North Dakota House of Representatives District 18

North Dakota House of Representatives District 18 is represented by Nels Christianson (R) and Steve Vetter (R).

As of the 2020 Census, North Dakota state representatives represented an average of 8,295 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 7,190 residents.

About the office

Members of the North Dakota House of Representatives serve four-year terms with term limits. Generally, members from even-numbered districts are elected in U.S. presidential election years (2012, 2008, 2004, etc.) and members from odd-numbered districts are elected in general election years offset by two years from U.S. presidential elections (2010, 2006, 2002, etc.). North Dakota legislators assume office December 1st.^[1]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article 4, Section 5 of the North Dakota Constitution states:^[2]

“

Each individual elected or appointed to the legislative assembly must be, on the day of the election or appointment, a qualified elector in the district from which the member was selected and must have been a resident of the state for one year immediately prior to that election. An individual may not serve in the legislative assembly unless the individual lives in the district from which selected.^[3]

”

Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

State legislative salaries, 2024^[4]
Salary	Per diem
$592/month	$213/day

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The North Dakota Legislative Assembly is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. It has been a term-limited state legislature since North Dakota voters approved Constitutional Measure 1 in 2022, as an initiated constitutional amendment. The first year that the term limits enacted in 2022 will impact the ability of incumbents to run for office is 2030. Under North Dakota's term limits, state representatives can serve no more than two four-year terms.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the North Dakota State Legislature, the vacancy is filled by the district committee of the political party that holds the seat. A replacement must be named within 21 days of the vacancy. The appointed person shall serve until the next general election which is scheduled for at least 94 days after the vacancy occurs. Qualified electors in a district where a vacancy exists can also petition for a special election to be called by the governor to fill the remaining term.^[5]

See sources: North Dakota Cent. Code §44-02-03.1

District map

Redistricting

See also: Redistricting in North Dakota

Because North Dakota has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. The state legislature draws state legislative district boundaries. State legislative district lines are subject to veto by the governor.^[6]

The North Dakota Constitution requires that state legislative districts be "compact and contiguous."^[6]^[7]

2020-2024

See also: Redistricting in North Dakota after the 2020 census

On May 14, 2025, a federal appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that struck down the state's 2021 legislative maps. On January 8, 2024, the U.S. District Court of North Dakota had ordered the state to adopt a remedial legislative map proposed by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and the Spirit Lake Tribe. In the order, Judge Peter Welte said that the new map "requires changes to only three districts ... and is the least intrusive option that complies with the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution."^[8]^[9]

The U.S. District Court of North Dakota struck down the state's legislative map on November 17, 2023, saying in its ruling in the case Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. the Secretary of State of North Dakota, "The Secretary is permanently enjoined from administering, enforcing, preparing for, or in any way permitting the nomination or election of members of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly from districts 9 and 15 and subdistrict 9A and 9B. The Secretary and Legislative Assembly shall have until December 22, 2023, to adopt a plan to remedy the violation of Section 2."^[10] North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed legislation enacting the state's legislative map on November 11, 2021.

Reactions to 2024 state legislative maps

On January 9, 2024, the Secretary of State’s Office filed an appeal with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of the U.S. District Court of North Dakota's order in the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. the Secretary of State of North Dakota case.^[11]

The Secretary of State’s Office also released a statement saying, “Any action taken by the appeals court would not impact the maps used for the 2024 election cycle. ... Secretary of State Michael Howe will be moving forward for the 2024 election with Judge Welte’s court-imposed map.”^[11]

Below are the maps in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle. The map on the right was in effect for North Dakota’s 2024 state legislative elections.

North Dakota House of Representatives District 18
before 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

North Dakota House of Representatives District 18
after 2020 redistricting cycle

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

General election

General election for North Dakota House of Representatives District 18 (2 seats)

Incumbent Steve Vetter and Nels Christianson defeated Mary Adams and Scott Nelson in the general election for North Dakota House of Representatives District 18 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Steve Vetter (R)	29.7	3,465
✔		Nels Christianson (R)	24.3	2,837
	Submit photo	Mary Adams (D)	23.8	2,779
	Submit photo	Scott Nelson (D)	22.0	2,562
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	14

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,657
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for North Dakota House of Representatives District 18 (2 seats)

Mary Adams and Scott Nelson advanced from the Democratic primary for North Dakota House of Representatives District 18 on June 11, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Mary Adams	53.2	427
✔	Submit photo	Scott Nelson	46.7	375
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	1

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 803
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for North Dakota House of Representatives District 18 (2 seats)

Incumbent Steve Vetter and Nels Christianson advanced from the Republican primary for North Dakota House of Representatives District 18 on June 11, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Steve Vetter	53.7	755
✔	Nels Christianson	45.3	637
	Other/Write-in votes	1.0	14

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 1,406
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Scott Schofield (R)