BISMARCK — North Dakota Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, has taken a crucial step forward in his late-game independent bid for U.S. Senate.

Becker turned in what he said were more than 2,500 signatures to Secretary of State Al Jaeger's office on Friday, Sept. 2.

If Jaeger deems next week that at least 1,000 of the signatures are valid, Becker's name will appear on the November ballot. The conservative candidate told Forum News Service he fully expects to appear on the ballot next to incumbent GOP Sen. John Hoeven and Democratic challenger Katrina Christiansen.

Last month, Becker surprised political observers when he announced his independent candidacy, departing from the normal partisan process.

Becker narrowly lost the Republican nomination to Hoeven in April at the GOP state convention. Right after the convention vote, the ultraconservative lawmaker told Forum News Service that his failed bid for the GOP nomination might be the end of his political career.

The plastic surgeon and businessman said he and a team of volunteers traveled around the state over the last two weeks and came across many supporters willing to sign his petition.

"As I go around the state, I keep getting reinforcement that what the people want ... is a change," Becker said. "They recognize that we're not going down the right path."

Becker said if the desire for change in Washington is "as strong as it seems," he can overcome Hoeven's advantages in name recognition and campaign finance.

The state representative said his campaign will be funded by donations from supporters and his own money. During his unsuccessful pursuit of the GOP nomination this spring, Becker loaned his campaign $500,000 that he did not end up spending.

Over the next two months, Becker said he and his volunteers plan to get his name out through online ads, billboards, yard signs and door-knocking.

In addition to pushing his political message, Becker said he will try to convince voters that he is not opening the door for Christiansen to win by splitting the conservative vote with Hoeven. Becker said he thinks Christiansen, a first-time candidate, is "not a significant factor" in the race because of her party affiliation and her lack of notoriety in the political world.

After entering the North Dakota Legislature in 2013, Becker founded the Bastiat Caucus, an unofficial libertarian-leaning faction of the Republican Party that does not disclose its membership.

Becker ran for governor in 2016 against Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and eventual winner Doug Burgum. Becker dropped out of the race after the Republican state convention, where he placed second behind Stenehjem in a vote for the party's endorsement.