The Green Papers: North Dakota 2012 General Election
 
Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ North Dakota
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 12 June 2012
General Election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
Senators:2(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
Governor:1 
2010 Census:675,905 (0.22% of 309,785,186)
2012, 2016, 2020 Electoral Votes:3(0.56% of 538)
2012-2020 Representatives:1(0.23% of 435)
2000 Census:643,756 (0.23% of 281,998,273)
2004, 2008 Electoral Votes:3(0.56% of 538)
2002-2010 Representatives:1(0.23% of 435)
Voter Registration:North Dakota has no voter registration.
Capital:Bismarck
Tuesday 12 June 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) / 7:00a MDT (1300 UTC) to 9:00p CDT (0200 UTC) / 9:00p MDT (0300 UTC). Voting places open between 7:00a to 12:00n and remain open until 7:00p to 9:00p depending on the size of the town. The western half of the state is in Mountain Time but that is, of course, the more sparsely populated part of the state, so it is not as problematic to the networks as might be otherwise suggested by simple geography.
Tuesday 6 November 2012 polling hours 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) / 7:00a MST (1400 UTC) to 9:00p CST (0300 UTC) / 9:00p MST (0400 UTC). Voting places open between 7:00a to 12:00n and remain open until 7:00p to 9:00p depending on the size of the town. The western half of the state is in Mountain Time but that is, of course, the more sparsely populated part of the state, so it is not as problematic to the networks as might be otherwise suggested by simple geography.
 

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North Dakota State and Local Government

North Dakota 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

           
U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 112th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes
Class 1
Seat up for election
Open		 Democratic Senator Gaylord Kent "Kent" Conrad
• First elected to the "Class 3" seat from the state: 1986; was not a candidate for re-election in the 3 November 1992 General Election; Elected to finish out the "Class 1" term in a Special Election: 4 December 1992 [held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Quentin N. Burdick (Democrat): 8 September 1992- which Jocelyn B. Burdick (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor George Sinner (Democrat) to fill, 12 September 1992]; elected to a full term: 1994, 2000, 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Open Seat - 18 January 2011: Announced retirement.
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League     former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp
• FEC S2ND00099; 31 Dec 11; Tot $450,095; Dsb $38,203
  Candidate Republican     Congressman  Richard A. "Rick" Berg
• FEC S2ND00073; 31 Dec 11; Tot $1,767,167; Dsb $377,437
  Candidate Republican     Duane Sand
• circa 13 May 2011: Candidate for the Senate Class 1 Seat.
circa 17 May 2011: Switching candidacy from the U.S. Senate to the At-Large House Seat.
15 July 2011: Filed with the FEC for the U.S. Senate.
• FEC S0ND00069; 31 Dec 11; Tot $424,833; Dsb $344,302
Class 3 Republican Senator John Hoeven
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016
Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: None, All Governors
Chair up for election Republican Governor  Jack Dalrymple
• First sworn: 7 December 2010 re: Governor John Hoeven (Republican) ascension to the U.S. Senate.
• Chair up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League     state Senator  Ryan M. Taylor
• for Lieutenant Governor, Ellen Chaffee
  Candidate Republican     Governor  Jack Dalrymple
• for Lieutenant Governor, Lieutenant Governor Drew H. Wrigley
  Candidate Libertarian     Roland Riemers
• No running mate.
 Governor John Hoeven (Republican) ran for an won the U.S. Senate Class 3 seat in North Dakota in 2010. He was first elected as Governor in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008. Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple was sworn in as the 32nd Governor of North Dakota on 7 December 2010. Mr. Dalrymple was first elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008.
Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Elected on a ticket with the Governor
Seat up for election Republican Lieutenant Governor Drew H. Wrigley
• Appointed 7 December 2010 re: Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple ascension to the Governor's chair.
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
 Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple (Republican), who was first elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008, was sworn in as the 32nd Governor of North Dakota on 7 December 2010. Drew H. Wrigley was appointed as North Dakota's 37th Lieutenant Governor upon Governor Dalrymple's assumption of office.
112th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2010, 2012. No Term Limit. 112th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
1 Republican (1 Open)
Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
At-Large
Seat up for election
Open		 Republican Congressman  Richard A. "Rick" Berg
• First elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Open Seat - 16 May 2011: Congressman Berg announced that he will run for the Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.
 Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League     former state Representative Pam Gulleson
• FEC H2ND00115; 31 Dec 11; Tot $166,282; Dsb $18,012
  Candidate Republican     Public Service Commissioner  Kevin Cramer
• FEC H0ND01026; 31 Dec 11; Tot $210,565; Dsb $17,734
  Candidate Republican     Public Service Commissioner  Brian P. Kalk
• 12 January 2011: Formed an exploratory committee to run for the Senate Class 1 seat in 2012.
20 May 2011: Announced he will no longer seek the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012. Instead, he will run for the At-Large U.S. House Seat.
1 April 2012: Received his party's endorsement.
• FEC H2ND00099; 31 Dec 11; Tot $123,015; Dsb $46,413
  Candidate Libertarian     Eric Olson
Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Republican Secretary of State Alvin A. "Al" Jaeger
• First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1996; 2000, 2004 (to a 2 year term), 2006 (to a 4 year term), 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Republican Attorney General  Wayne Stenehjem
• First elected: 2000, re-elected: 2004 (to a 2 year term), 2006 (to a 4 year term), 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012
Seat up for election Republican Treasurer  Kelly L. Schmidt
• First elected: 2004; re-elected: 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League     Ross Mushik
  Candidate Republican     Treasurer  Kelly L. Schmidt
Auditor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012
Seat up for election Republican Auditor Robert R. "Bob" Peterson
• First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000, 2004, 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League     state Representative Scot Kelsh
  Candidate Republican     Auditor Robert R. "Bob" Peterson
Commissioner of Agriculture  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Republican Agriculture Commissioner  Doug Goehring
• Appointed: 6 April 2009 by Governor John Hoeven upon the resignation of Roger Johnson; first elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Tax Commissioner  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014
  Republican Tax Commissioner  Cory Fong
• Appointed 1 June 2005 to fill the unexpired term of Rick Clayburgh; first elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
Commissioner of Insurance  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012
Seat up for election Republican Insurance Commissioner  Adam Hamm
• Appointed 9 October 2007 by Governor John Hoeven; first elected: 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League     Tom Potter
  Candidate Republican     Insurance Commissioner  Adam Hamm
Superintendent of Public Instruction  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012
Seat up for election
Open		 Nonpartisan Public Instruction Superintendent Wayne G. Sanstead
• First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Open Seat - Retiring at the end of his term.
  Candidate Nonpartisan     Kirsten Baesler
  Candidate Nonpartisan; (Democratic-Nonpartisan League)     Max Laird
  Candidate Nonpartisan     Tracy Potter
Public Service Commissioner 1  6 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2016
  Republican Public Service Commissioner  Kevin Cramer
• Appointed by Governor John Hoeven to fill the un-expired term of Leo M. Reinbold: 2003; first elected to a full term: 2004; re-elected: 2010
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016
• Running for U.S. House At-Large in 2012
Public Service Commissioner 2  6 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2012
Seat up for election
Open		 Republican Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark
• First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
• Open Seat
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League     Brad Crabtree
  Candidate Republican     Randy Christmann
  Candidate Libertarian     Joshua Voytek
Public Service Commissioner 3  6 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2014
  Republican Public Service Commissioner  Brian P. Kalk
• First elected: 2008
• Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014
• 12 January 2011: Formed an exploratory committee to run for the Senate Class 1 seat in 2012.
20 May 2011: Announced he will no longer seek the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012. Instead, he will run for the At-Large U.S. House Seat.
 
Political Parties    Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.
Major Parties
 • Democratic (affiliates): 1 incumbent
 • Democratic-Nonpartisan League (affiliate of Democratic): 8 candidates
 • Republican: 14 incumbents, 9 candidates
Major Third Parties
 • Constitution (affiliates)
 • Green (affiliates)
 • Libertarian: 3 candidates
Other Third Parties
 • Right to Life
Independents
 • Nonpartisan: 1 incumbent, 3 candidates
 
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.
Notes
Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.

Links Links to other web sites
Constitution   Links to State Constitutions
 • The Constitution of North Dakota
Election Authority
 • North Dakota Secretary of State
 • North Dakota Secretary of State - Elections and Voting
Legislature   Links to State Legislatures
 • North Dakota Legislative Branch
Democratic
 • North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party
Republican
 • North Dakota Republican Party
Third Party
 • Constitution Party of North Dakota
 • Green Party - North Dakota State Contact List
 • Green Party of North Dakota
 • North Dakota Libertarian Party
 • North Dakota Right to Life
Media & others
 • Bismarck Tribune
 • DC's Political Report - North Dakota
 • Devils Lake Journal
 • Grand Forks Herald
 • In-Forum - Fargo - Grand Forks
 • KFYR TV - NBC - Bismarck
 • KXMA TV - CBS - Dickinson
 • KXMC TV - CBS - Minot
 • Politics1.com - North Dakota
 • Praire Public Television - North Dakota Public Radio
 • The Minot Daily News
 • The Williston Daily Herald
 • Valley City Times-Record
 • Wahpeton Daily News
 • WDAY TV - Fargo
 • WDAZ TV - ABC - Grand Forks
 

  2012 General Election Home  
 
  U.S. Senate Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Gubernatorial Popular Vote by Party  
  U.S. House Popular Vote and FEC Total Receipts by Party  
  Close Contests Summary - Decision by 2% or less  
  Contests Where No Candidate Received a Majority  
 
2012 Primaries and Runoffs for Statewide offices/Congress
  Alphabetically   --   Chronologically   --   Poll Closing Times  
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General Election Poll Closing Times
  Alphabetically   --   Chronologically  
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  Polling Hours  
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  Governors     Senate     House  
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  Senators by 'Class'  
  Governors by election 'cycle'  
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  Gubernatorial Primaries at a Glance   --   Senatorial Primaries at a Glance  
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  Open Governor's Chairs, Senate and House Seats (the incumbent is not running for re-election)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with no incumbent running for them  
  Uncontested Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats (one candidate running for office)  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with multiple incumbents running for them  
  Governor's Chairs, Senate, and U.S. House Seats with only one major party candidate running for office  
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  2012 Partisan Composition by State  
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  Political Parties  
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  Senate Electoral Classes  
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History
  Political Party Floor Leaders in the Congress of the United States  
  Dates of DIRECT PRIMARY Elections re: Major Party Nominations for Statewide and/or Federal Office  
  Length of Terms of Office of STATE Governors throughout American History  

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