North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2020
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| 2020 North Dakota House Elections | |
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| General | November 3, 2020 |
| Primary | June 9, 2020 |
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Republicans gained seats in the 2020 elections for North Dakota House of Representatives, expanding their supermajority. Forty-six seats in the chamber were up for election in 2020. Heading into the election, Republicans held 79 seats and Democrats held 15. Republicans gained a net one seat from Democrats, leaving the Republican Party with an 80-14 supermajority.
The North Dakota House of Representatives was one of 86 state legislative chambers with elections in 2020. A total of 46 seats of the chamber's 94 seats were up for election in 2020. There are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 2018, 87 out of 99 legislative chambers held elections.
North Dakota's 2020 gubernatorial and state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In North Dakota, the state legislature is responsible for redistricting. District maps are subject to gubernatorial veto.
Election procedure changes in 2020
Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.
North Dakota did not modify any procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election.
For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.
Party control
| As of January 2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Members | |
| Democratic | 11 | |
| Republican | 83 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 94 | |
Candidates
The candidate lists below are based on candidate filing lists provided by the North Dakota Secretary of State. (I) denotes an incumbent.[1]
General election
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection
North Dakota House District 8 Republican candidate David Andahl died on October 5, 2020. According to The Bismarck Tribune, he was not replaced on the ballot because his death was too close to the election andabsentee/mail-in ballots had already been sent to voters.[2] Click here to learn more.
Primary election
North Dakota State House primary election |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 2 (2 seats) |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
| District 4 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 6 (2 seats) |
Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 8 (2 seats) |
Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 10 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 12 (2 seats) |
Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 14 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 16 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 18 (2 seats) |
Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 20 (2 seats) |
Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 22 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 24 (2 seats) |
Did not make the ballot: |
Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 26 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party Mattie Richardson |
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| District 28 (2 seats) |
Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 30 (2 seats) |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
| District 32 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 34 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 36 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 38 (2 seats) |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
| District 40 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 42 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 44 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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| District 46 (2 seats) |
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Libertarian Party No candidates filed for the Libertarian Party primary |
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Aftermath
North Dakota State Supreme Court ruling on District 8 vacancy
On Oct. 5, 2020, House District 8 general election candidate, David Andahl (R), passed away due to coronavirus complications.[3] Andahl's name remained on the general election ballot since absentee/mail-in ballots had already been sent to voters for the general election.[4] On Nov. 3, Andahl and the other Republican candidate in the district, Dave Nehring (R), received the most votes and were elected to represent House District 8, creating a vacancy.
Due to varying interpretations of the state law regarding legislative vacancies, two appointments to fill the vacant seat were attempted. On Nov. 4, Gov. Doug Burgum (R) appointed Wade Boeshans (R) to the seat. On Nov. 18, the District 8 GOP appointed incumbent Rep. Jeff Delzer (R), who had been defeated by Andahl and Nehring in the primary election, to fill Andahl's vacancy. On Nov. 24, the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled that the district party's appointment was valid.[5] Delzer and Nehring were sworn in to represent House District 8 on Dec. 1.
The House District 8 primary election and post-election Supreme Court ruling highlighted existing divisions between Gov. Burgum and incumbent Rep. Delzer, described below.
Primary election
Delzer ran for re-election in 2020, facing Andahl, Nehring, and Bob Wheeler in the Republican primary. During the primary, Burgum donated over $3.1 million to a political action committee opposing Delzer.[6] Burgum and Dezler have disagreed over the state's budgeting in the past.[6][7] Burgum, as governor, proposes a budget every two years, but the legislature approves the final budget. Delzer, as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, directs those budgeting proceedings in the House.[8] Andahl and Nehring defeated Delzer in the primary and proceeded to the general election for the district's two seats.
Supreme Court ruling
On Nov. 4, Burgum appointed Wade Boeshans (R) to fill the vacancy created by Andahl's death.[9]
On Nov. 12, Burgum sued the secretary of state, the Legislature, and the District 8 GOP chair.[10] In the lawsuit, Burgum asked the state Supreme Court to prevent the secretary of state from issuring a ceritificate of election to Andahl and to prevent the Legislature or District 8 GOP chair from making any appointments to the vacant seat.[11]
Under state law, when a legislative vacancy occurs, the former legislator's district party can appoint a replacement.[12]
Burgum argued that state law was unclear about instances where a candidate dies before the election and argued that he, instead, held appointment authority.[11] Burgum cited Article V, Section 8, on the North Dakota Constitution, which states, "The governor may fill a vacancy in any office by appointment if no other method is provided by this constitution or by law."[13][11]
On Nov. 18, the District 8 GOP's executive committee appointed Delzer to fill the vacancy. Delzer was the only candidate nominated and received the nomination with a 17-1 vote.[6]
On Nov. 24, the state Supreme Court denied Burgum's request, saying, "We delcare a vacancy in office will exist on December 1, 2020, and the Governor does not have the statutory or constitutional authority to make an appointment to fill the vacancy in this case."[11]
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in the general election
No incumbents lost in the Nov. 3 general election.
Incumbents defeated in primary elections
Two incumbents lost in the June 9 primaries, an increase from the one incumbent defeated in the 2018 primaries.
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Delzer[14] |  Republican |
House District 8 |
| Aaron McWilliams | Republican |
House District 20 |
Retiring incumbents
There were four open seats where the incumbent legislator did not file for re-election in 2020.[15] Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Craig Johnson | Republican |
House District 6 |
| Vernon Laning | Republican |
House District 8 |
| Richard Holman |  Democratic |
House District 20 |
| Daniel Johnston | Republican |
House District 24 |
The four seats left open in 2020 represented the lowest number of open seats within the preceding decade. The table below shows the number of open seats in each election held between 2010 and 2020.
| Open Seats in North Dakota House of Representatives elections: 2010 - 2020 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2020 | 46 | 4 (9 percent) | 42 (91 percent) |
| 2018 | 48 | 7 (15 percent) | 41 (85 percent) |
| 2016 | 47 | 12 (26 percent) | 35 (74 percent) |
| 2014 | 48 | 10 (21 percent) | 38 (79 percent) |
| 2012 | 50 | 10 (20 percent) | 40 (80 percent) |
| 2010 | 48 | 12 (25 percent) | 36 (75 percent) |
Process to become a candidate
For party candidates
See statutes: Chapter 16.1-11, Section 6 of the North Dakota Century Code
A candidate seeking the nomination of a recognized political party can submit a petition/certificate of nomination, an affidavit of candidacy, and a statement of interests in order to have his or her name printed on the primary ballot. A petition/certificate of nomination must include the following information:[16]
- the candidate's name, post office address, and telephone number
- the title of the office being sought
- the name of the party the candidate seeks to represent
For statewide partisan offices (including congressional offices), petitions must contain signatures equaling 3 percent of the total number of votes cast for the party's candidate for the same office in the last general election. No more than 300 signatures, however, may be required for such offices.[16][17][18]
For state legislative offices, petitions must contain signatures equaling least 1 percent of the total resident population of the legislative district according to the most recent federal census.[19]
In addition to petitions/certificates of nomination, candidates must also file affidavits of candidacy, which require basic information about the candidate. Any candidate for state executive or legislative office (excluding federal candidates) must also file a statement of interests, which details the candidate's sources of income and any businesses or organizations in which he or she has a financial or fiduciary responsibility.[20][21][22]
Candidates for federal, statewide executive, or state legislative office must file the aforementioned paperwork with the North Dakota Secretary of State by 4:00 p.m. on the 64th day before the election.[16][19][18]
For independent candidates
See statutes: Chapter 16.1-12 of the North Dakota Century Code
Independent candidates petition for placement on the general election ballot. Like party candidates, an independent candidate must file a petition/certificate of nomination, an affidavit of candidacy, and a statement of interests. Signature requirements for independent candidates differ from those to which party candidates are held. Signature requirements for independent candidates are summarized in the table below.[23]
| Independent candidate signature requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Office | Required signatures | |
| Governor United States Senator United States Representative Secretary of State of North Dakota Attorney General of North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Tax Commissioner Public Service Commissioner |
1,000 | |
| North Dakota Legislative Assembly | At least 2 percent of the resident population of the district according to the most recent decennial federal census, but no more than 300 signatures may be required | |
Completed filing paperwork must be submitted to the North Dakota Secretary of State office by 4:00 p.m. on the 64th day before the general election.[19][18][24]
For write-in candidates
In order to have his or her votes tallied, a write-in candidate for federal, statewide, or state legislative office must submit a certificate of write-in candidacy to the North Dakota Secretary of State. Certificates for federal and statewide candidates are due by 4:00 p.m. on the 21st day prior to the election. Certificates for state legislative candidates are due by 4:00 p.m. on the fourth day prior to the election. The certificate must include the candidate's name, address, and office being sought. Along with this form, the candidate must also submit a statement of interests (the same as that submitted by party and independent candidates).[19][18][25][26]</ref>
2020 ballot access requirements
The table below details filing requirements for North Dakota House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.
| Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chamber name | Party | Signatures required | Filing fee | Filing deadline | Source |
| North Dakota House of Representatives | Qualified party | 1% of total population of the district | N/A | 4/6/2020 | Source |
| North Dakota House of Representatives | Unaffiliated | 2% of total population of the district | N/A | 8/31/2020 | Source |
Qualifications
Article 4, Section 5 of the North Dakota Constitution states: State Senators and Representatives must be, on the day of the election, qualified voters in the district from which they are chosen and a resident of the state for one year preceding election to office.
Salaries and per diem
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2025[27] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $592/month | $213/day |
When sworn in
North Dakota legislators assume office December 1st.[28]
North Dakota political history
Trifectas
A state government trifecta is a term that describes single-party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government.
North Dakota Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas • Thirty-one years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| Senate | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Presidential politics in North Dakota
2016 Presidential election results
| U.S. presidential election, North Dakota, 2016 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Electoral votes | |
| Democratic | Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine | 27.2% | 93,758 | 0 | |
| Republican |  Donald Trump/Mike Pence |
63% | 216,794 | 3 | |
| Libertarian | Gary Johnson/Bill Weld | 6.2% | 21,434 | 0 | |
| Green | Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka | 1.1% | 3,780 | 0 | |
| American Delta | Rocky De La Fuente/Michael Steinberg | 0.1% | 364 | 0 | |
| Constitution | Darrell Lane Castle/Scott Bradley | 0.5% | 1,833 | 0 | |
| - | Write-in votes | 1.9% | 6,397 | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 344,360 | 3 | |||
| Election results via: North Dakota Secretary of State | |||||
Voter information
How the primary works
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. A primary election is also sometimes used to choose convention delegates and party leaders; however, these selection processes can vary from state to state and party to party within a state. In North Dakota, precinct, district, and state party officials are selected at party caucuses and conventions, not at the state-administered primary election. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. North Dakota utilizes an open primary system, in which voters do not have to be members of a party to vote in that party's primary.[29][30]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Poll times
In North Dakota, voting hours at polling locations vary by county. According to statute, all polls must open between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. local time, and they must close between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. North Dakota is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones. Hours for specific polling places are available online through the state's Polling Place Search. Anyone in line when the polls close must be allowed to vote.[31][32]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter information here.
North Dakota is the only state that does not require voter registration.[33][34]
| “ | Although North Dakota was one of the first states to adopt voter registration prior to the turn of the century, it abolished it in 1951. It is also worth noting that North Dakota law still provides cities with the ability to register voters for city elections.
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” |
| —North Dakota Secretary of State | ||
Voter ID requirements
North Dakota requires voters to present identification while voting. Identification must include the voter’s name, current North Dakota residential address, and date of birth.[36]
The following are acceptable forms of voter identification as of November 2025. Click here for the North Dakota Secretary of State page on accepted ID for the most current information.
| “ |
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” |
To view North Dakota state law pertaining to voter identification, click here.
According to the secretary of state's office, an absentee ballot applicant "without an acceptable form of ID may use an attester." The attester "must provide name, valid ID number and sign the absentee or mail ballot application attesting the applicant's ND residency or voting eligibility."[36]
Early voting
North Dakota law permits counties to establish early voting.[37] As of November 2025, six of North Dakota's 53 counties offered early voting. Together, these counties contained 63 of the state's 157 Election Day polling places.[38] Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in North Dakota. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[39][40]
There is no specific deadline for applying for an absentee ballot. The completed ballot must be received by the appropriate election official by the close of polls on Election Day.[40][41]
See also
- North Dakota House of Representatives
- North Dakota State Legislature
- State legislative elections, 2020
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Secretary of State North Dakota, "2020 Primary Election Contest/Candidate List," accessed April 8, 2020
- ↑ The Bismarck Tribune, "Legislative candidate who advanced in high-profile primary race dies; ballot can't be changed," October 5, 2020
- ↑ The New York Times, "David Andahl, 55, Dies; Elected Posthumously in North Dakota," Nov. 30, 2020
- ↑ The Bismarck Tribune, "Legislative candidate who advanced in high-profile primary race dies; ballot can't be changed," October 5, 2020
- ↑ Billings Gazette, "North Dakota Supreme Court denies governor's legislative appointment," Nov. 24, 2020
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 AP, "Burgum nemesis chosen by GOP to fill dead candidate’s seat," Nov. 18, 2020
- ↑ News4JAX, "North Dakota governor funds PAC targeting fellow Republican," May 13, 2020
- ↑ North Dakota State Legislature, "North Dakota's Budgeting Process," accessed Feb. 22, 2021
- ↑ Office of the Governor, "Burgum fulfills constitutional duty, appoints Wade Boeshans to unfilled District 8 House seat," Nov. 4, 2020
- ↑ Valley News Live, "Burgum wants state’s high court to settle appointment flap," Nov. 13, 2020
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 North Dakota Supreme Court, "Burgum v. Jaeger, et al." Nov. 24, 2020
- ↑ North Dakota State Legislature, "North Dakota Century Code, 16.1-13-08.1," accessed Feb. 22, 2021
- ↑ North Dakota State Legislature, "Article V Executive Branch," accessed Feb. 22, 2021
- ↑ Following the general election and before legislators were sworn in, Delzer was appointed to fill a vacancy in House District 8 meaning he remained an incumbent legislator. His primary defeat is still included here and recorded in Ballotpedia's analysis on incumbent defeats and turnover. Click here to learn more.
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines an incumbent as retiring if the incumbent did not file for office or filed for office but withdrew, was disqualified, or otherwise left a race in a manner other than losing the primary, primary runoff, or convention. If an incumbent runs as a write-in candidate, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring. If an incumbent runs in the same chamber for a different seat, Ballotpedia does not consider them to be retiring.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 North Dakota Century Code, "Chapter 16.1-11, Section 6," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Running for Partisan Statewide Executive Office," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 North Dakota Secretary of State, "Running for U.S. Congress," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 North Dakota Secretary of State, "Running for the ND Legislature," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Affidavit of Candidacy," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Statement of Interests," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Century Code, "Chapter 16.1-11, Section 10," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Century Code, "Chapter 16.1-12, Section 02," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Century Code, "Chapter 16.1-12, Section 4," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Century Code, "Chapter 16.1-12, Section 2.2," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Certificate of Write-in Candidacy," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2025 Legislator Compensation," December 2, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Constitution, "Article IV, Section 7," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ North Dakota Legislative Assembly, "N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1–11–22," accessed November , 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Legislative Assembly, "N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-01-06," accessed November 7, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Q: What are voting hours in North Dakota?" accessed November 6, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Legislative Assembly, "N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-01-03," accessed November 6, 2025
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 North Dakota Secretary of State, “North Dakota….The Only State Without Voter Registration,” accessed November 6, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, “Voting in North Dakota,” accessed November 6, 2025
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 North Dakota Secretary of State, "ID Requirements for Voting," accessed November 4, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Legislative Assembly, "N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-07-15," accessed November 6, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Secretary of State, "Early Voting Available Counties," accessed November 5, 2025
- ↑ North Dakota Legislative Assembly, "N.D. Cent. Code § 16.1-07-01," accessed November 5, 2025
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 North Dakota Secretary of State, "North Dakota Residents Choosing to Vote Absentee or by Mail," accessed November 5, 2025
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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