Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: North Dakota State Legislature

October 31, 2012

By Ballotpedia's State legislative team

North Dakota's State Legislative Elections in 2012
Senate seats	Contested senate seats	House seats	Contested house seats
25	22 (88.0%)	50	44 (88.0%)

BISMARCK, North Dakota: There are 75 total legislative seats with 2012 elections in North Dakota, where polling places cannot open earlier than 7:00 a.m. and must be open by 9:00 a.m. with the exception of those precincts in which fewer than 75 votes were cast in the last General Election. The governing body of the exempt polling locations may direct the polls to open no later than 12:00 noon. All polling locations must remain open until 7:00 p.m. and close no later than 9:00 p.m.

Despite a high number of contested races, elections in both chambers are expected to be relatively uneventful, as Republicans hold strong majorities (even numbered seats are up for election this year). In the Senate, Republicans hold 35 of 47 seats, and in the House they hold 69 of 94 seats.

Of the 75 incumbents up for election in 2012, 61 (81.3%) of them are running for re-election. A total of 66 of 75 (88.0%) districts will see more than one major party candidate in the general election.

Here are a few races to watch:

Senate

• District 7 is open, as incumbent Ryan Taylor (D) is running for Governor. Warren Emmer (D) and Nicole Poolman (R) are vying for the seat.

• District 19: Incumbent Tom Campbell (R) narrowly escaped a tough primary battle earlier this year, and will now face Democrat Julius M. Wangler (D) in the general election.

House

• District 16: Both seats in this district are open. Democrats Ben Hanson and John Lund are taking on Republicans Ben Koppelman and Harlan Goerger.

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

Articles

• 2012 elections review: North Dakota voters select winners in congressional, legislative primaries June 13

See also

• Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: North Dakota Congressional Seats
• Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: North Dakota State Executive Officials
• Ballotpedia:2012 general election preview articles
• State legislative elections, 2012
• North Dakota elections, 2012

• North Dakota State Senate elections, 2012
• North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2012