North Dakota's at-large congressional district
North Dakota's At-large congressional district is the sole congressional district for the state of North Dakota. All of North Dakota is contained within one at large Congressional District making it the sixth largest district in the nation. It was first created when North Dakota achieved statehood on November 2, 1889, electing a single member. Following the 1900 census the state was allocated two Representatives who were both elected from the at large district, but when the 1910 census allocated a third the State drew three single-member districts. After the 1930 census eliminated the third district, North Dakota returned to electing two members from an at-large district until 1962 when two single member districts were drawn.
Since the reapportioning of Congressional seats in 1973 following the 1970 census, North Dakota has had only a single Representative. At the 1972 election, this meant that the two North Dakota congressional districts were merged into one, and Mark Andrews (Republican incumbent in the 1st Congressional District) won the newly-merged district with 72.7% of the vote. Arthur Link, Democratic incumbent in the 2nd congressional district, did not run for re-election, but was successful in winning election as the State's Governor.
In the post-Watergate 1974 elections, Andrews was challenged by Byron Dorgan (D) and was re-elected with 55.7% of the vote. In 1976 and 1978 he increased his majority over Democratic challengers Lloyd Omdahl and Bruce Hagen respectively.
Andrews stepped down from the House seat to run (successfully) for the United States Senate in 1980. In his place, Byron Dorgan ran for the open seat and defeated Republican Jim Smykowski by 56.8% to 42.6%. He obtained re-election with his percentage vote never dropping below 70% until 1990 (when Republican Edward T. Schafer, later to be elected Governor of the State, held him to only 65.2%). Dorgan in turn ran for a Senate seat in 1992 and left an open seat which was assessed as leaning Democratic. Republican John Korsmo lost to Democrat Earl Pomeroy by 39.4% to 56.8%.
Pomeroy has seen some close elections when defending his seat. He won only 52.3% in 1994, 52.9% in 2000 and 52.4% in 2002. However in the 2004 elections he won 59.6% of the vote over Duane Sand and in the 2006 elections he beat Matthew Mechtel with 66% of the vote.
Members of the US House
Single member
- November 2 1889 – March 3 1891: Henry C. Hansbrough (Republican)
- March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1899: Martin N. Johnson (Republican)
- March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901: Burleigh F. Spalding (Republican)
- March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903: Thomas F. Marshall (Republican)
Two members
Dates | First member | Dates | Second member | |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1909 | Thomas F. Marshall (Republican) | March 3, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | Burleigh F. Spalding (Republican) | |
March 4, 1905 – February 2, 1911 | Asle J. Gronna (Republican) | |||
March 4, 1909 – January 7, 1913 | Louis B. Hanna (Republican) | |||
March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | Henry T. Helgesen (Republican) |
1st Congressional District
- March 4, 1913 – April 10, 1917: Henry T. Helgesen (Republican)
- July 20, 1917 – March 3, 1921: John M. Baer (Republican)
- March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1933: Olger B. Burtness (Republican)
Two members
Dates | First member | Dates | Second member | |
---|---|---|---|---|
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | James H. Sinclair (Republican) | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1941 | William Lemke (Republican) | |
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1945 | Usher L. Burdick (Republican) | |||
January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943 | Charles R. Robertson (Republican) | |||
January 3, 1943 – May 30, 1950 | William Lemke (Republican) | |||
January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1949 | Charles R. Robertson (Republican) | |||
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1959 | Usher L. Burdick (Republican) | |||
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 | Fred G. Aandahl (Republican | |||
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1959 | Otto Krueger (Republican) | |||
January 3, 1959 – August 8, 1960 | Quentin N. Burdick (Democrat) | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1963 | Don L. Short (Republican) | |
January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1963 | Hjalmar Nygaard (Republican) |
1st Congressional District
- January 3, 1963 – July 18, 1963: Hjalmar Nygaard (Republican)
- October 22, 1963 – January 3, 1973: Mark Andrews (Republican)
Single member
- January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1981: Mark Andrews (Republican)
- January 3, 1981 – December 14, 1992: Byron Dorgan (Democrat)
- January 3, 1993 – : Earl Pomeroy (Democrat)
Election results
At large
Year | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
October 1, 1889 (51st Congress) | Henry C. Hansbrough | R | 26,077 | 68.4 |
D.W. Maratta | D | 12,066 | 31.6 | |
1890 (52nd Congress) | Martin N. Johnson | R | 21,365 | 59.0 |
John D. Benton | D | 14,830 | 41.0 | |
1892 (53rd Congress) | Martin N. Johnson | R | 17,695 | 48.9 |
James F. O'Brien | D | 11,021 | 30.5 | |
Hans A. Foss | I | 7,434 | 20.6 | |
1894 (54th Congress) | Martin N. Johnson | R | 21,615 | 55.4 |
Walter Muir | POP | 15,660 | 40.2 | |
Budd Reeve | I | 1,283 | 3.3 | |
L.S. Ellis | P | 439 | 1.1 | |
1896 (55th Congress) | Martin N. Johnson | R | 25,233 | 54.0 |
John Burke | FUS | 21,172 | 45.3 | |
A.V. Garver | P | 349 | 0.7 | |
1898 (56th Congress) | Burleigh F. Spalding | R | 27,766 | 60.9 |
H.M. Creel | FUS | 17,844 | 39.1 | |
1900 (57th Congress) | Thomas F. Marshall | R | 34,887 | 61.0 |
M.A. Hildreth | D & I | 21,175 | 37.0 | |
Charles H. Mott | P | 585 | 1.0 | |
J.C. Charest | SD | 412 | 0.7 | |
Martin S. Blair | People's | 122 | 0.2 | |
1902 (58th Congress) | Thomas F. Marshall | R | 32,986 | 67.6 |
Burleigh F. Spalding | R | 32,854 | ||
Lars A. Ueland | D | 14,765 | 29.9 | |
Verner E. Lovell | D | 14,392 | ||
Royal F. King | SOC | 1,195 | 2.5 | |
1904 (59th Congress) | Thomas F. Marshall | R | 49,111 | 72.7 |
Asle J. Gronna | R | 47,648 | ||
N. P. Rasmussen | D | 15,622 | 23.3 | |
A. G. Burr | D | 15,398 | ||
L. F. Dow | SOC | 1,734 | 2.6 | |
E. D. Herring | SOC | 1,697 | ||
B. H. Tibbets | P | 971 | 1.5 | |
N. A. Colby | P | 967 | ||
1906 (60th Congress) | Thomas F. Marshall | R | 38,923 | 62.9 |
Asle J. Gronna | R | 36,772 | ||
A. G. Burr | D | 21,350 | 35.2 | |
John D. Benton | D | 21,050 | ||
K. Halvorson | SOC | 1,151 | 1.9 | |
W. J. Bailey | SOC | 1,129 | ||
1908 (61st Congress) | Asle J. Gronna | R | 57,357 | 65.7 |
Louis B. Hanna | R | 55,610 | ||
T. D. Casey | D | 29,426 | 33.7 | |
O. G. Major | D | 28,448 | ||
Francis Cooper | I | 591 | 0.3 | |
E. D. Herring | I | 533 | 0.3 | |
1910 (62nd Congress) | Louis B. Hanna | R | 51,556 | 63.9 |
Henry T. Helgesen | R | 50,600 | ||
Tobias D. Casey | D | 25,880 | 32.0 | |
M. A. Hildreth | D | 25,322 | ||
Arthur Hagendorf | SOC | 3,225 | 4.0 | |
N. H. Bjornstad | SOC | 3,179 |
1st District
Year | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
1912 (63rd Congress) | Henry T. Helgesen | R | 17,156 | 61.1 |
V. R. Lovell | D | 9,609 | 34.2 | |
Leon Durocher | SOC | 1,310 | 4.7 | |
1914 (64th Congress) | Henry T. Helgesen | R | 16,565 | 56.0 |
Fred Bartholomew | D | 12,217 | 41.3 | |
Leon Durocher | SOC | 812 | 2.7 | |
1916 (65th Congress) | Henry T. Helgesen | R | 20,709 | 59.9 |
George A. Bangs | D | 13,236 | 38.3 | |
V. Gram | SOC | 622 | 1.8 | |
July 10 1917 special election (65th Congress) |
John M. Baer | N-PART | 13,211 | 50.9 |
Olger B. Burtness | R | 8,969 | 34.6 | |
George A. Bangs | D | 3,276 | 12.6 | |
H.H. Aaker | N-PART PROG R | 212 | 0.8 | |
Frederic T. Cuthbert | R | 118 | 0.5 | |
Henry G. Vick | R | 75 | 0.3 | |
Charles Plain | R | 72 | 0.3 | |
1918 (66th Congress) | John M. Baer | R | 16,433 | 55.1 |
Fred Bartholomew | D | 13,416 | 44.9 | |
1920 (67th Congress) | Olger B. Burtness | R | 43,530 | 57.6 |
John M. Baer | I N-PART | 32,072 | 42.4 | |
1922 (68th Congress) | Olger B. Burtness | R | 45,959 | 100.0 |
1924 (69th Congress) | Olger B. Burtness | R | 44,573 | 75.4 |
Walter Welford | D | 14,511 | 24.6 | |
1926 (70th Congress) | Olger B. Burtness | R | 37,326 | 79.9 |
R. E. Smith | D | 6,136 | 13.1 | |
Donald McDonald | F-LAB | 3,246 | 7.0 | |
1928 (71st Congress) | Olger B. Burtness | R | 53,941 | 77.5 |
W. S. Hooper | D | 15,646 | 22.5 | |
1930 (72nd Congress) | Olger B. Burtness | R | 42,598 | 75.0 |
J. E. Garvey | D | 14,208 | 25.0 |
At large
Year | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
---|---|---|---|---|
1932 (73rd Congress) | James H. Sinclair | R | 144,339 | 65.7 |
William Lemke | R | 135,339 | ||
William D. Lynch | D | 72,659 | 33.9 | |
R. B. Murphy | D | 71,695 | ||
Pat J. Barrett | I | 690 | 0.3 | |
Ella Reeve Bloor | I | 678 | ||
1934 (74th Congress) | William Lemke | R | 144,605 | 49.9 |
Usher L. Burdick | R | 114,841 | ||
William D. Lynch | D | 85,771 | 31.8 | |
G. F. Lamb | D | 79,338 | ||
James H. Sinclair | PROG N-PART R | 46,304 | 17.8 | |
Jasper Haaland | COM-W-FG | 1,299 | 0.5 | |
Effie Kjorstad | COM-W-FG | 1,090 | ||
1936 (75th Congress) | William Lemke | R | 131,117 | 54.1 |
Usher L. Burdick | R | 115,913 | ||
Henry Holt | D | 100,609 | 41.7 | |
J.J. Nygaard | D | 89,722 | ||
I.J. Moe | I | 3,310 | 1.4 | |
P.H. Miller | I | 3,273 | 1.4 | |
E.A. Johannson | I | 2,697 | 1.2 | |
Jasper Haaland | COM | 540 | 0.2 | |
W.D. Webster | COM | 461 | ||
1938 (76th Congress) | William Lemke | R | 153,106 | 72.3 |
Usher L. Burdick | R | 149,047 | ||
Howard I. Henry | D | 55,125 | 23.9 | |
Alfred S. Dale | D | 44,691 | ||
J.B. Field | I | 8,109 | 3.9 | |
1940 (77th Congress) | Usher L. Burdick | R | 148,227 | 60.3 |
Charles R. Robertson | R | 111,125 | ||
R.J. Downey | D | 63,662 | 29.4 | |
Adolph Michelson | D | 63,027 | ||
Thomas Hall | I | 23,399 | 10.3 | |
John Omland | I | 20,845 | ||
1942 (78th Congress) | Usher L. Burdick | R | 85,936 | 46.3 |
William Lemke | R | 65,905 | ||
Charles R. Robertson | I | 48,472 | 29.5 | |
Halvor L. Halvorson | D | 47,972 | 24.2 | |
E.A. Johansson | D | 31,547 | ||
1944 (79th Congress) | William Lemke | R | 101,007 | 50.7 |
Charles R. Robertson | R | 91,425 | ||
Halvor L. Halvorson | D | 56,699 | 26.9 | |
J.R. Kennedy | D | 45,308 | ||
Usher L. Burdick | I R | 39,888 | 21.0 | |
George McClellan | I R | 3,135 | 1.4 | |
A.C. Townley | I R | 2,307 | ||
1946 (80th Congress) | William Lemke | R | 103,205 | 74.3 |
Charles R. Robertson | R | 102,087 | ||
James M. Hanley | D | 41,189 | 25.7 | |
Edwin Cooper | D | 29,865 | ||
1948 (81st Congress) | William Lemke | R | 132,343 | 69.0 |
Usher L. Burdick | R | 128,454 | ||
Alfred Dale | D | 56,702 | 30.0 | |
John M. Weiler | PROG | 1,758 | 0.9 | |
1950 (82nd Congress) | Fred G. Aandahl | R | 119,047 | 70.7 |
Usher L. Burdick | R | 110,534 | ||
Ervin Schumacher | D | 62,322 | 29.3 | |
E.A. Johansson | D | 32,946 | ||
1952 (83rd Congress) | Usher L. Burdick | R | 181,218 | 77.2 |
Otto Krueger | R | 156,829 | ||
Edward Nesemeier | D | 49,829 | 22.8 | |
Scattered votes | 49 | 0.0 | ||
1954 (84th Congress) | Usher L. Burdick | R | 124,845 | 67.1 |
Otto Krueger | R | 106,341 | ||
P.W. Lanier | D | 64,089 | 32.9 | |
Raymond G. Vendsel | D | 49,183 | ||
1956 (85th Congress) | Usher L. Burdick | R | 143,514 | 62.3 |
Otto Krueger | R | 136,003 | ||
Agnes Geelan | D | 85,743 | 37.7 | |
S.B. Hocking | D | 83,284 | ||
1958 (86th Congress) | Quentin Burdick | D | 99,562 | 48.4 |
Don L. Short | R | 97,862 | 51.6 | |
Orris G. Nordhougen | R | 92,124 | ||
S.B. Hocking | D | 78,889 | ||
1960 (87th Congress) | Don L. Short | R | 135,579 | 53.3 |
Hjalmar Nygaard | R | 127,118 | ||
Raymond Vendsel | D | 120,773 | 46.7 | |
Anson J. Anderson | D | 109,207 |