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North Dakota State Senate elections, 2024
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| 2024 North Dakota Senate Elections | |
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| Primary | June 11, 2024 |
| General | November 5, 2024 |
| Past Election Results |
| 2022・2020・2018・2016・2014 2012・2010・2008 |
| 2024 Elections | |
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A total of 23 seats out of the North Dakota State Senate’s 47 seats were up for election in 2024. Republicans lost one seat in the election, giving Republicans a 42 seat majority to Democrats’ five seats. Before the election, Republicans controlled 43 seats to Democrats' four.
The North Dakota State Senate was one of 85 state legislative chambers with elections in 2024. There are 99 chambers throughout the country.
Party control
| North Dakota State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 5, 2024 | After November 6, 2024 | |
| Democratic Party | 4 | 5 | |
| Republican Party | 43 | 42 | |
| Total | 47 | 47 | |
Candidates
General election
North Dakota State Senate general election 2024 |
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| Office |  Democratic |
 Republican |
Other |
| District 2 |
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| District 4 |
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| District 6 |
Robert Tolar (Independent) |
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| District 8 |
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| District 10 |
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| District 12 |
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| District 14 |
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| District 16 |
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| District 18 |
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| District 20 |
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| District 22 |
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| District 24 |
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| District 26 |
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| District 28 |
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| District 30 |
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| District 32 |
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| District 34 |
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| District 36 |
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| District 38 |
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| District 40 |
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| District 42 |
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| District 44 |
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| District 46 |
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= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate ConnectionPrimary
North Dakota State Senate primary 2024 |
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| Office | Democratic |
Republican |
Other |
| District 2 |
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| District 4 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 6 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 8 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 10 |
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| District 12 |
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| District 14 |
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| District 16 |
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| District 18 |
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| District 20 |
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| District 22 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 24 |
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| District 26 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 28 |
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| District 30 |
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| District 32 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 34 |
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| District 36 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 38 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 40 |
No candidates filed for the Democratic primary |
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| District 42 |
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| District 44 |
No candidates filed for the Republican primary Did not make the ballot: |
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| District 46 |
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Voting information
- See also: Voting in North Dakota
General election race ratings
The table below displays race ratings for each race in this chamber from CNalysis.
Incumbents who were not re-elected
Incumbents defeated in general elections
No incumbents lost in general elections. The average number of incumbents who lost in each general election from 2010 to 2022 was three.
Incumbents defeated in primaries
No incumbents lost in primaries. This was less than the average of 0.7 incumbent defeats per cycle from 2010 to 2022.
Retiring incumbents
Eight incumbents did not file for re-election in 2024.[1] This was higher than the average number of retirements (3.9) in even-year elections from 2010 to 2022. The incumbents were:
Primary election competitiveness
This section contains data on state legislative primary election competitiveness in North Dakota. These totals include data from all regularly-scheduled House and Senate elections. For more information about Ballotpedia's competitiveness analysis of state legislative elections, please click here.
Post-filing deadline analysis
The following analysis covers all state legislative districts up for election in North Dakota in 2024. Information below was calculated on May 6, 2024, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time. There are 69 state legislative seats up for election this year in North Dakota. Across those, eight incumbents (one Democrat and seven Republicans) did not file to run for re-election. All eight of those retirements came from state senators, while all House incumbents are running for reelection.
Since Ballotpedia began tracking this data in 2010, the average number of retirements per cycle across both chambers of the state legislature was 14.0, with the highest number coming in 2022 (23) and the lowest in 2020 (6). 2024 had the second fewest number of retiring incumbents (8) after 2020 (6).
The total number of contested primaries (with more than one candidate) was 17 - the second most since 2010. In 2024, all 17 contested primaries are Republican primaries while none are Democratic primaries. This means that out of a possible 94 primaries, 18.1% are contested. That is the highest percentage of contested primaries since 2010. The next highest year was 2022 when 17.9% of primaries had more than one candidate, though there were more overall contested primaries that year (21).
North Dakota has a Republican trifecta and a Republican triplex. This means the Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of states, attorney general, and both chambers of the state legislature.
As of May 6, 2024, there are 23 Republican trifectas, 17 Democratic trifectas, and 10 divided governments where neither party holds trifecta control.
North Dakota’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for June 11.
To learn more about North Dakota's state Senate elections in 2024, click here. To learn more about North Dakota's state House elections, click here.
Open seats
The table below shows the number and percentage of open seats in the North Dakota State Senate from 2010 to 2024.[2]
| Open Seats in North Dakota State Senate elections: 2010 - 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total seats | Open seats | Seats with incumbents running for re-election |
| 2024 | 23 | 8 (35 percent) | 15 (65 percent) |
| 2022 | 32 | 8 (25 percent) | 24 ( 75 percent) |
| 2020 | 23 | 2 (9 percent) | 21 (91 percent) |
| 2018 | 24 | 5 (21 percent) | 19 (79 percent) |
| 2016 | 23 | 3 (13 percent) | 20 (87 percent) |
| 2014 | 24 | 3 (13 percent) | 21 (87 percent) |
| 2012 | 25 | 4 (16 percent) | 21 (84 percent) |
| 2010 | 24 | 4 (17 percent) | 20 (83 percent) |
Legislative referrals
- See also: Legislative referral
A legislative referral, or legislatively referred ballot measure, is a ballot measure that appears on the ballot due to a vote of the state legislature. A legislative referral can be a constitutional amendment, state statute, or bond issue.
As of the 2024 election, a simple majority vote was required during one legislative session for the North Dakota Legislative Assembly to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounted to a minimum of 48 votes in the North Dakota House of Representatives and 24 votes in the North Dakota State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments did not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
At the time of the 2024 election, Republicans held a 43-4 majority in the Senate and an 82-12 majority in the House. Democrats needed needed to win 20 Senate seats and 36 House seats to be able to pass legislative referrals without Republican votes. Republicans needed to lose 19 Senate seats and 34 House seats to lose the ability.
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:[3]
- 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.[3][4][5]
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.[6]
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.[7][8][9]
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.[3][6][5]
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.[10]
| 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.[6][5][11]
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).[6][5][12][13]</ref>
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, 2024[14] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $592/month | $213/day |
When sworn in
North Dakota legislators assume office December 1st.[15]
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: 1992-2024
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 |
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| 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
2020
- See also: Presidential election, 2020
Presidential election in North Dakota, 2020
Candidate/Running mate |
% |
Popular votes |
Electoral votes |
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| ✔ |
 
| Donald Trump/Mike Pence (R) |
65.1
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235,595 | 3 |
 
| Joe Biden/Kamala D. Harris (D) |
31.8
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114,902 | 0 | |
 
| Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen (L) |
2.6
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9,393 | 0 | |
| Other write-in votes |
0.5
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1,929 | 0 | ||
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Total votes: 361,819 |
2016
- See also: Presidential election, 2016
| 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 | |||||
North Dakota presidential election results (1900-2024)
- 5 Democratic wins
- 27 Republican wins
| Year | 1900 | 1904 | 1908 | 1912 | 1916 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1940 | 1944 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 | 2020 | 2024 |
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| Winning Party | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Redistricting following 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."[16][17]
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."[18] North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) signed legislation enacting the state's legislative map on November 11, 2021.
See also
| North Dakota | State Legislative Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 • 2014 2025 • 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015 |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Ballotpedia defines a seat as open if the incumbent did not file to run for re-election or filed but withdrew and did not appear on any ballot for his or her seat. If the incumbent withdrew from or did not participate in the primary but later chose to seek re-election to his or her seat as a third party or independent candidate, the seat would not be counted as open. If the incumbent retired or ran for a different seat in the same chamber, his or her original seat would be counted as open unless another incumbent from the same chamber filed to run for that seat, in which case it would not be counted as open due to the presence of an incumbent.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 North Dakota Secretary of State, "Running for U.S. Congress," accessed April 24, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 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, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ North Dakota Constitution, "Article IV, Section 7," accessed February 12, 2021
- ↑ United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, "Case No. 3:22-cv-22 Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, et al., vs. Michael Howe," accessed January 8, 2024
- ↑ Twitter, "RedistrictNet," January 10, 2024
- ↑ U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota, "Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians vs. Michael Howe, in his Official Capacity as Secretary of State of North Dakota," November 17, 2022
