and Election

On December 30, 2021, Wrigley announced his candidacy for the office of Attorney General of North Dakota in the 2022 election cycle. At the time of his announcement, the incumbent attorney general was Wayne Stenehjem, a longtime Republican officeholder who had served in the position since 2001.

Only weeks after Wrigley's announcement, Stenehjem died unexpectedly in January 2022. Governor Doug Burgum subsequently appointed Wrigley to serve the remaining year of Stenehjem's term, and Wrigley took office as the 30th Attorney General of North Dakota on February 8, 2022. In the November 2022 general election, Wrigley won a full four-year term as attorney general, receiving approximately 71% of the vote.

Sexual Assault Kit Testing Initiative

One of the notable initiatives during Wrigley's tenure as attorney general involved addressing a backlog in the testing of sexual assault examination kits in North Dakota. The state undertook efforts to eliminate the backlog, a problem that had affected jurisdictions across the country. Under Wrigley's office, North Dakota worked to process hundreds of previously untested kits.

Fargo Police Shooting Response

In 2023, Wrigley was involved in the official response to a shooting incident in Fargo, North Dakota, in which police officers were targeted. The incident drew national attention and prompted Wrigley, in his capacity as attorney general, to participate in the law enforcement response and public communications regarding the event.

Holmberg Investigation Controversy

During his tenure, Wrigley addressed questions surrounding his predecessor Wayne Stenehjem's handling of an investigation related to state Senator Ray Holmberg. Wrigley stated that Stenehjem had not recused himself from the investigation, a matter that drew public scrutiny and media commentary.

Pore Space Litigation

In 2024, Wrigley's office won a legal challenge related to North Dakota's pore space statutes. The court dismissed challenges to the state's laws governing subsurface pore space, which are relevant to carbon capture and storage activities in the state. Wrigley announced the favorable ruling as a significant victory for North Dakota's regulatory framework.

Cross-Border Pipeline Dispute

In 2025, tensions arose between North Dakota and South Dakota over legislation related to carbon dioxide pipelines. South Dakota enacted a law barring the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, which had implications for pipeline projects that would cross state lines. Wrigley's office considered potential legal action against South Dakota over the law, reflecting North Dakota's interest in facilitating carbon capture infrastructure.

Ethics Commission Dispute

In December 2025, Wrigley voided an advisory opinion issued by the North Dakota Ethics Commission related to campaign finance law, asserting that the commission lacked the authority to issue the opinion. The action drew attention to the scope of the Ethics Commission's authority and the attorney general's role in interpreting state law.

2026 Reelection Campaign

In February 2026, Wrigley announced his intention to seek reelection as attorney general. In a statement, he expressed that he looked forward to making his case to the voters of North Dakota. His announcement came amid broader discussions within the North Dakota Republican Party about the state convention and the party's direction. All of North Dakota's statewide Republican incumbents up for reelection in 2026 indicated they would run again.

Personal Life

Drew Wrigley was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota. He married Kathleen in 1998; the couple divorced in 2025. Wrigley has maintained his residence in North Dakota throughout his career in public service.