North Dakota 2012 General Election

The Green Papers: North Dakota 2012 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2012. Find 2013 elections here.

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North Dakota
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
Primary: Tuesday 12 June 2012
General Election: Tuesday 6 November 2012

Senators:	2	(Electoral Classes 1 and 3)
Governor:	1
2010 Census:	675,905	(0.22% of 309,785,186)
2012, 2016, 2020 Electoral Votes:	3	(0.56% of 538)
2012-2020 Representatives:	1	(0.23% of 435)
2000 Census:	643,756	(0.23% of 281,998,273)
2004, 2008 Electoral Votes:	3	(0.56% of 538)
2002-2010 Representatives:	1	(0.23% of 435)
Voter Registration:	North Dakota has no voter registration.
Capital:	Bismarck
Tuesday 12 June 2012 polling hours 7:00a CDT (1200 UTC) / 7:00a MDT (1300 UTC) to 9:00p CDT (0200 UTC) / 9:00p MDT (0300 UTC). Voting places open between 7:00a to 12:00n and remain open until 7:00p to 9:00p depending on the size of the town. The western half of the state is in Mountain Time but that is, of course, the more sparsely populated part of the state, so it is not as problematic to the networks as might be otherwise suggested by simple geography.
Tuesday 6 November 2012 polling hours 7:00a CST (1300 UTC) / 7:00a MST (1400 UTC) to 9:00p CST (0300 UTC) / 9:00p MST (0400 UTC). Voting places open between 7:00a to 12:00n and remain open until 7:00p to 9:00p depending on the size of the town. The western half of the state is in Mountain Time but that is, of course, the more sparsely populated part of the state, so it is not as problematic to the networks as might be otherwise suggested by simple geography. In 2012, polls will close at 8pm CST in Cass County and at 7pm CST or 7pm MST in most other polling places.

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North Dakota State and Local Government

North Dakota 2012 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties

The 12 June 2012 primary is for the Constitution, Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican parties.

12 June 2012 Primary returns from an official source.

6 November 2012 General Election Contest/Candidate List from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

6 November 2012 General Election returns from the North Dakota Secretary of State. On 31 May 2013, the vote tallies for Walsh County were corrected after it was determined that about 300 ballots were double counted. No outcomes were affected.



President 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2012, 2016. Term Limit: No more than 2 4-year terms in a lifetime. Electors: 3 (Winner-take-all), How Appointed, Meeting Place, Duly Appointed Presidential Electors, List of Presidential Candidates.


		Republican	188,163	58.32%	former Massachusetts Governor Willard "Mitt" Romney (3 Electoral Votes) • Vice President: Wisconsin Congressman Paul D. Ryan • FEC P80003353; 26 Nov 12; Tot $478,704,347; Dsb $465,787,141

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	124,827	38.69%	President Barack Hussein Obama • Vice President: Vice President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. • FEC P80003338; 26 Nov 12; Tot $732,741,988; Dsb $729,647,987

		Libertarian	5,231	1.62%	former New Mexico Governor Gary Earl Johnson • Vice President: James P. "Jim" Gray • FEC P20002671; 26 Nov 12; Tot $2,575,529; Dsb $2,572,585

		Scattering	1,860	0.58%	write-in

		Green	1,361	0.42%	Jill E. Stein • Vice President: Cheri Honkala • FEC P20003984; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,005,788; Dsb $1,093,022

		Constitution	1,185	0.37%	former Congressman Virgil Hamlin Goode, Jr. • Vice President: James N. "Jim" Clymer • FEC P20004685; 26 Nov 12; Tot $202,258; Dsb $202,253
Total			322,627	100.00%

U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 112^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1 Open		Democratic	Senator Gaylord Kent "Kent" Conrad • First elected to the "Class 3" seat from the state: 1986; was not a candidate for re-election in the 3 November 1992 General Election; Elected to finish out the "Class 1" term in a Special Election: 4 December 1992 [held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Quentin N. Burdick (Democrat): 8 September 1992- which Jocelyn B. Burdick (Democrat) had been appointed by Governor George Sinner (Democrat) to fill, 12 September 1992]; elected to a full term: 1994, 2000, 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Open Seat - 18 January 2011: Announced retirement.
			Open Seat (no incumbent)

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	161,163	50.23%	former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp • FEC S2ND00099; 26 Nov 12; Tot $5,343,758; Dsb $5,320,129

		Republican	158,282	49.33%	Congressman Richard A. "Rick" Berg • FEC S2ND00073; 26 Nov 12; Tot $6,501,693; Dsb $6,185,051

		Scattering	1,406	0.44%	write-in
Total			320,851	100.00%

Class 3		Republican	Senator John Hoeven • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Term Limit: None, All Governors

		Republican	Governor Jack Dalrymple • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First sworn: 7 December 2010 re: Governor John Hoeven (Republican) ascension to the U.S. Senate. • Chair up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary

		Republican	200,526	63.10%	Governor Jack Dalrymple • for Lieutenant Governor, Lieutenant Governor Drew H. Wrigley

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	109,047	34.31%	state Senator Ryan M. Taylor • for Lieutenant Governor, Ellen Chaffee

		Independent	5,356	1.69%	Paul Sorum • Vice President: Michael Coachman
		Independent	2,616	0.82%	Roland Clifford Riemers • Vice President: Anthony Johns

		Scattering	267	0.08%	write-in
Total			317,812	100.00%
	Governor John Hoeven (Republican) ran for an won the U.S. Senate Class 3 seat in North Dakota in 2010. He was first elected as Governor in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008. Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple was sworn in as the 32nd Governor of North Dakota on 7 December 2010. Mr. Dalrymple was first elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008.

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012. Elected on a ticket with the Governor

		Republican	Lieutenant Governor Drew H. Wrigley • Appointed 7 December 2010 re: Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple ascension to the Governor's chair. • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012
	Lieutenant Governor Jack Dalrymple (Republican), who was first elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004 and 2008, was sworn in as the 32nd Governor of North Dakota on 7 December 2010. Drew H. Wrigley was appointed as North Dakota's 37th Lieutenant Governor upon Governor Dalrymple's assumption of office.

112^th U.S. House of Representatives 2-year term. Election Cycle 2010, 2012. No Term Limit. 112^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 1 Republican (1 Open)

Incumbent - 112th Congress / 2000 apportionment - map
At-Large Open		Republican	Congressman Richard A. "Rick" Berg • First elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Open Seat - 16 May 2011: Congressman Berg announced that he will run for the Senate Class 1 Seat in 2012.
			Open Seat (no incumbent)
	Candidate list - 113th Congress / 2010 apportionment

		Republican	173,433	54.87%	Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer • FEC H0ND01026; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,321,179; Dsb $1,219,283

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	131,869	41.72%	former state Representative Pam Gulleson • FEC H2ND00115; 26 Nov 12; Tot $1,018,243; Dsb $1,012,114

		Libertarian	10,261	3.25%	Eric Olson • FEC H2ND00149

		Scattering	508	0.16%	write-in
Total			316,071	100.00%

Secretary of State 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Secretary of State Alvin A. "Al" Jaeger • First elected: 1992; re-elected: 1996; 2000, 2004 (to a 2 year term), 2006 (to a 4 year term), 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem • First elected: 2000, re-elected: 2004 (to a 2 year term), 2006 (to a 4 year term), 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Treasurer 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012

		Republican	Treasurer Kelly L. Schmidt • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 2004; re-elected: 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary

		Republican	197,044	65.83%	Treasurer Kelly L. Schmidt

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	101,792	34.01%	Ross Mushik

		Scattering	472	0.16%	write-in
Total			299,308	100.00%

Auditor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012

		Republican	Auditor Robert R. "Bob" Peterson • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • First elected: 1996; re-elected: 2000, 2004, 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary

		Republican	188,860	62.50%	Auditor Robert R. "Bob" Peterson

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	112,802	37.33%	state Representative Scot Kelsh

		Scattering	516	0.17%	write-in
Total			302,178	100.00%

Commissioner of Agriculture 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring • Appointed: 6 April 2009 by Governor John Hoeven upon the resignation of Roger Johnson; first elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Tax Commissioner 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2014

		Republican	Tax Commissioner Cory Fong • Appointed 1 June 2005 to fill the unexpired term of Rick Clayburgh; first elected: 2006; re-elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014

Commissioner of Insurance 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012

		Republican	Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm • Re-elected Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Appointed 9 October 2007 by Governor John Hoeven; first elected: 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Renominated - 12 June 2012 Primary

		Republican	192,029	63.25%	Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	111,100	36.59%	Tom Potter

		Scattering	485	0.16%	write-in
Total			303,614	100.00%

Superintendent of Public Instruction 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2012

Open		Nonpartisan	Public Instruction Superintendent Wayne G. Sanstead • First elected: 1988; re-elected: 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Open Seat - Retiring at the end of his term.
			Open Office (no incumbent)

		Nonpartisan; (Republican)	154,177	55.05%	Kirsten Baesler
		Nonpartisan; (Democratic-Farmer Labor)	124,807	44.57%	Tracy Potter

		Scattering	1,071	0.38%	write-in
Total			280,055	100.00%
	The two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the Primary Election will appear on the General Election ballot.

Public Service Commissioner 1 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2010, 2016

		Republican	Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer • Appointed by Governor John Hoeven to fill the un-expired term of Leo M. Reinbold: 2003; first elected to a full term: 2004; re-elected: 2010 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 8 November 2016 • Running for U.S. House At-Large in 2012

Public Service Commissioner 2 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2006, 2012

Open		Republican	Public Service Commissioner Tony Clark • First elected: 2000; re-elected: 2006 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 6 November 2012 • Open Seat
			Open Office (no incumbent)

		Republican	164,591	54.48%	Randy Christmann

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	123,978	41.04%	Brad Crabtree

		Libertarian	13,098	4.34%	Joshua Voytek

		Scattering	433	0.14%	write-in
Total			302,100	100.00%

Public Service Commissioner 3 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2008, 2014

		Republican	Public Service Commissioner Brian P. Kalk • First elected: 2008 • Seat up for election: Tuesday 4 November 2014 • 12 January 2011: Formed an exploratory committee to run for the Senate Class 1 seat in 2012. 20 May 2011: Announced he will no longer seek the Class 1 Senate Seat in 2012. Instead, he will run for the At-Large U.S. House Seat.

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties
	• Democratic (affiliates): 1 incumbent
	• Democratic-Farmer Labor (affiliate of Democratic): 1 candidate
	• Democratic-Nonpartisan League (affiliate of Democratic): 8 candidates
	• Republican: 14 incumbents, 9 candidates
Major Third Parties
	• Constitution (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Libertarian: 3 candidates
Independents
	• Independent: 2 candidates
	• Nonpartisan: 1 incumbent, 2 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Scattering: 9 candidates
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.