He was a Democrat, so it's OK. Nobody could tell the difference.
Actually, people DID notice. (especially when he left office feet first). I think that started a sea change in ND politics that until recently had the State represented by Republicans and a heavily Republican State Government. Unfortunately, the good times of an oil boom got people complacent and those outside the oil producing region of the State elected a Democrat to the Senate. Predictably, despite name recognition, she is riding for that brand in DC.