Merle Boucher

Merle Boucher (July 19, 1946 – June 11, 2026) was an American North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party politician who served in the North Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 9th district from 1991 to 2011. He served as Minority Leader from 1996 to 2011.

Boucher sought and lost the Democratic-NPL nomination for governor in 2004 and in 2008, but became the running mate of 2008 nominee Tim Mathern, running on the ticket as the nominee for lieutenant governor. Two years after that ticket lost, Boucher became the Democratic-NPL nominee for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, losing in the 2010 election to incumbent Doug Goehring.

Life and career Boucher was from Rolette County, North Dakota and attended high school there. He went on to college, taking classes from the State School of Forestry. He then transferred to Mayville State University, where he graduated with a teaching degree in 1970.

He returned to Rolette and taught at the high school for 20 years. After retiring, he became a rancher. He held his family's original Homestead Act claim among other land. He coached the Rolette American Legion baseball team.

Boucher died in Bismarck, North Dakota on June 11, 2026, at the age of 79.