The Green Papers: North Dakota 2020 General Election
 
This page is for offices up for election in 2020. Find 2021 elections here.

Flag images courtesy of The World Flag Database. Copyright http://www.flags.net/ North Dakota
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
✓ Primary: Tuesday 9 June 2020
✓ General Election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
Monday 6 April 2020 - Filing Deadline - Primary .
Tuesday 9 June 2020 - Primary . Polling hours end at 4:00p CDT (2100 UTC) / 4:00p MDT (2200 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. In 2018, polls closed at 8pm CDT in Cass County and at 7pm CDT or 7pm MDT in most other polling places.
Monday 31 August 2020 - Filing Deadline - Independent/Third/Minor/President .
Tuesday 13 October 2020 - Filing Deadline - Write-in .
Tuesday 3 November 2020 - General Election . Polling hours reportedly 7:00a-9:00p CST (1300-0300 UTC) / 7:00a-9:00p MST (1400-0400 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. In 2018, polls closed at 8pm CST in Cass County and at 7pm CST or 7pm MST in most other polling places.
 
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)
Voter Registration:North Dakota has no voter registration.
Capital:Bismarck
 

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North Dakota State and Local Government

North Dakota 2020 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats   Republicans


Due to COVID-19, this election will be conducting this election exclusively through the mail, except for voters requiring an assistive device. Ballots must be postmarked no later than 8 June or dropped off in a secure dropbox by 4 pm on 9 June.

The primary is for the Constitution, Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican parties.


NOTE: Although we at The Green Papers keep to the statutory latest poll closing times of 9 PM local time [0300 GMT re: the Central Time Zone/0400 GMT re: the Mountain Time Zone], please know the North Dakota State Election Code (in its Section 16.1-01-03) allows for what has to fairly be described as the most extreme Local Option as regards poll opening/closing anywhere in America: not only may individual Counties and Municipalities in North Dakota set an earlier poll closing time than 9 PM local time (so long as it is not earlier than 7 PM local time) but these can even set differing poll closing times for individual precincts within each such jurisdiction (County or Municipality)! As a practical matter, however, it appears that polls in most of the State have tended to be closed by no later than 8 PM Central Time/7 PM Mountain Time (0200 GMT [0100 GMT during Daylight Savings])-- please check locally!


2020 Calendar from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

2020 Primary Election Contest/Candidate List from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

Primary returns from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

Primary results from a media source.


2020 General Election Contest/Candidate List from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

3 November 2020 returns from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

 
           

President  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 3 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates by State, List of Presidential Candidates.
Up for election in 2020
 Candidate list (3, 7 write-ins)
  Elected Republican 235,595 65.11% President Donald John Trump
for Vice President: Vice President Michael R. "Mike" Pence
(3 Electoral Votes)
FEC P80001571; 23 Nov 20; Tot $717,303,371; Dsb $718,174,436
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League 114,902 31.76% former Vice President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr.
for Vice President: California Senator Kamala D. Harris
FEC P80000722; 23 Nov 20; Tot $1,064,613,463; Dsb $1,063,053,521
  Candidate Libertarian 9,393 2.60% Jo Jorgensen
for Vice President: Jeremy "Spike" Cohen
FEC P00013524; 23 Nov 20; Tot $3,405,357; Dsb $3,373,521
  Candidate Scattering 1,929 0.53% write-in
  Candidate Write-in; (American Solidarity)     Brian T. Carroll
FEC P00013771
  Candidate Write-in; (Independent)     Mark Robert Charles
for Vice President: Sedinam Moyowasifza-Curry
FEC P00012039; 23 Nov 20; Tot $157,733; Dsb $155,506
  Candidate Write-in; (Green)     Howie Gresham Hawkins
FEC P00012211; 23 Nov 20; Tot $495,566; Dsb $476,095
  Candidate Write-in; (Unaffiliated)     Brock Jeffrey Pierce
FEC P00016550; 23 Nov 20; Tot $6,347,587; Dsb $6,315,486
  Candidate Write-in; (Independent)     Jade Simmons
FEC P00015537; 23 Nov 20; Tot $125,500; Dsb $72,644
  Candidate Write-in; (Non Affiliated)     Kasey J. Wells
FEC P00007864; 14 Oct 20; Tot $10,625; Dsb $10,578
Total 361,819 100.00%  

U.S. Senate  6 year term. No Term Limit. 116th Senate  Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1 Republican Senator Kevin Cramer
First elected: 2018
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024
 Candidate list (1)
  Candidate Republican     Senator Kevin Cramer
FEC S8ND00120

Class 3 Republican Senator John Hoeven
First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2016.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022
 Candidate list (1)
  Candidate Democratic     Michael J. Steele
FEC S2ND00107

Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: North Dakota passed an initiative in November 2022 to amend the state's Constitution to add Gubernatorial term limits of 2 4 year terms. Applies to individuals elected after 1 January 2023., All Governors

Chair up for regular election Republican Governor Doug Burgum
• Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020
First elected: 2016
Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit.
Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 235,479 65.84% Governor Doug Burgum
for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League 90,789 25.38% former Killdeer School Board Member Shelley Lenz
for Lieutenant Governor: former state Senator Ben Vig
  Candidate Scattering 17,538 4.90% write-in
  Candidate Libertarian 13,853 3.87% DuWayne Hendrickson
for Lieutenant Governor: Joshua Voytek
Total 357,659 100.00%  

Lieutenant Governor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Elected on a ticket with the Governor

Seat up for regular election Republican Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford
First elected: 2016.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
Renominated

116th U.S. House of Representatives  2-year term. Election Cycle 2020, 2021. No Term Limit. 116th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition):
1 Republican (1 Renominated)

Incumbent - 116th Congress
At-Large
Seat up for regular election
Republican Member of Congress Kelly M. Armstrong
• Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020
First elected: 2018
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
Renominated
 Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 117th Congress
  Elected Republican 245,229 68.96% Member of Congress Kelly M. Armstrong
FEC H8ND00096; 23 Nov 20; Tot $1,268,505; Dsb $1,025,469
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League 97,970 27.55% Zachary "Zach" Raknerud
FEC H0ND01042; 23 Nov 20; Tot $28,126; Dsb $26,228
  Candidate Libertarian 12,024 3.38% Steven James Peterson
FEC H0ND00168
  Candidate Scattering 375 0.11% write-in
Total 355,598 100.00%  

Secretary of State  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022

  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, 2014, 2018.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Attorney General  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022

  Republican Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem
First elected: 2000, re-elected: 2004 (to a 2 year term), 2006 (to a 4 year term), 2010, 2014, 2018.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Treasurer  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020

Seat up for regular election
Open
Republican Treasurer Kelly L. Schmidt
First elected: 2004; re-elected: 2008, 2012, 2016.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
Open Seat - Retiring
 ** Open Office (no incumbent) **
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 227,583 65.60% state Representative Thomas Beadle
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League 117,790 33.95% Mark Haugen
  Candidate Scattering 1,533 0.44% write-in
Total 346,906 100.00%  

Auditor  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020

Seat up for regular election Republican Auditor Joshua C. "Josh" Gallion
• Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020
First elected: 2016
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
Renominated
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 234,293 67.69% Auditor Joshua C. "Josh" Gallion
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League 111,243 32.14% Patrick Hart
  Candidate Scattering 579 0.17% write-in
Total 346,115 100.00%  

Commissioner of Agriculture  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022

  Republican Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring
Appointed: 6 April 2009 by Governor John Hoeven upon the resignation of Roger Johnson; first elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014, 2018.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Tax Commissioner  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022

  Republican Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger
Appointed 8 November 2013 to fill the unexpired term of Cory Fong [who had been first elected: 2006]; re-elected: 2010, 2014, 2018.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Commissioner of Insurance  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020

Seat up for regular election Republican Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread
• Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020
First elected: 2016
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
Renominated
 ** Uncontested Race **
 Candidate list (1, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 295,095 97.74% Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread
  Candidate Scattering 6,813 2.26% write-in
Total 301,908 100.00%  

Superintendent of Public Instruction  4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020

Seat up for regular election Nonpartisan; (Republican) Public Instruction Superintendent Kirsten Baesler
• Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020
First elected: 2012; re-elected: 2016.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)
  Elected Nonpartisan; (Republican) 192,835 59.13% Public Instruction Superintendent Kirsten Baesler
  Candidate Nonpartisan; (Republican) 130,280 39.95% Brandt J. Dick
  Candidate Scattering 3,005 0.92% write-in
Total 326,120 100.00%  

Public Service Commissioner 1  6 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2022

  Republican Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak
Appointed December 2012 by Governor Jack Dalrymple (Republican) to fill the un-expired term of Kevin Cramer (Republican) until a November 2014 special election. First elected in a special election: 4 November 2014; re-elected: 2016.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Public Service Commissioner 2  6 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2024

  Republican Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann
First elected: 2012; re-elected: 2018.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024

Public Service Commissioner 3  6 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2020

Seat up for regular election Republican Public Service Commissioner Brian K. Kroshus
• Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020
Appointed: 28 February 2017 [re: resignation of Public Service Commissioner Brian P. Kalk (Republican)]; first elected in a Special Election: 6 November 2018.
Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
Renominated
 Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)
  Elected Republican 231,898 67.62% Public Service Commissioner Brian K. Kroshus
  Candidate Democratic-Nonpartisan League 110,493 32.22% Casey D. Buchmann
  Candidate Scattering 552 0.16% write-in
Total 342,943 100.00%  
 

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   Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
  Democratic (affiliates): 1 candidate
  Democratic-Nonpartisan League (affiliate of Democratic): 6 candidates
  Republican: 16 incumbents, 10 candidates
Major Third Parties   Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
  Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
  Libertarian: 3 candidates
Other Third Parties
  American Solidarity: 1 candidate
  Right to Life
Independents
  Independent: 2 candidates
  Non Affiliated: 1 candidate
  Nonpartisan: 1 incumbent, 2 candidates
  Unaffiliated: 1 candidate
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
  Scattering: 8 candidates
  Write-in: 6 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.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"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

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
  Libertarian Party of North Dakota
  North Dakota Libertarian Party
  North Dakota Right to Life
Media & others
  Bismarck Tribune
  Devils Lake Journal
  KFYR TV - NBC - Bismarck
  KXMB - KXMA - KXMC - KXMD - CBS - Bismarck, Minot
  NDx Plains - Fargo
  NorthDecoder - political blog
  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

 


  2020 General Election Home  
 
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