Republican Party leaders in North Dakota are urging state Representative Nico Rios to step down following his arrest for drunken driving earlier this month. The North Dakota District 23 GOP Executive Committee released a statement on Facebook expressing their lack of confidence in Rios' ability to represent voters' best interests. They requested his resignation, citing his use of vulgar language and slurs towards police officers during his traffic stop. The committee stated that Rios' actions were disrespectful and inconsistent with the party's beliefs and platform.

The local party's call for resignation aligns with Republican House Majority Leader Mike Lefor and state party officials, who also urged Rios to step down after the incident. Rios, however, has not immediately responded to these requests. In a statement, he mentioned that he is considering his future and plans to seek help for his issues with alcoholism but did not mention any immediate plans to resign. Rios previously took responsibility for his actions and apologized to those he had hurt, including law enforcement officers. He expressed his commitment to making amends and turning his life around.

A police body camera footage, which was requested by and provided to The Associated Press, revealed Rios cursing at an officer, making derogatory remarks about his English accent, and using homophobic and anti-migrant slurs. He also threatened to call the North Dakota attorney general regarding the situation, warning the officers that they would regret "picking on" him. Rios claimed that he had been leaving a Christmas party before being pulled over. He now faces misdemeanor charges of drunken driving and refusing to provide a chemical test, with a pretrial conference scheduled for February 5.

Rios, who works in the oil field industry, was elected unopposed in 2022 to a four-year term in the state House of Representatives. He serves on the House Judiciary Committee, which handles legislation related to law enforcement. District 23, where Rios represents, is a newly drawn legislative district in North Dakota's growing oil field. The Republican Party currently holds a significant majority in the North Dakota House, with 82 Republican representatives compared to 12 Democrats.

Republican leaders, including House Majority Leader Mike Lefor and North Dakota Republican Party Chairwoman Sandi Sanford, have condemned Rios' behavior and called for his resignation. Lefor stated that there is no place for such behavior in the legislature or the party, emphasizing that Rios' comments and defiance towards law enforcement are unacceptable. Sanford echoed these sentiments, expressing that Rios' actions and words fall short of the basic decency expected from elected officials and violate the party's core values.

Rios' attorney did not respond to a phone message, and Rios himself has not provided an immediate response to these calls for resignation. However, he previously acknowledged that his behavior towards the police was unacceptable and expressed remorse for his actions. He vowed to ensure that such incidents would never happen again. Rios' statement on Wednesday indicated that he would be focusing on addressing his issues with alcoholism, improving strained interpersonal relations, and listening to the community as he considers his future in the legislature.