Michael Coachman

Michael Coachman is an American perennial candidate from the state of North Dakota.
Coachman is a candidate for Governor of North Dakota in the 2024 North Dakota gubernatorial election
Political career
Coachman served on the Larimore city council for 8 years, settling there after serving in the United States Air Force.
During the 2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election, Coachman was the Lt. Governor pick for independent candidate Paul Sorum. The pair came in third with 1.69% of the vote, behind democrat Ryan Taylor and republican winner Jack Dalrymple.
Coachman would again run as Sorum's running mate when they ran in the 2016 gubernatorial election, this time running in the republican primary. The two would yet again come in third with 1.89% of the vote.
In 2018, Coachman ran for North Dakota Secretary of State against incumbent Al Jaeger. He came in third behind Jaeger and democrat Josh Boschee with 13% of the vote.
Coachman would run in the 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election against incumbent Doug Burgum, this time as the governor candidate. Coachman would choose Joel Hylden as his running mate. Coachman would lose to Burgum, ending with 10% of the vote to Burgum's 90%. Despite launching a write-in campaign after, Burgum would win another term.
In 2021, Coachman launched a recall effort against Burgum. Citing his response to COVID-19 and accusing it of being authoritarian. The recall would fail, and no election was called.
In 2022, during a controversial period when the Chinese company Fufeing tried purchasing land near Grand Forks Air Force Base, Coachman attended a city council meeting in Grand Forks and attempted to Citizens arrest the entire council, U.S. Senators John Hoeven, Kevin Cramer, U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong, and Governor Doug Burgum over the issue. Despite Coachman's effort, the council did not approve Fufeing's plans.
Coachman announced that he would run in the 2024 North Dakota gubernatorial election as an independent, with stay at home mom Lydia Geissele as his running mate. He will face Kelly Armstrong and democratic state senator Merrill Piepkorn. Coachman received 11% in a June poll, third behind Piepkorn's 22% and Armstrong's 62%.
Personal life
Coachman has been married to his wife, Vicki, for 36 years. The two had 4 kids, one deceased, and 11 grandchildren.

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