Red River Valley · Pet Mayor 2026
Fargo West Fargo Moorhead Horace
Tater Tot won.
The election is closed, but our hearts are not! 137 pets ran, 20,283 votes were cast, and 97 pets went home. Tater Tot took the oath Saturday, October 17 at Rover Days. The partner shelters still have pets looking for a home.
Voting closed October 16. The gavel changes paws today at noon.
Elected · 3,630 votes
HoraceTater Tot
137 ran. One is mayor.
A pet election, taken entirely too seriously, and every vote was for the shelters too.
20,283
votes cast
Across the city round and the valley election, one vote per person a day.
137
pets ran
Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and Horace. Every page and poster stays up.
97
went home
From the four partner shelters, with $100 toward each adoption fee from Novel.
1
Pet Mayor
Tater Tot of Horace, by 3,630 votes. Buddy, Peanut and Pip ran the valley with him.
Tater Tot was sworn in Saturday, October 17, at noon at Rover Days, Red River Market, in the old Teddy’s Bar space at 212 Broadway N, Fargo. Mayor Boschee, the four partner shelters, a plaque and a gavel. Adopt from a partner shelter between September 18 and October 17 and Novel puts $100 toward the adoption fee.
See the final countA note from the real mayors
How it worked
Four cities each elected a nominee. The four nominees faced the whole valley. Every page, poster and picture a pet earned stays up.
Run
The pets who ranNominations closed Oct 2 · 137 pets, four cities
Vote
The final countVoting closed Oct 16 · 20,283 votes
Adopt
Adopt97 went home · $100 toward every adoption through Oct 17
Sept 15
Nominations opened
137 pets put on the ballot across Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and Horace.
Sept 18
Voting opened
One vote per person, every day. 6,772 people voted in the city round.
Oct 3
The Valley election
Buddy, Peanut, Pip and Tater Tot. The whole valley voted until October 16 at 8:00 pm.
Oct 17
The inauguration
Today at noon, Rover Days at the Red River Market, 212 Broadway N. The gavel changes paws.
The final count
Tater Tot of Horace wins the valley. Here is how the four cities decided.
Adopt from a partner shelter between September 18 and October 17 and Novel puts $100 toward the adoption fee.
Homeward Animal Shelter, 4 Luv of Dog Rescue, Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue and Cats Cradle Shelter. Whatever they have — say at the counter that you’re here for the Novel Pet Election.
See who’s waitingPets are a big part of what makes a home, home.
