North Dakota 2020 General Election

The Green Papers: North Dakota 2020 General Election

This page is for offices up for election in 2020. Find 2021 elections here.

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North Dakota
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
✓ Primary: Tuesday 9 June 2020
✓ General Election: Tuesday 3 November 2020

✓ Monday 6 April 2020 - Filing Deadline - Primary .
✓ Tuesday 9 June 2020 - Primary . Polling hours end at 4:00p CDT (2100 UTC) / 4:00p MDT (2200 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 2018, polls closed at 8pm CDT in Cass County and at 7pm CDT or 7pm MDT in most other polling places.
✓ Monday 31 August 2020 - Filing Deadline - Independent/Third/Minor/President .
✓ Tuesday 13 October 2020 - Filing Deadline - Write-in .
✓ Tuesday 3 November 2020 - General Election . Polling hours reportedly 7:00a-9:00p CST (1300-0300 UTC) / 7:00a-9:00p MST (1400-0400 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 2018, polls closed at 8pm CST in Cass County and at 7pm CST or 7pm MST in most other polling places.

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)
Voter Registration:	North Dakota has no voter registration.
Capital:	Bismarck

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North Dakota State and Local Government

North Dakota 2020 Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions:
Democrats Republicans

Due to COVID-19, this election will be conducting this election exclusively through the mail, except for voters requiring an assistive device. Ballots must be postmarked no later than 8 June or dropped off in a secure dropbox by 4 pm on 9 June.

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

NOTE: Although we at The Green Papers keep to the statutory latest poll closing times of 9 PM local time [0300 GMT re: the Central Time Zone/0400 GMT re: the Mountain Time Zone], please know the North Dakota State Election Code (in its Section 16.1-01-03) allows for what has to fairly be described as the most extreme Local Option as regards poll opening/closing anywhere in America: not only may individual Counties and Municipalities in North Dakota set an earlier poll closing time than 9 PM local time (so long as it is not earlier than 7 PM local time) but these can even set differing poll closing times for individual precincts within each such jurisdiction (County or Municipality)! As a practical matter, however, it appears that polls in most of the State have tended to be closed by no later than 8 PM Central Time/7 PM Mountain Time (0200 GMT [0100 GMT during Daylight Savings])-- please check locally!

2020 Calendar from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

2020 Primary Election Contest/Candidate List from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

Primary returns from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

Primary results from a media source.

2020 General Election Contest/Candidate List from the North Dakota Secretary of State.

3 November 2020 returns from the North Dakota Secretary of State.



President 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024. 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 by State, List of Presidential Candidates.

	Candidate list (3, 7 write-ins)

		Republican	235,595	65.11%	President Donald John Trump • for Vice President: Vice President Michael R. "Mike" Pence (3 Electoral Votes) • FEC P80001571; 23 Nov 20; Tot $717,303,371; Dsb $718,174,436

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	114,902	31.76%	former Vice President Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. • for Vice President: California Senator Kamala D. Harris • FEC P80000722; 23 Nov 20; Tot $1,064,613,463; Dsb $1,063,053,521

		Libertarian	9,393	2.60%	Jo Jorgensen • for Vice President: Jeremy "Spike" Cohen • FEC P00013524; 23 Nov 20; Tot $3,405,357; Dsb $3,373,521

		Scattering	1,929	0.53%	write-in

		Write-in; (American Solidarity)			Brian T. Carroll • FEC P00013771
		Write-in; (Independent)			Mark Robert Charles • for Vice President: Sedinam Moyowasifza-Curry • FEC P00012039; 23 Nov 20; Tot $157,733; Dsb $155,506
		Write-in; (Green)			Howie Gresham Hawkins • FEC P00012211; 23 Nov 20; Tot $495,566; Dsb $476,095
		Write-in; (Unaffiliated)			Brock Jeffrey Pierce • FEC P00016550; 23 Nov 20; Tot $6,347,587; Dsb $6,315,486
		Write-in; (Independent)			Jade Simmons • FEC P00015537; 23 Nov 20; Tot $125,500; Dsb $72,644
		Write-in; (Non Affiliated)			Kasey J. Wells • FEC P00007864; 14 Oct 20; Tot $10,625; Dsb $10,578
Total			361,819	100.00%

U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 116^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1		Republican	Senator Kevin Cramer • First elected: 2018 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024
	Candidate list (1)

		*Republican*			*Senator Kevin Cramer* • FEC S8ND00120

Class 3		Republican	Senator John Hoeven • First elected: 2010; re-elected: 2016. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022
	Candidate list (1)

		Democratic			Michael J. Steele • FEC S2ND00107

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Term Limit: North Dakota passed an initiative in November 2022 to amend the state's Constitution to add Gubernatorial term limits of 2 4 year terms. Applies to individuals elected after 1 January 2023, All Governors

		Republican	Governor Doug Burgum • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • First elected: 2016 • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • The current Governor is unaffected by the State's term limit. • Renominated
	Candidate list (3, 1 write-in)

		Republican	235,479	65.84%	Governor Doug Burgum • for Lieutenant Governor: Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	90,789	25.38%	former Killdeer School Board Member Shelley Lenz • for Lieutenant Governor: former state Senator Ben Vig

		Scattering	17,538	4.90%	write-in

		Libertarian	13,853	3.87%	DuWayne Hendrickson • for Lieutenant Governor: Joshua Voytek
Total			357,659	100.00%

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020. Elected on a ticket with the Governor

		Republican	Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford • First elected: 2016. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Renominated

116^th U.S. House of Representatives 2-year term. Election Cycle 2020, 2021. No Term Limit. 116^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 1 Republican (1 Renominated)

Incumbent - 116th Congress
At-Large		Republican	Member of Congress Kelly M. Armstrong • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • First elected: 2018 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Renominated
	Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 117th Congress

		Republican	245,229	68.96%	Member of Congress Kelly M. Armstrong • FEC H8ND00096; 23 Nov 20; Tot $1,268,505; Dsb $1,025,469

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	97,970	27.55%	Zachary "Zach" Raknerud • FEC H0ND01042; 23 Nov 20; Tot $28,126; Dsb $26,228

		Libertarian	12,024	3.38%	Steven James Peterson • FEC H0ND00168

		Scattering	375	0.11%	write-in
Total			355,598	100.00%

Secretary of State 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022

		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, 2014, 2018. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022

		Republican	Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem • First elected: 2000, re-elected: 2004 (to a 2 year term), 2006 (to a 4 year term), 2010, 2014, 2018. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Treasurer 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020

Open		Republican	Treasurer Kelly L. Schmidt • First elected: 2004; re-elected: 2008, 2012, 2016. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Open Seat - Retiring
			Open Office (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)

		Republican	227,583	65.60%	state Representative Thomas Beadle

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	117,790	33.95%	Mark Haugen

		Scattering	1,533	0.44%	write-in
Total			346,906	100.00%

Auditor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020

		Republican	Auditor Joshua C. "Josh" Gallion • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • First elected: 2016 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)

		Republican	234,293	67.69%	Auditor Joshua C. "Josh" Gallion

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	111,243	32.14%	Patrick Hart

		Scattering	579	0.17%	write-in
Total			346,115	100.00%

Commissioner of Agriculture 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022

		Republican	Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring • Appointed: 6 April 2009 by Governor John Hoeven upon the resignation of Roger Johnson; first elected: 2010; re-elected: 2014, 2018. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Tax Commissioner 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2022

		Republican	Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger • Appointed 8 November 2013 to fill the unexpired term of Cory Fong [who had been first elected: 2006]; re-elected: 2010, 2014, 2018. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Commissioner of Insurance 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020

		Republican	Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • First elected: 2016 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Renominated
			Uncontested Race
	Candidate list (1, 1 write-in)

		Republican	295,095	97.74%	Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread

		Scattering	6,813	2.26%	write-in
Total			301,908	100.00%

Superintendent of Public Instruction 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2020

		Nonpartisan; (Republican)	Public Instruction Superintendent Kirsten Baesler • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • First elected: 2012; re-elected: 2016. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)

		Nonpartisan; (Republican)	192,835	59.13%	Public Instruction Superintendent Kirsten Baesler
		Nonpartisan; (Republican)	130,280	39.95%	Brandt J. Dick

		Scattering	3,005	0.92%	write-in
Total			326,120	100.00%

Public Service Commissioner 1 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2016, 2022

		Republican	Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak • Appointed December 2012 by Governor Jack Dalrymple (Republican) to fill the un-expired term of Kevin Cramer (Republican) until a November 2014 special election. First elected in a special election: 4 November 2014; re-elected: 2016. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 8 November 2022

Public Service Commissioner 2 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2018, 2024

		Republican	Public Service Commissioner Randy Christmann • First elected: 2012; re-elected: 2018. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2024

Public Service Commissioner 3 6 year term, Election Cycle: 2014, 2020

		Republican	Public Service Commissioner Brian K. Kroshus • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Appointed: 28 February 2017 [re: resignation of Public Service Commissioner Brian P. Kalk (Republican)]; first elected in a Special Election: 6 November 2018. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2020 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)

		Republican	231,898	67.62%	Public Service Commissioner Brian K. Kroshus

		Democratic-Nonpartisan League	110,493	32.22%	Casey D. Buchmann

		Scattering	552	0.16%	write-in
Total			342,943	100.00%

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 Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
	• Democratic (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Democratic-Nonpartisan League (affiliate of Democratic): 6 candidates
	• Republican: 16 incumbents, 10 candidates
Major Third Parties Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
	• Green (affiliates): 1 candidate
	• Libertarian: 3 candidates
Other Third Parties
	• American Solidarity: 1 candidate
Independents
	• Independent: 2 candidates
	• Non Affiliated: 1 candidate
	• Nonpartisan: 1 incumbent, 2 candidates
	• Unaffiliated: 1 candidate
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Scattering: 8 candidates
	• Write-in: 6 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.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"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.