2012 elections preview: North Dakota voters to select winners in congressional, legislative primaries
June 11, 2012
By Ballotpedia's Congressional and State legislative teams
The fast-moving primary season of May and June continues today with elections in North Dakota. Two seats in the United States Congress were up for election in 2012. In the North Dakota Legislative Assembly, 75 seats were up for election in 50 districts.
Polling locations cannot open earlier than 7:00 a.m. and must be open by 9:00 a.m. An exception is made for precincts in which fewer than 75 votes were cast in the last general election. In exempt polling locations, local officials may open polls as late as noon. All polling locations must remain open until 7:00 p.m. and close no later than 9:00 p.m.[1] To find your polling location and time, use the state voter address search located here.
| Contested Primaries in North Dakota -- June 13, 2012 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Congress (2 districts) |
State Legislature (50 districts) | ||||
| Total Democratic Contested Primaries | 0 (0.0%) | 0 (0.0%) | |||
| Total Republican Contested Primaries | 2 (100.0%) | 7 (14.0%) | |||
Congress
U.S. Senate
North Dakota has only one U.S. Senate seat on the ballot in 2012. Incumbent Kent Conrad (D) is not running for re-election. Heidi Heitkamp is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. U.S. House incumbent Rick Berg and Navy Commander Duane Sand are both vying for the Republican nomination.
U.S. House
North Dakota has only one at-large seat on the ballot in 2012. Incumbent Rick Berg (R) is running for U.S. Senate, leaving the at-large House seat open. As such, two members of the North Dakota Public Service Commission are vying for the Republican nomination--Kevin Cramer and Brian Kalk. Democrat Pam Gulleson is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. During the Republican primary contest, Cramer outraised Kalk, bringing in $311,239. Kalk raised $294,355 for his campaign.[2]
| Members of the U.S. House from North Dakota -- Partisan Breakdown | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 0 | 0 | |
| Republican Party | 1 | 1 | |
| Total | 1 | 1 | |
State legislature
In total, 75 seats in 50 legislative districts are up for election in 2012 -- 25 Senate seats and 50 House seats. Each of the 25 House districts up for election is home to two representatives.
There are no contested Democratic primaries and seven (14.0%) contested Republican primaries. Thus, out of the 100 possible primary contests (two parties X 50 districts), there will be only seven (7.0%) primaries where a candidate must defeat a challenger in order to advance to the general election. This figure is lower than the current national contested primary average of 22.84% (for states whose filing deadline has passed).
In total, 15 legislators are retiring from their current seats--four senators and 11 representatives.
Senate
- In District 10, incumbent Curtis Olafson faces former District 16 incumbent Joe Miller in the Republican primary. Miller was moved into District 10 by redistricting. The winner will face Daryl Passa (D) in November.
- Dwaine Heinrich and Bernie Satrom are vying for the Republican nomination in District 12. Incumbent Dave Nething (R) decided not to run for re-election, leaving the seat open. The Republican nominee will face John Grabinger (D) in November.
- Gerald Uglem faces challenger Tom Campbell in the District 19 Republican primary. The winner will face Julius M. Wangler (D) in November.
House
- In District 14, incumbents Duane Lee DeKrey and Robin Weisz face former District 7 incumbent Jon Nelson in the Republican primary. Nelson was moved into District 14 by redistricting. The winners will be unopposed in November.
- In District 28, incumbents Michael Don Brandenburg and William Kretschmar face challengers Jeffery J. Magrum and Barton Schott. The winners will face Joan Hoffman (D) and Austin Wald (D) in November.
- In District 34, incumbents Rae Ann Kelsch and Todd Porter face challenger Nathan P. Toman in the Republican primary. The winners will face Lori Furaus (D) and Sid Kadrmas (D) in November.
- In District 42, John Mitzel, Mike Peterson, and Josh Schreiner are vying for the Republican nomination. Republican incumbent Stacey Dahl is not running for re-election. The Republican nominees will face Kylie Oversen (D) and incumbent Corey Mock (D) in November.
| North Dakota State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 12 | 13 | |
| Republican Party | 35 | 33 | |
| Vacancy | 1 | ||
| Total | 47 | 47 | |
| North Dakota House of Representatives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2012 | After the 2012 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 25 | 23 | |
| Republican Party | 69 | 71 | |
| Total | 94 | 94 | |
See also
|
- North Dakota's At-Large Congressional District elections, 2012
- North Dakota State Senate elections, 2012
- North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2012
Footnotes
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