North Dakota State Senate elections, 2012

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North Dakota State Senate elections, 2012

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Majority control • Campaign contributions
Qualifications • Impact of Redistricting

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State Legislative Election Results

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List of candidates District 2 • District 4 • District 6 • District 8 • District 10 • District 12 • District 14 • District 16 • District 18 • District 20 • District 22 • District 24 • District 26 • District 28 • District 30 • District 32 • District 34 • District 36 • District 38 • District 40 • District 42 • District 44 • District 46

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North Dakota State Senate • 2012 North Dakota House Elections

Elections for the office of North Dakota State Senate were held in North Dakota on November 6, 2012. A total of 25 seats were up for election.

The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was April 13, 2012. The primary Election Day was June 12, 2012.

See also: North Dakota House of Representatives elections, 2012 and State legislative elections, 2012

## Majority control[edit]

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 6 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the North Dakota State Senate:

North Dakota State Senate

Party  | As of November 5, 2012  | After the 2012 Election
| Democratic Party | 12  | 13
| Republican Party | 35 | 33
| Vacancy  |  | 1
Total |  47 |  47

## Incumbents retiring[edit]

A total of four incumbents did not run for re-election in 2012. Those incumbents were:

Name  | Party  | Current Office

|
|

Dave Nething |  Republican | Senate District 12
George Nodland |  Republican | Senate District 36
Layton Freborg |  Republican | Senate District 8
Ryan Taylor |  Democratic | Senate District 7

## Campaign contributions[edit]

See also: State-by-state comparison of donations to state senate campaigns

This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in North Dakota in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.[1]

Year  | Number of candidates  | Total contributions

|
|

2012  | 50  | $355,067
2010  | 42  | $271,222
2008  | 19  | $863,330
2006  | 50  | $229,294
2004  | 43  | $161,116
2002  | 51  | $242,201
2000  | 53  | $133,970

During the 2012 election, the total contributions to the 50 Senate candidates was $355,067. The top 10 contributors were:[2]

2012 Donors, North Dakota State Senate

Donor  | Amount
North Dakota Senate Democratic-NPL Caucus  | $25,600
North Dakota Senate Republican Caucus  | $18,605
Lignite Energy Council  | $16,000
North Dakota Association of Telecommunications Cooperatives  | $11,750
Boilermakers Local 647  | $11,500
North Dakota Association of Realtors  | $11,000
North Dakota Petroleum Council  | $10,050
North Dakota Education Association  | $9,959
North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives  | $8,600
Friends of Kent Conrad  | $8,500

## Impact of redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in North Dakota

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed a new redistricting plan without much tenuousness in special session on November 8, 2012; Gov. Jack Dalrymple (R) signed it the next day. With the Legislature remaining the same size, two rural districts were cut, leaving new districts to be created in Bismarck and Fargo. Over a dozen incumbents were paired. With two-thirds Republican majorities in both chambers, House majority leader Al Carlson (R) called the plan "a Republican plan for the next 10 years." Rep. Jerry Kelsh (D) lamented the outcome for rural areas, and Democrats saw their proposal to prevent the pairing of Senate minority leader Ryan Taylor and former Senate Democratic leader David O'Connell rejected.[3]

## Qualifications[edit]

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.

## List of candidates[edit]

### District 2[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Lynn Jacobson 943 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* John Andrist 2,091 a Incumbent Andrist first assumed office in 1992.

November 6 General election candidates:

Lynn Jacobson: 2,576
John Andrist: 4,997

### District 4[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* John M. Warner 1,097 a Incumbent Warner first assumed office in 2004.

June 12 GOP primary:

* Daryl J. Lies 1,438 a

November 6 General election candidates:

John M. Warner: 3,337
Daryl J. Lies: 3,024

### District 6[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* David Paul O'Connell 1,700 a Incumbent O'Connell first assumed office in 1988.

June 12 GOP primary:

* Pamela Smith 2,435 a

November 6 General election candidates:

David Paul O'Connell: 4,054
Pamela Smith: 3,394

### District 7[edit]

Note: Incumbent Ryan Taylor (D) ran for Governor in 2012.

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Warren Emmer 883 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Nicole Poolman 2,329 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Warren Emmer: 2,254
Nicole Poolman: 5,040

### District 8[edit]

Note: Incumbent Layton Freborg (R) did not seek re-election.

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Cole Uecker 1,171 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Howard C. Anderson Jr. 2,771 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Cole Uecker: 2,386
Howard C. Anderson Jr.: 5,036

### District 10[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Daryl Passa 1,142 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Joe Miller 2,002 a Incumbent Miller first assumed office in 2008.
* Curtis Olafson 1,345 Incumbent Olafson first assumed office in 2008.

November 6 General election candidates:

Daryl Passa: 2,074
Joe Miller: 4,671

### District 12[edit]

Note: Incumbent Dave Nething (R) did not seek re-election.

June 12 Democratic primary:

* John Grabinger 1,009 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Dwaine Heinrich 828
* Bernie Satrom 1,069 a

November 6 General election candidates:

John Grabinger: 2,939
Bernie Satrom: 2, 831

### District 14[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:
No candidates have filed for this district.

June 12 GOP primary:

* Jerry Klein 2,891 a Incumbent Klein first assumed office in 1996.

November 6 General election candidates:

Jerry Klein: 6,535

### District 16[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Tyler Axness 694 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* David Duff 912 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Tyler Axness: 3,099
David Duff: 2,710

### District 18[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Connie Triplett 1,321 a Incumbent Triplett first assumed office in 2003.

June 12 GOP primary:

* David Waterman 1,064 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Connie Triplett: 3,258
David Waterman: 2,172

### District 19[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Julius M. Wangler 1,039 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Tom Campbell 1,287 a
* Gerald Uglem 1,084 Incumbent Uglem first assumed office in 2010.

November 6 General election candidates:

Julius M. Wangler: 2,313
Tom Campbell: 3,490

### District 20[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Phil Murphy 1,478 a Incumbent Murphy first assumed office in 2010.

June 12 GOP primary:

* Melvin Erdmann (write-in) 205 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Phil Murphy: 3,307
Melvin Erdmann: 2,833

### District 22[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Jessica Arneson 1,114 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Gary A. Lee 2,049 a Incumbent Lee first assumed office in 2000.

November 6 General election candidates:

Jessica Arneson: 2,795
Gary A. Lee: 4,516

### District 24[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Larry J. Robinson 1,814 a Incumbent Robinson first assumed office in 1989.

June 12 GOP primary:

* Keith E. Hovland 1,908 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Larry J. Robinson: 3,836
Keith E. Hovland: 3,024

### District 26[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Jim Dotzenrod 1,728 a Incumbent Dotzenrod first assumed office in 2008.

June 12 GOP primary:
No candidates have filed for this district.

November 6 General election candidates:

Jim Dotzenrod: 5,567

### District 28[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Greg Brokaw 1,082 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Robert S. Erbele 3,056 a Incumbent Erbele first assumed office in 2000.

November 6 General election candidates:

Greg Brokaw: 2,493
Robert S. Erbele: 4,851

### District 30[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Nancy Guy 954 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Ron Carlisle 2,106 a Incumbent Carlisle first assumed office in 2011.

November 6 General election candidates:

Nancy Guy: 2,473
Ron Carlisle: 4,219

### District 32[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Wanda Rose 980 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Dick Dever 1,925 a Incumbent Dever first assumed office in 2008.

November 6 General election candidates:

Wanda Rose: 2,433
Dick Dever: 4,047

### District 34[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Stacey J. Bendish 1,120 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Dwight Cook 2,124 a Incumbent Cook first assumed office in 1997.

November 6 General election candidates:

Stacey J. Bendish: 2,531
Dwight Cook: 4,129

### District 36[edit]

Note: Incumbent George Nodland (R) did not seek re-election.

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Rich Brauhn 791 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Kelly Armstrong 2,121 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Rich Brauhn: 1,778
Kelly Armstrong: 5,234

### District 38[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Clarice Granzotto 613 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* David Hogue 1,707 a Incumbent Hogue first assumed office in 2008.

November 6 General election candidates:

Clarice Granzotto: 1,707
David Hogue: 4,243

### District 40[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* No candidates have filed for this district.

June 12 GOP primary:

* Karen Krebsbach 196 (write-in) a Incumbent Krebsbach assumed office in 1989.

Note: As of April 24, no major party candidate had qualified for the primary ballot in District 40. Incumbent Karen Krebsbach (R) did not file the proper paperwork before the filing deadline, and Democrats did not field a candidate. Krebsbach said a misunderstanding about whether the needed paperwork had been turned in caused the problem. Ultimately, Krebsbach earned the Republican nomination by receiving at least 143 write-in votes in the June 12 primary. No Democratic candidate qualified by write-in.[4][5]

November 6 General election candidates:

Karen Krebsbach: 3,564

### District 42[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Mac Schneider 766 a Incumbent Schneider first assumed office in 2008.

June 12 GOP primary:

* Ross Lien 808 a

November 6 General election candidates:

Mac Schneider: 2,855
Ross Lien: 2,110

### District 44[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* Rick Olek 1,591 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Tim Flakoll 1,756 a Incumbent Flakoll first assumed office in 1998.

November 6 General election candidates:

Rick Olek: 3,502
Tim Flakoll: 3,853

### District 46[edit]

June 12 Democratic primary:

* George B. Sinner 1,275 a

June 12 GOP primary:

* Jim Roers 1,954 a Incumbent Roers was appointed to the Senate in April 2012.

November 6 General election candidates:

George B. Sinner: 3,937
Jim Roers: 3,619

## See also[edit]

* North Dakota State Senate
* North Dakota State Legislature
* State legislative elections, 2012

## External links[edit]

* North Dakota Secretary of State - List of 2012 Primary Candidates
* North Dakota Secretary of State - Official Primary Results
* North Dakota Secretary of State - List of 2012 General Election Candidates
* North Dakota Secretary of State - Official General Election Results

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Follow the Money, North Dakota
2. ↑ Follow the Money, "North Dakota State Senate 2012 Campaign Contributions"
3. ↑ Bismarck Tribune, "Legislature approves new redistricting plan; Democrats fall short," November 10, 2011. Retrieved August 28, 2012
4. ↑ www.realclearpolitics.com, "Scramble for ND Sen candidate in Minot district," accessed May 13, 2014
5. ↑ Wahpeton Daily News, "Write-in campaign succeeds for Minot Republicans," June 13, 2012

[show]

Current members of the North Dakota State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Rich Wardner

Senators

District 1

Brad Bekkedahl (R)

District 2

David Rust (R)

District 3

Oley Larsen (R)

District 4

Jordan Kannianen (R)

District 5

Randy Burckhard (R)

District 6

Shawn Vedaa (R)

District 7

Nicole Poolman (R)

District 8

Howard Anderson (R)

District 9

Richard Marcellais (D)

District 10

Janne Myrdal (R)

District 11

Tim Mathern (D)

District 12

Cole Conley (R)

District 13

Judy Lee (R)

District 14

Jerry Klein (R)

District 15

Dave Oehlke (R)

District 16

David Clemens (R)

District 17

Jonathan Sickler (R)

District 18

Scott Meyer (R)

District 19

Robert Fors (R)

District 20

Randy Lemm (R)

District 21

Kathy Hogan (D)

District 22

Mark Weber (R)

District 23

Joan Heckaman (D)

District 24

Mike Wobbema (R)

District 25

Larry Luick (R)

District 26

Jason Heitkamp (R)

District 27

Kristin Roers (R)

District 28

Robert Erbele (R)

District 29

Terry Wanzek (R)

District 30

Diane Larson (R)

District 31

Donald Schaible (R)

District 32

Dick Dever (R)

District 33

Jessica Unruh-Bell (R)

District 34

Doug Larsen (R)

District 35

Tracy Potter (D)

District 36

Jay Elkin (R)

District 37

Rich Wardner (R)

District 38

David Hogue (R)

District 39

Dale Patten (R)

District 40

Karen Krebsbach (R)

District 41

Kyle Davison (R)

District 42

Curt Kreun (R)

District 43

JoNell Bakke (D)

District 44

Merrill Piepkorn (D)

District 45

Ronald Sorvaag (R)

District 46

Jim Roers (R)

District 47

Mike Dwyer (R)

Republican Party (40)

Democratic Party (7)

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