Blair Thoreson is a member of the State and Local Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs team at the Primacy Strategy Group. He served as a state representative from 1998-2016 from the 44th Legislative District in Fargo, ND. During his legislative career, Thoreson served as chairman of the House Appropriations Government Operations committee. Additionally, he served on the Administrative Rules, Budget Section, Government Finance, Human Services, Information Technology, and Political Subdivisions committees.

In 2015, Thoreson was appointed by Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler to the FCC Intergovernmental Advisory Committee. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), where he previously served as public sector chair of the Communications and Technology task force. In 2009, Thoreson was the recipient of the ALEC “Thomas Jefferson Freedom Award” – a recognition for being one of the most effective legislators in the nation. Additionally, Thoreson served as vice-chair of the Communications, Financial Services and Interstate Commerce committee with the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and previously served on the Executive Committee of the Council of State Governments (CSG). He has participated on numerous occasions as an invited speaker/panelist at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), CTIA-The Wireless Association, NCTA The Internet and Television Association, the Emerging Issues Policy Forum, and the New York Law School Advanced Communications Law & Policy Institute Regulators’ and Lawmakers’ Summit.

In the private sector, Thoreson spent fourteen years employed in the telecommunications industry. He is a small business owner. Thoreson serves on the Board of Directors of the North Dakota Hospitality Association, and previously served as a Board member for the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.

Thoreson holds a Bachelor’s degree (Communications) from the North Dakota State University and a Master’s degree (Management) from the University of Mary. He is married and has two children.