North Dakota state executive official elections, 2020
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| North Dakota state executive official elections |
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| Election details |
| Filing deadline: April 6, 2020 |
| Primary: June 9, 2020 General: November 3, 2020 |
| How to vote |
| Poll times: Open between 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.; close between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Voting in North Dakota |
| Ballotpedia analysis |
| Federal and state primary competitiveness State executive elections in 2020 Impact of term limits in 2020 State government trifectas and triplexes |
| Other state executive elections |
Seven state executive offices were up for election in North Dakota in 2020:
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Treasurer
State Auditor
Commissioner of Insurance
Public Service Commissioner
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Candidates and election results
Governor
General election
General election for Governor of North Dakota
The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of North Dakota on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Doug Burgum (R) | 65.8 | 235,629 | |
| Shelley Lenz (D) | 25.4 | 90,925 | ||
| DuWayne Hendrickson (L) | 3.9 | 13,833 | ||
| Michael Coachman (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Bruce Moe (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Jamie Brager (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.9 | 17,472 | ||
| Total votes: 357,859 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Governor of North Dakota
Shelley Lenz advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Shelley Lenz | 99.3 | 34,501 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 231 | ||
| Total votes: 34,732 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Governor of North Dakota
Incumbent Doug Burgum defeated Michael Coachman in the Republican primary for Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Doug Burgum | 89.5 | 96,119 | |
| Michael Coachman | 10.2 | 10,904 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 356 | ||
| Total votes: 107,379 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Governor of North Dakota
DuWayne Hendrickson advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | DuWayne Hendrickson | 77.6 | 705 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 22.4 | 203 | ||
| Total votes: 908 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Lieutenant Governor
General election
General election for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
Incumbent Brent Sanford defeated Ben Vig and Joshua Voytek in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brent Sanford (R) | 65.8 | 235,629 | |
| Ben Vig (D) | 25.4 | 90,925 | ||
| Joshua Voytek (L) | 3.9 | 13,833 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.9 | 17,472 | ||
| Total votes: 357,859 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
Ben Vig advanced from the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Ben Vig | 99.3 | 34,501 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 231 | ||
| Total votes: 34,732 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
Incumbent Brent Sanford defeated Joel Hylden in the Republican primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brent Sanford | 89.5 | 96,119 | |
| Joel Hylden | 10.2 | 10,904 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 356 | ||
| Total votes: 107,379 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian primary election
Libertarian primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
Joshua Voytek advanced from the Libertarian primary for Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Joshua Voytek | 77.6 | 705 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 22.4 | 203 | ||
| Total votes: 908 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Treasurer
General election
General election for North Dakota Treasurer
Thomas Beadle defeated Mark Haugen in the general election for North Dakota Treasurer on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Beadle (R) | 65.6 | 227,583 | |
| Mark Haugen (D) | 34.0 | 117,790 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 1,533 | ||
| Total votes: 346,906 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Dakota Treasurer
Mark Haugen advanced from the Democratic primary for North Dakota Treasurer on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Mark Haugen | 99.5 | 34,750 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 169 | ||
| Total votes: 34,919 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Dakota Treasurer
Thomas Beadle defeated Daniel Johnston in the Republican primary for North Dakota Treasurer on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Thomas Beadle | 52.4 | 52,039 | |
| Daniel Johnston | 47.3 | 46,987 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 275 | ||
| Total votes: 99,301 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
State Auditor
General election
General election for North Dakota State Auditor
Incumbent Josh Gallion defeated Patrick Hart in the general election for North Dakota State Auditor on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Josh Gallion (R) | 67.7 | 234,293 | |
Patrick Hart (D) ![]() | 32.1 | 111,243 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 579 | ||
| Total votes: 346,115 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Dakota State Auditor
Patrick Hart advanced from the Democratic primary for North Dakota State Auditor on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Patrick Hart ![]() | 99.4 | 34,460 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 211 | ||
| Total votes: 34,671 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Dakota State Auditor
Incumbent Josh Gallion advanced from the Republican primary for North Dakota State Auditor on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Josh Gallion | 99.6 | 94,916 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 423 | ||
| Total votes: 95,339 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Commissioner of Insurance
General election
General election for North Dakota Commissioner of Insurance
Incumbent Jon Godfread won election in the general election for North Dakota Commissioner of Insurance on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jon Godfread (R) | 97.7 | 295,095 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.3 | 6,813 | ||
| Total votes: 301,908 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Travisia Martin (D)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Dakota Commissioner of Insurance
Travisia Martin advanced from the Democratic primary for North Dakota Commissioner of Insurance on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Travisia Martin | 99.6 | 34,277 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 148 | ||
| Total votes: 34,425 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Dakota Commissioner of Insurance
Incumbent Jon Godfread advanced from the Republican primary for North Dakota Commissioner of Insurance on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jon Godfread | 99.7 | 96,112 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 314 | ||
| Total votes: 96,426 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Public Service Commissioner
General election
General election for North Dakota Public Service Commission
Incumbent Brian Kroshus defeated Casey D. Buchmann in the general election for North Dakota Public Service Commission on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Kroshus (R) | 67.6 | 231,898 | |
| Casey D. Buchmann (D) | 32.2 | 110,493 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 552 | ||
| Total votes: 342,943 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for North Dakota Public Service Commission
Casey D. Buchmann advanced from the Democratic primary for North Dakota Public Service Commission on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Casey D. Buchmann | 99.5 | 34,385 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.5 | 158 | ||
| Total votes: 34,543 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for North Dakota Public Service Commission
Incumbent Brian Kroshus advanced from the Republican primary for North Dakota Public Service Commission on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Brian Kroshus | 99.7 | 95,568 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 257 | ||
| Total votes: 95,825 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Superintendent of Public Instruction
General election
General election for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Kirsten Baesler defeated Brandt Dick and Charles Tuttle in the general election for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kirsten Baesler (Nonpartisan) | 59.1 | 192,835 | |
Brandt Dick (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 39.9 | 130,280 | ||
| Charles Tuttle (Nonpartisan) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 3,005 | ||
| Total votes: 326,120 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
Incumbent Kirsten Baesler and Brandt Dick defeated Charles Tuttle in the primary for North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Kirsten Baesler (Nonpartisan) | 54.2 | 76,987 | |
| ✔ | Brandt Dick (Nonpartisan) ![]() | 25.8 | 36,733 | |
| Charles Tuttle (Nonpartisan) | 19.7 | 27,929 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 456 | ||
| Total votes: 142,105 | ||||
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Context of the 2020 elections
Party control in North Dakota
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 |
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.[1][2]
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.[3][4]
Registration requirements
- Check your voter information here.
North Dakota is the only state that does not require voter registration.[5][6]
| “ | 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.[8]
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."[8]
Early voting
North Dakota law permits counties to establish early voting.[9] 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.[10] Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to 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.
Absentee voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in North Dakota. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee.[11][12]
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.[12][13]
Past elections
2018
The following elections took place in 2018:
- North Dakota Attorney General election, 2018
- North Dakota Secretary of State election, 2018
- North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner election, 2018
- North Dakota Tax Commissioner election, 2018
- North Dakota state executive official elections, 2018
- North Dakota Attorney General election, 2018 (June 12 Republican primary)
- North Dakota Secretary of State election, 2018 (June 12 Republican primary)
- North Dakota Attorney General election, 2018 (June 12 Democratic primary)
- North Dakota Secretary of State election, 2018 (June 12 Democratic primary)
- North Dakota Public Service Commission election, 2018
See also
| North Dakota | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 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
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 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
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 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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