North Dakota State Senate elections, 2010
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Elections for the office of North Dakota's State Senate were held in North Dakota on November 2, 2010.
The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 8, 2010. The primary election day was June 8, 2010.
In North Dakota, senators serve four-year terms with no term limits and take office on the first Monday in December.
The North Dakota State Senate has 47 seats and 24 of them were up for election in November. The seats up for election were the 24 seats in the odd-numbered districts.
The incumbent senator ran for re-election in 20 of the 24 state senate seats that were up for election in 2010. (83.33% of races)
Republicans gained nine seats and retained a majority in the chamber.
- See also: North Dakota State Senate and State legislative elections, 2010
November 2 General Election Results
The following candidates won election on November 2, 2010:
- Stanley W. Lyson
- Oley Larsen
- Randy Burckhard
- Ryan Taylor (North Dakota)
- Richard Marcellais
- Tim Mathern
- Judy Lee
- Dave Oehlke
- Ray Holmberg
- Gerald Uglem
- Carolyn Nelson
- Joan Heckaman
- Larry Luick
- Spencer Berry
- Terry Wanzek
- Donald Schaible
- Randel Christmann
- Margaret Sitte
- Rich Wardner
- Bill Bowman (North Dakota)
- Tony Grindberg
- Lonnie Laffen
- Ronald Sorvaag
- Ralph Kilzer
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 2 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the North Dakota State Senate:
| North Dakota State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 1, 2010 | After the 2010 Election | |
| Democratic Party | 21 | 12 | |
| Republican Party | 26 | 35 | |
| Total | 47 | 47 | |
Incumbency
Unopposed incumbents
8 incumbents (40%) faced no competition in the November 2 general election.
- 1 Democratic incumbent faced no November challenger.
- 7 GOP incumbents faced no November challenger.
Primary challenges
No incumbents faced competition in the June 8 primary.
Retiring incumbents
Four incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 20 incumbents (83%) ran for re-election. Of the 4 incumbents who did not seek re-election, all four were Democrats.
Incumbents who retired were:
- District 5: Incumbent Democrat Tom Seymour.
- District 27: Incumbent Democrat Jim Pomeroy.
- District 31: Incumbent Democrat Aaron Krauter.
- District 35: Incumbent Democrat Tracy Potter.
Campaign contributions
This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in North Dakota in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[1]
| Year | Number of candidates | Total contributions |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 42 | $271,222 |
| 2008 | 19 | $863,330 |
| 2006 | 50 | $229,294 |
| 2004 | 43 | $161,116 |
| 2002 | 51 | $242,201 |
| 2000 | 53 | $133,970 |
During the 2010 election, the total contributions to the 43 Senate candidates was $271,222. The top 10 contributors were:[2]
| 2010 Donors, North Dakota State Senate | |
|---|---|
| Donor | Amount |
| North Dakota Senate Democratic-NPL Caucus | $26,750 |
| North Dakota Association of Realtors | $18,550 |
| North Dakota Republican Senate Caucus | $15,602 |
| North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives | $13,000 |
| Lignite Energy Council | $12,500 |
| DAK PAC | $12,000 |
| Boilermakers Local 647 | $11,200 |
| North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives | $11,050 |
| North Dakota Education Association | $10,750 |
| Marathon Oil | $9,600 |
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.
List of candidates
| Partisan dominance in state senates heading into the 2010 state legislative elections |
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| 2010 State senate elections
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| Parties with candidates |
| Impact of term limits |
| Successful challengers |
| Defeated incumbents |
| State house elections |
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| State legislative elections |
District 1
June 8 Democratic primary result:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
June 8 GOP primary result:
- Stanley W. Lyson: 1,437
Incumbent Lyson first assumed office for the 1st District in 1999.
- Stanley W. Lyson: 1,437
November 2 General election candidates:
- Stanley W. Lyson 3,396
District 3
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Robert Horne: 305 Incumbent Horne first assumed office for the 3rd District in 2007.
- Robert Horne: 305
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Oley Larsen: 766
- Oley Larsen: 766
November 2 General election candidates:
- Robert Horne 2,035
- Oley Larsen 2,424
District 5
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Frank Mayer: 332
- Frank Mayer: 332
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Randy Burckhard: 1,133
- Randy Burckhard: 1,133
Note: Incumbent Democrat Tom Seymour did not seek re-election in 2010.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Frank Mayer 1,353
- Randy Burckhard 4,055
District 7
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Ryan Taylor: 1,120 Incumbent Taylor first assumed office for the 7th District in 2003.
- Ryan Taylor: 1,120
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Craig Wollenburg: 1,865
- Craig Wollenburg: 1,865
November 2 General election candidates:
- Ryan Taylor 3,376
- Craig Wollenburg 2,210
District 9
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Richard Marcellais: 1,004 Incumbent Marcellais first assumed office for the 9th District in 2007.
- Richard Marcellais: 1,004
- June 8 GOP primary result:
November 2 General election candidates:
- Richard Marcellais 2,208
- Christopher Albertson 1,716
District 11
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Tim Mathern: 620 Incumbent Mathern first assumed office for the 11th District in 1987.
- Tim Mathern: 620
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- No Republicans filed to run for this seat.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Tim Mathern 3,449
District 13
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Sylvan Loegering: 626
- Sylvan Loegering: 626
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Judy Lee: 1,408 Incumbent Lee first assumed office for the 13th District in 1995.
- Judy Lee: 1,408
November 2 General election candidates:
- Sylvan Loegering 1,982
- Judy Lee 4,064
District 15
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Dave Oehlke: 1,617 Incumbent Oehlke first assumed office for the 15th District in 2007.
- Dave Oehlke: 1,617
November 2 General election candidates:
- Dave Oehlke 4,037
District 17
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Thomas Petros: 588
- Thomas Petros: 588
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Ray Holmberg: 1,198 Incumbent Holmberg first assumed office for the 17th District in 1977.
- Ray Holmberg: 1,198
November 2 General election candidates:
- Thomas Petros 1,915
- Ray Holmberg 4,088
District 19
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Arthur Behm: 473 Incumbent Behm first assumed office for the 19th District in 2007.
- Arthur Behm: 473
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Gerald Uglem: 1,109
- Gerald Uglem: 1,109
November 2 General election candidates:
- Arthur Behm 1,277
- Gerald Uglem 2,298
District 21
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Carolyn Nelson: 496 Incumbent Nelson first assumed office for the 21st District in 1995.
- Carolyn Nelson: 496
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Cindy Pfeiffer: 356
- Cindy Pfeiffer: 356
November 2 General election candidates:
- Carolyn Nelson 1,785
- Cindy Pfeiffer 1,433
District 23
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Joan Heckaman: 1,026 Incumbent Heckaman first assumed office for the 23rd District in 2007.
- Joan Heckaman: 1,026
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Frank Walker: 1,306
- Frank Walker: 1,306
November 2 General election candidates:
- Joan Heckaman 2,799
- Frank Walker 1,998
District 25
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Arden Anderson: 304 Incumbent Anderson first assumed office for the 25th District in 2007.
- Arden Anderson: 304
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Larry Luick: 619
- Larry Luick: 619
June 8 Libertarian primary result:
- Richard Ames: 8 Note: Ames and two other libertarian candidates sued the state to get on the ballot for the November 2 general election.[3]North Dakota is the only state nationally to require a minimum number of primary votes in order to qualify for the general election.[4]
- Richard Ames: 8
November 2 General election candidates:
- Arden Anderson 2,089
- Larry Luick 2,125
Note: This race was subject to a possible recount[5]
District 27
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Lee Myxter: 356
- Lee Myxter: 356
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Spencer Berry: 628
- Spencer Berry: 628
Note: Incumbent Democrat Jim Pomeroy did not seek re-election in 2010.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Lee Myxter 2,300
- Spencer Berry 3,641
District 29
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Richard Schlosser: 775
- Richard Schlosser: 775
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Terry Wanzek: 1,675 Incumbent Wanzek first assumed office for district 29 in 2003.
- Terry Wanzek: 1,675
November 2 General election candidates:
- Richard Schlosser 1,874
- Terry Wanzek 3,493
District 31
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Rodney J Froelich: 583
- Rodney J Froelich: 583
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Donald Schaible: 1,393
- Donald Schaible: 1,393
Note: Incumbent Democrat Aaron Krauter did not seek re-election in 2010.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Rodney J Froelich 1,819
- Donald Schaible 2,592
George Hsu 464
District 33
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Randel Christmann: 2,218 Incumbent Christmann first assumed office for the 33rd District in 1995.
- Randel Christmann: 2,218
November 2 General election candidates:
- Randel Christmann 5,153
District 35
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Nick Archuleta: 627
- Nick Archuleta: 627
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Margaret Sitte: 1,601
- Margaret Sitte: 1,601
Note: Incumbent Democrat Tracy Potter did not seek re-election in 2010.
November 2 General election candidates:
- Nick Archuleta 2,343
- Margaret Sitte 3,451
District 37
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Rich Wardner: 2,163 Incumbent Wardner first assumed office for the 37th District in 1999.
- Rich Wardner: 2,163
November 2 General election candidates:
- Rich Wardner 4,064
District 39
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Bill Bowman: 2,365 Incumbent Bowman first assumed office for the 39th District in 1991.
- Bill Bowman: 2,365
November 2 General election candidates:
- Bill Bowman 5,288
District 41
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Tony Grindberg: 1,002 Incumbent Grindberg first assumed office for the 41st District in 1993.
- Tony Grindberg: 1,002
November 2 General election candidates:
- Tony Grindberg 4,201
District 43
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- JoNell Bakke: 369 Incumbent Bakke first assumed office for the 43rd District in 2007.
- JoNell Bakke: 369
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Lonnie Laffen: 605
- Lonnie Laffen: 605
November 2 General election candidates:
- JoNell Bakke 1,872
- Lonnie Laffen 2,102
District 45
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- Tom Fiebiger: 360 Incumbent Fiebiger first assumed office for the 45th District in 2007.
- Tom Fiebiger: 360
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Ronald Sorvaag: 650
- Ronald Sorvaag: 650
November 2 General election candidates:
- Tom Fiebiger 1,836
- Ronald Sorvaag 2,384
District 47
- June 8 Democratic primary result:
- No Democrats filed to run for this seat.
- June 8 GOP primary result:
- Ralph Kilzer: 2,521 Incumbent Kilzer first assumed office for the 47th District in 1999.
- Ralph Kilzer: 2,521
November 2 General election candidates:
- Ralph Kilzer 6,739
- Garrett Whitecalfe 1,648
See also
- North Dakota State Senate
- North Dakota State Legislature
- State legislative elections, 2010
- Primary election dates in 2010
External links
- Official State Senate General Election Results
- North Dakota primary results
- North Dakota Democratic NPL's list of 2010 legislative candidates
- Project Vote Smart list of candidates for North Dakota State Senate in the November 2, 2010 election
Footnotes
