2020 North Dakota elections
November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03)
Registered581,379[1]
Turnout62.65%[1]

North Dakota has held two statewide elections in 2020: a primary election on Tuesday, June 9, and a general election on Tuesday, November 3. In addition, each township has elected officers on Tuesday, March 17, and each school district held their elections on a date of their choosing between April 1 and June 30.[2]

Primary election

On Tuesday, June 9, North Dakota voters will select which candidates for statewide and legislative office will appear on the November ballot. Because North Dakota does not have party registration, any eligible voter may vote in any one party's primary election. In addition, any number of constitutional amendments, initiated measures, or referred measures may be placed on the ballot by petition or legislative action.[2]

The State of North Dakota does not provide for a presidential primary, but the Democratic–NPL Party has held a firehouse caucus on March 10, 2020, to select delegates to the Democratic National Convention. As of June 13, 2019, the Republican Party has yet to announce plans for selecting delegates to the Republican National Convention.[3]

General election

On Tuesday, November 3, concurrent with other statewide elections across the United States, North Dakota voters will select three electors to the United States Electoral College to elect the President of the United States, one United States Representative to represent North Dakota's at-large congressional district, their Governor (alongside Lieutenant Governor), and a number of other statewide executive and judicial officials. Voters who live in even-numbered legislative districts will also select their representatives to the North Dakota House of Representatives and North Dakota Senate. Finally, voters may face any number of constitutional amendments, initiated measures, or referred measures placed on the ballot by petition.[2]

Federal offices

United States President

North Dakota voters will select a presidential candidate on their ballots; the candidate with the most votes will send their preselected electors to represent North Dakota in the Electoral College. The state of North Dakota has three electoral votes in the Electoral College, and so will send three electors.[4]

United States Representative

Freshman incumbent Republican Kelly Armstrong ran for re-election.

2020 North Dakota's at-large congressional district election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kelly Armstrong (incumbent) 245,229 68.96%
Democratic–NPL Zach Raknerud 97,970 27.55%
Libertarian Steven Peterson 12,024 3.38%
Write-in 375 0.11%
Turnout 355,598 61.16%

State offices

Governor and lieutenant governor

Republican incumbent governor Doug Burgum and lieutenant governor Brent Sanford, both serving their first terms in statewide elected office, ran together for re-election.

2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Doug Burgum (incumbent) 235,479 65.84%
Democratic–NPL Shelley Lenz 90,789 25.38%
Libertarian DuWayne Hendrickson 13,853 3.87%
Write-in 17,538 4.90%
Turnout 357,659 61.52%

State treasurer

Incumbent Republican Kelly Schmidt, the longest serving Treasurer in the state's history, announced she would not seek re-election in 2020.[6] In the primary, State Representative Thomas Beadle was elected to fill the open seat.

2020 North Dakota State Treasurer election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Beadle 227,583 65.60%
Democratic–NPL Mark Haugen 117,790 33.95%
Write-in 1,533 0.44%
Turnout 346,906 59.67%

State auditor

In the State Auditor race, incumbent Republican Josh Gallion, who provoked lawmakers' ire with his reviews in his first term, ran for re-election.[7]

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 Josh
Gallion (R)		 Patrick
Hart (D)		 Undecided
DFM Research/North Dakota Voters First September 12–16, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.5% 42% 26% 32%
Result
2020 North Dakota State Auditor election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Josh Gallion (incumbent) 234,293 67.69%
Democratic–NPL Patrick Hart 111,243 32.14%
Write-in 579 0.17%
Turnout 346,115 59.53%

Insurance Commissioner

In the election for Insurance Commissioner, incumbent Republican Jon Godfread ran for re-election unopposed.

2020 North Dakota Insurance Commissioner election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jon Godfread (incumbent) 295,095 97.74%
Write-in 6,813 2.26%
Turnout 301,908 51.93%

Superintendent of Public Instruction

The election for Superintendent of Public Instruction in North Dakota is nonpartisan. Incumbent Kirsten Baesler, who is a registered Republican, ran for re-election.

2020 North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Kirsten Baesler (incumbent) 192,835 59.13%
Nonpartisan Brandt Dick 130,280 39.95%
Write-in 3,005 0.92%
Turnout 326,120 56.09%

Public Service Commissioner

One of three seats in the state Public Service Commission went up for election. Incumbent Republican Brian Kroshus ran for re-election to a full six-year term.

2020 North Dakota Public Service Commission election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Brian Kroshus (incumbent) 231,898 67.62%
Democratic–NPL Casey Buchmann 110,493 32.22%
Write-in 552 0.16%
Turnout 342,943 58.99%

Justice of the Supreme Court

Chief Justice Jon J. Jensen ran unopposed in a nonpartisan election to a ten-year term.

2020 North Dakota Supreme Court election[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Jon J. Jensen (incumbent) 290,346 99.08%
Write-in 2,703 0.92%
Turnout 293,049 50.41%

State legislative races

23 seats in the North Dakota Senate and 47 seats in the North Dakota House of Representatives are up for election.[8] Voters in all even-numbered districts will see those races on their ballots. The outcome of this election could affect partisan balance during post-census redistricting.[9]

Among the candidates for the North Dakota House, Republican candidate David Andahl who died due to COVID-19 in October 2020 had eventually won a seat in the North Dakota House of Representatives.[10][11][12]

Measures

Voters will face any number of constitutional measures and statutes initiated or referred to the ballot by petition.[2]

Measure 1

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 For
Measure 1		 Against
Measure 1		 Undecided
DFM Research/North Dakota Voters First September 12–16, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.5% 32% 46% 22%
Result
Constitutional Measure No. 1
Relating to the state board of higher education
Choice Votes  %
Referendum failed No 242,004 72.52
Yes 91,706 27.48
Total votes 333,710 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 581,379 57.40
Source: [13]

Measure 2

Polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered		 Sample
size[lower-alpha 1]		 Margin
of error		 For
Measure 2		 Against
Measure 2		 Undecided
DFM Research/North Dakota Voters First September 12–16, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.5% 33% 39% 28%
Result
Constitutional Measure No. 2
Relating to initiated constitutional amendments
Choice Votes  %
Referendum failed No 201,343 61.61
Yes 125,460 38.39
Total votes 326,803 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 581,379 56.21
Source: [13]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
Partisan clients

    References

    1. 1 2 "Statewide Turnout". North Dakota Secretary of State. November 12, 2020.
    2. 1 2 3 4 "North Dakota Election Laws" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
    3. ↑ Putnam, Josh (January 18, 2019). "The 2020 Presidential Primary Calendar". Frontloading HQ. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
    4. ↑ "Distribution of Electoral Votes". National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
    5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Statewide Election Results". North Dakota Secretary of State. November 12, 2020.
    6. ↑ Jack Dura (December 10, 2019), "North Dakota State Treasurer Kelly Schmidt won't seek reelection in 2020", Bismarck Tribune, retrieved December 9, 2020
    7. ↑ "Josh Gallion to seek second term as North Dakota auditor". The Bismarck Tribune. Associated Press. October 9, 2019. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
    8. ↑ "North Dakota elections, 2020". Ballotpedia.org. Retrieved October 10, 2020.
    9. ↑ Wendy Underhill; Ben Williams (December 4, 2019), "Election Dates for Legislators and Governors Who Will Do Redistricting", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures
    10. ↑ Garger, Kenneth (November 4, 2020). "North Dakota state legislative candidate who died of COVID-19 wins election". New York Post. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
    11. ↑ "North Dakota legislature candidate who died from COVID-19 wins election". FOX 9. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
    12. ↑ Vigdor, Neil (October 7, 2020). "A North Dakota candidate who died of Covid-19 remains on the ballot". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
    13. 1 2 "Statewide Measure Results". North Dakota Secretary of State. November 12, 2020.
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