A century ago, the state of North Dakota underwent a peaceful political revolution—one more radical than what Bernie Sanders attempted this year. The benefits to the people of the state endure to this day.
North Dakota farmers were subject to the domination of banks and flour mills in Minneapolis-St. Paul. They set mortgage interest rates and the price of wheat. Business interests dominated North Dakota government.
But progressive reformers opened up the political process through the initiative (voters could propose laws), the referendum (voters could vote directly on laws) and the recall (unsatisfactory state legislators could be voted out before their terms ended). More importantly, the state legislated open primary elections.
This opened up the process for the Non-Partisan League, organized by a fiery socialist named Arthur C. Townley. Starting in 1914, he recruited 40,000 dues-paying members, mainly farmers, in a state whose population was 600,000. The NPL then endorsed and campaigned for candidates who adopted the NPL program.
In 1916, NPL candidates effectively took over the Republican Party in the state. NPL candidates won all statewide offices and a majority in the state Assembly; in 1918, they took over the state Senate as well.
Among their reforms were a state grain grading service so that farmers were assured a fair price, regulation of railroad shipping rates, and authorization of state-owned enterprises, including the Bank of North Dakota, the crown jewel of the NPL program, which is still going strong.
Phil Ebersole's Blog 