2026 North Dakota Senate election
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November 3, 2026
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24 of 47 Senate seats in the North Dakota Senate (odd-numbered districts). | |||||||||||||||||||
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 Status of the incumbents: Republican retiring Republican running Democratic-NPL retiring Democratic-NPL running No election | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in North Dakota |
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Elections to the North Dakota Senate are scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, to elect 24 candidates to serve a four-year term in the 70th and 71st North Dakota Legislative Assemblies. All senators in odd-numbered districts are up for re-election.
This election will take place alongside races for U.S. House, state house, and numerous other state and local offices.
Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[1] | Safe R | January 22, 2026 |
Results
[edit]By district
[edit]| District | Incumbent | Party | First elected |
Result | Primary election candidates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Brad Bekkedahl | Republican | 2014 | Incumbent running for re-election. |
| |
| 3rd | Bob Paulson | Republican | Incumbent running for re-election. |
| ||
| 5th | Randy Burckhard | Republican | Incumbent retiring. | |||
| 7th | Michelle Axtman | Republican | Incumbent running for re-election. |
| ||
| 9th | Richard Marcellais | Dem-NPL | Incumbent lost renomination. |
| ||
| 11th | Tim Mathern | Dem-NPL | Incumbent running for re-election. |
| ||
| 13th | Judy Lee | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
| ||
| 15th | Kent Weston | Rep | Incumbent lost renomination. |
| ||
| 17th | Jonathan Sickler | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
| ||
| 19th | Janne Myrdal | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 21st | Kathy Hogan | Dem-NPL | Incumbent retiring. | |||
| 23rd | Todd Beard | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 25th | Larry Luick | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 27th | Kristin Roers | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 29th | Terry Wanzek | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 31st | Donald Schaible | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 33rd | Keith Boehm | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 35th | Sean D. Cleary | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 37th | Dean Rummel | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 39th | Greg Kessel | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 41st | Kyle Davison | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 43rd | Jeff Barta | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 45th | Ronald Sorvaag | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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| 47th | Michael Dwyer | Rep | Incumbent running for re-election. |
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Partisan background
[edit]In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Republican Donald Trump won the most votes in 42 of North Dakota's state senate districts and Democratic—NPL nominee Kamala Harris won 5.[2] Out of the 24 odd-numbered districts up for election in 2026, Trump won the most votes in twenty-one, and Harris won the most votes in three. There are no crossover districts, meaning no district is represented by a legislator of a different party than the presidential candidate who won the most votes there.
| Harris (D-NPL) 40–50% 50–60% |
Trump (R) 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% |
List of districts
[edit]|
District 1 • District 3 • District 5 • District 7 • District 9 • District 11 • District 13 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 • District 21 • District 23 • District 25 • District 27 • District 29 • District 31 • District 33 • District 35 • District 37 • District 39 • District 41 • District 43 • District 45 • District 47 |
District 1
[edit]The 1st district is represented by Republican Brad Bekkedahl, who is running for re-election.[3]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Brad Bekkedahl, incumbent senator[4]
District 3
[edit]The 3rd district is represented by Republican Bob Paulson, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Bob Paulson, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Michael Thiesen[4]
District 5
[edit]The 5th district is represented by Republican Randy Burckhard, who declined to run for re-election.[5]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Jay Fisher, state representative from this district (2018–present)[4]
Declined
[edit]- Randy Burckhard, incumbent senator
District 7
[edit]The 7th district is represented by Republican Michelle Axtman, who is running for re-election.[6]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Michelle Axtman, incumbent senator[4]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Jerri Hopfauf, district Republican committee chairwoman[4]
Endorsements
[edit]Political parties
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Kevin Horneman[4]
District 9
[edit]The 9th district is represented by Democrat Richard Marcellais, who is running for re-election.
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Jayme Davis, state representative from this district (2022–present)[4]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Richard Marcellais, incumbent senator[4]
Endorsements
[edit]Political parties
District 11
[edit]The 11th district is represented by Democrat Tim Mathern, who is running for re-election.[8]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Tim Mathern, incumbent senator[4]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Christine O'Riley, psychologist[4]
District 13
[edit]The 13th district is represented by Republican Judy Lee, who is running for re-election.[9] She defeated right-wing populist Phillip Sallberg in the Republican primary.[10]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Philip Sallberg[4]
Endorsements
[edit]Political parties
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Landis Larson[4]
District 15
[edit]The 15th district is represented by Republican Kent Weston, who is running for re-election.[11]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Kristin Kenner[4]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Kent Weston, incumbent senator[4]
- Judy Estenson, former senator from this district (2022–2025)[4]
District 17
[edit]The 17th district is represented by Republican Jonathan Sickler, who is running for re-election.[12]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Jonathan Sickler, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Katie Benton[4]
Endorsements
[edit]Political parties
District 19
[edit]The 19th district is represented by Republican Janne Myrdal, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Janne Myrdal, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Jeff Hermanson[4]
Endorsements
[edit]Political parties
District 21
[edit]The 21st district is represented by Democrat Kathy Hogan, who is not running for re-election.[14]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Mary Schneider, state representative from this district (2014–present)[4]
Declined
[edit]- Kathy Hogan, incumbent senator
District 23
[edit]The 23rd district is represented by Republican Todd Beard, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Todd Beard, incumbent senator[4]
Endorsements
[edit]Political parties
District 25
[edit]The 25th district is represented by Republican Larry Luick, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Larry Luick, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Bob Heitkamp[4]
District 27
[edit]The 27th district is represented by Republican Kristin Roers, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Kristin Roers, incumbent senator[4]
District 29
[edit]The 29th district is represented by Republican Terry Wanzek, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Terry Wanzek, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- John Kelly[4]
District 31
[edit]The 31st district is represented by Republican Donald Schaible, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Donald Schaible, incumbent senator[4]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Mary Graner[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Kelly Spilman[4]
District 33
[edit]The 33rd district is represented by Republican Keith Boehm, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Keith Boehm, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Signe Snortland[4]
District 35
[edit]The 35th district is represented by Republican Sean D. Cleary, who is running for re-election.[15]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Sean D. Cleary, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Dale Pittman[4]
District 37
[edit]The 37th district is represented by Republican Dean Rummel, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Dean Rummel, incumbent senator[4]
District 39
[edit]The 39th district is represented by Republican Greg Kessel, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Greg Kessel, incumbent senator[4]
District 41
[edit]The 41st district is represented by Republican Kyle Davison, who is running for re-election.[16]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Kyle Davison, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Nyamal Dei[4]
District 43
[edit]The 43rd district is represented by Republican Jeff Barta, who is running for re-election.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Jeff Barta, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Mary K. Adams[4]
District 45
[edit]The 45th district is represented by Republican Ronald Sorvaag, who is running for re-election.[17]
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Ronald Sorvaag, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Dan Mitchell[4]
District 47
[edit]The 47th district is represented by Republican Michael Dwyer, who is eligible to run for re-election but has not yet stated if he will do so.
Republican primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Michael Dwyer, incumbent senator[4]
Democratic–NPL primary
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Bill Patrie[4]
References
[edit]- ↑ Jacobson, Louis (January 22, 2026). "Handicapping The 2026 State Legislative Map: A First Look". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved January 22, 2026.
- ↑ "All Contests in a Legislative District". North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ Reuter, Michael (4 February 2026). "Bekkedahl Aims For Reelection In North Dakota Senate". KKCT. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 "2026 Primary Election Contest/Candidate List". North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
- ↑ Rivera, Kyona (3 February 2026). "State Senator Randy Burckhard to retire". KFYR-TV. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ https://www.kxnet.com/news/local-news/trio-of-candidates-announces-run-for-state-legislature/
- 1 2 3 4 Achterling, Michael (7 April 2026). "North Dakota sees more contested races for 2026 legislative elections". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/tim-mathern-longest-serving-senator-in-north-dakota-legislature-announces-reelection-bid
- ↑ Larson, Chris (14 December 2025). "Three West Fargo legislators announce reelection bids". WDAY (AM). Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ↑ Carvell, Tasha (2026-06-10). "Incumbents prevail in District 13 Republican legislative primary race". InForum. Retrieved 2026-07-23.
- ↑ https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/incumbent-lawmakers-from-northeast-north-dakota-announce-re-election-plans
- ↑ https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/jonathan-sickler-of-grand-forks-announces-his-candidacy-for-re-election-to-the-state-senate
- 1 2 Steurer, Mary (7 March 2026). "North Dakota Democrats endorse several statewide candidates". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ↑ Achterling, Michael (15 January 2026). "North Dakota Democratic legislative leader Kathy Hogan will not seek reelection in 2026". North Dakota Monitor. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
- ↑ https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/11/04/nd-state-senator-sean-cleary-run-reelection/
- ↑ https://www.inforum.com/news/fargo/davison-to-seek-reelection-in-district-41
- ↑ https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/north-dakota-sen-ron-sorvaag-announces-bid-for-reelection