The 2012 United States Senate election in North Dakota took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, other United States Senate elections, United States House of Representatives elections, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic-NPL Senator Kent Conrad decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a fifth term.

Though each party endorses a single candidate in state conventions in the spring, ballot access for the general election was determined in a primary election held on June 12, 2012.

Heidi Heitkamp, a Democratic-NPL former North Dakota Attorney General, won the open seat over Republican Rick Berg, North Dakota's at-large U.S. representative, by a margin of 0.9%. Heitkamp outperformed President Barack Obama by 20.5%, the latter having lost North Dakota by 19.6% in the concurrent presidential election. Heitkamp's very narrow winning margin made it the closest race of the 2012 United States Senate elections. The victory made Heitkamp the first woman ever elected to Congress from North Dakota.

, this was the last time a Democrat won a federal and/or statewide election in North Dakota, and the last North Dakota U.S. Senate race that was decided by a single-digit margin.

Democratic-NPL primary The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party held their state convention March 16–18, 2012, in Grand Forks. Former state attorney general and 2000 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Heidi Heitkamp was uncontested in seeking the official party nomination and was the only member of the party elected to appear on the state primary ballot.

Candidates

Nominee Heidi Heitkamp, former attorney general of North Dakota and nominee for governor of North Dakota in 2000

Withdrew Thomas Potter, Presbyterian pastor and former professor of finance at UND (dropped out February 2012)

Declined Kent Conrad, incumbent U.S. senator Pam Gulleson, former state representative and former chief of staff and former state director for former Senator Byron Dorgan Kristin Hedger, nominee for North Dakota Secretary of State in 2006 Joel Heitkamp, brother of Heidi Heitkamp, radio personality and former state senator Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union and former North Dakota agriculture commissioner Tim Mathern, state senator and nominee for governor in 2008 Earl Pomeroy, former U.S. representative Tracy Potter, state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010 Tim Purdon, U.S. attorney Jasper Schneider, USDA rural development State Director Mac Schneider, state senator Ryan Taylor, minority leader of the North Dakota Senate

Republican primary North Dakota Republicans endorsed U.S. Representative Rick Berg at their convention, though general election ballot access is determined by a statewide primary election held on June 12, 2012. In contrast to state political tradition, declared candidate Duane Sand did not seek the party endorsement, trying instead to defeat Berg on the June primary ballot.

Candidates

Nominee Rick Berg, U.S. representative

Eliminated in primary Duane Sand, former North and South Dakota director for Americans for Prosperity, nominee for ND-AL in 2004 and 2008

Declined Al Carlson, North Dakota state house majority leader Tony Clark, state public service commissioner Kevin Cramer, state public service commissioner Jack Dalrymple, North Dakota governor and 1992 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate Cory Fong, state tax commissioner Shane Goettle, U.S. Senator John Hoeven's state director Tony Grindberg, state senator Bob Harms, North Dakota Republican Party treasurer Brian Kalk, state public service commissioner (running for House) Kim Koppelman, state representative Ed Schafer, former U.S. agriculture secretary and former North Dakota governor Kelly Schmidt, North Dakota treasurer Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota attorney general John Warford, mayor of Bismarck Drew Wrigley, North Dakota lieutenant governor

Endorsements

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error RickBerg DuaneSand Undecided Mason-Dixon June 4–6, 2012 625 ± 4.0% 73% 16% 11% Essman Research May 3–8, 2012 500 ± 4.3% 65% 21% 14%

Results

General election

Candidates Rick Berg (R), U.S. representative Heidi Heitkamp (D), former attorney general of North Dakota and nominee for governor in 2000 Bill Kiefer (I), businessman

Debates Complete video of debate, October 15, 2012 – C-SPAN Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012 – C-SPAN

Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt Heidi Heitkamp (D-NPL) $5,341,362 $5,318,232 $23,130 $0 Rick Berg (R) $6,501,693 $6,129,026 $316,641 $0 Source: Federal Election Commission

Top contributors

Heidi Heitkamp Contribution Rick Berg Contribution Motley Rice LLC $41,750 Verizon Communications $43,666 Council for a Livable World $26,705 Elliott Management Corporation $29,413 Weitz & Luxenberg $22,400 NORPAC $26,700 Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP $15,050 Mewbourne Oil Co $25,000 Medcenter One Health Systems $12,000 Rurban Financial $22,700 American Association for Justice $10,833 Hess Corp $22,500 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld $10,750 NACCO Industries $22,000 American Federation of Teachers $10,300 Marathon Oil $21,000 Patton Boggs LLP $10,250 Berkshire Hathaway $20,500 American Postal Workers Union $10,000 Koch Industries $20,000

Top industries

Heidi Heitkamp Contribution Rick Berg Contribution Lawyers/law firms $433,811 Oil & gas $433,949 Leadership PACs $284,500 Leadership PACs $277,163 Women's issues $111,593 Financial institutions $274,941 Lobbyists $103,635 Retired $218,909 Retired $100,812 Real estate $171,686 Agribusiness $78,450 Agribusiness $163,583 Public sector unions $73,800 Insurance $140,011 Financial institutions $64,713 Commercial banks $127,140 Education $60,960 Health professionals $114,438 Building trade unions $52,500 Mining $106,804

Independent expenditures In early October 2012, Crossroads GPS announced that it would launch a $16 million advertising buy in national races, of which four were this and three other Senate elections.

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2012 Inside Elections November 2, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 Real Clear Politics November 5, 2012

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error HeidiHeitkamp (D-NPL) RickBerg (R) Other UndecidedPharos ResearchPharos Research November 2–5, 2012 503 ± 4.1% 47% 49% — 4%Pharos Research October 26–28, 2012 752 ± 3.6% 50% 48% — 2%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon October 26–28, 2012 625 ± 4.0% 45% 47% — 8%The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp)The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp) October 21–24, 2012 600 ± 4.0% 48% 44% — 7%Pharos ResearchPharos Research October 19–21, 2012 807 ± 3.4% 49% 48% — 3%The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp)The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp) October 16–19, 2012 600 ± 4.0% 45% 42% — 13%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports October 17–18, 2012 600 ± 4.0% 45% 50% — 5%Essman ResearchEssman Research October 12–15, 2012 500 ± 4.4% 40% 50% — 10%Mason-DixonMason-Dixon October 3–5, 2012 625 ± 4.0% 47% 47% — 6%DFM Research (D)DFM Research (D) September 24–27, 2012 600 ± 4.0% 48% 44% — 8%DFM Research (D)DFM Research (D) July 24–26, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 50% 44% — 6%Rasmussen ReportsRasmussen Reports July 10–11, 2012 400 ± 5.0% 40% 49% 2% 8%Mason-Dixon June 4–6, 2012 625 ± 4.0% 47% 46% — 7%Essman Research May 3–8, 2012 500 ± 4.3% 44% 51% — 5%DFM Research (D)DFM Research (D) April 18–26, 2012 478 ± 4.5% 49% 44% 1% 6%

Results

By county

CountyHeidi HeitkampDemocratic–NPLRick BergRepublicanWrite-inMarginTotalvotes#%#%#%#%Adams47336.9080662.8730.23-333-25.971,282Barnes3,18157.512,32942.11210.3885215.405,531Benson1,45367.0870932.7340.1874434.452,166Billings16027.9241271.9010.17-252-43.98573Bottineau1,63646.331,87553.10200.57-239-6.773,531Bowman62136.291,08663.4740.23-465-27.181,711Burke36035.2965764.4130.29-731-29.121,020Burleigh19,28444.7923,53854.672310.54-4,254-9.8843,053Cass41,48056.5131,56943.003590.499,91113.5173,408Cavalier1,08752.4997747.1870.341105.312,071Dickey1,12544.431,39955.2580.32-274-10.922,532Divide59250.9556748.8030.26252.151,162Dunn74636.711,28363.1430.15-537-26.432,032Eddy69360.0045539.3970.6123820.611,155Emmons70937.851,15261.51120.64-443-23.661,873Foster85351.0581048.4780.48432.581,671Golden Valley26528.5966071.2020.22-395-42.61927Grand Forks16,54255.6013,10144.041070.363,44111.5629,750Grant54238.6685360.8470.50-311-22.181,402Griggs70452.8562847.1500.00765.701,332Hettinger51137.6384362.0840.29-332-24.451,358Kidder61346.1970653.2080.60-93-7.011,327LaMoure1,06548.341,12551.07130.59-60-2.732,203Logan44642.0061057.4460.56-164-15.441,062McHenry1,35950.201,33949.4690.33200.742,707McIntosh64842.3587256.99100.65-224-14.641,530McKenzie1,22936.022,17763.8060.18-948-26.983,412McLean2,35747.962,54451.76140.28-187-3.804,915Mercer1,80740.592,62759.01180.40-820-18.424,452Morton6,32546.687,13552.66900.66-810-5.9813,550Mountrail1,74550.921,67348.8290.26722.103,427Nelson99359.5067040.1460.3632319.361,669Oliver44644.3355555.1750.50-109-10.841,006Pembina1,67251.301,57948.4580.25932.853,259Pierce1,02747.221,13652.23120.55-109-5.012,175Ramsey2,76655.182,22944.46180.3653710.725,013Ransom1,66968.7175531.0850.2191437.632,429Renville58046.0067653.6150.40-96-7.611,261Richland4,44558.393,13541.181021.311,31017.217,613Rolette3,66280.0890219.7290.202,76060.364,573Sargent1,32165.6667933.75120.6064231.912,012Sheridan29936.2952163.2340.49-222-26.94824Sioux96383.5218516.0550.4377867.471,153Slope14933.4829466.0720.45-100-32.59445Stark4,11035.637,39364.09320.28-3,283-28.4611,535Steele64161.6339838.2710.1024323.361,040Stutsman4,80050.614,65449.07300.321461.549,484Towner69959.3947240.1060.5122719.291,177Traill2,31159.061,58940.61130.3372218.453,913Walsh2,64554.942,15144.68180.3749410.264,814Ward11,23044.4513,88854.971450.57-2,658-10.5225,263Wells98241.591,36357.73160.68-381-16.142,361Williams3,14232.376,54167.38240.25-3,399-35.019,707 Totals161,16350.23158,28249.331,4060.442,4920.9320,851

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Adams (largest city: Hettinger) Billings (largest city: Medora) Bottineau (largest city: Bottineau) Bowman (largest city: Bowman) Burke (largest city: Powers Lake) Burleigh (largest city: Bismarck) Dickey (largest city: Oakes) Dunn (largest city: Killdeer) Emmons (largest city: Linton) Golden Valley (largest city: Beach) Grant (largest city: Elgin) Hettinger (largest city: Mott) Kidder (largest city: Steele) LaMoure (largest city: LaMoure) Logan (largest city: Napoleon) McIntosh (largest city: Wishek) McKenzie (largest city: Watford City) McLean (largest city: Garrison) Mercer (largest city: Beulah) Morton (largest city: Mandan) Oliver (largest city: Center) Pierce (largest city: Rugby) Renville (largest city: Mohall) Sheridan (largest city: McClusky) Slope (largest city: Marmarth) Stark (largest city: Dickinson) Ward (largest city: Minot) Wells (largest city: Harvey) Williams (largest city: Williston)

See also 2012 United States Senate elections 2012 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota 2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election

Notes

References

External links North Dakota Secretary of State Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation Candidate issue positions at On the Issues

Official campaign websites (archived) Rick Berg for U.S. Senate Heidi Heitkamp for U.S. Senate