- North Dakota's At-large congressional district
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North Dakota's At-large congressional district 
Current Representative Rick Berg (R–Fargo) Distribution 55.8% urban, 44.2% rural Population (2000) 642,200 Median income $34,640 Ethnicity 92.4% White, 0.6% Black, 0.6% Asian, 1.2% Hispanic, 4.9% Native American, 0.1% other Cook PVI R+10 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 eighth largest district in the nation.
Contents
History
The district 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 A. 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 Ed 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 saw 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.
Pomeroy lost to Rick Berg in the 2010 general election.
List of representatives
1889 – 1913: One seat, then two seats at-large
Dates Cong Member at-large Member at-large Representative Party Electoral history Representative Party Electoral history March 4, 1889 –
November 1, 188951st First representative seated on November 2, 1889 Second seat added in 1903 November 2, 1889 –
March 3, 1891Henry C. Hansbrough Republican Lost renomination March 4, 1891 –
March 3, 189952nd Martin N. Johnson Republican First elected in 1890 53rd Re-elected in 1892 54th Re-elected in 1894 55th Re-elected in 1896
Retired to run for U.S. SenateMarch 4, 1899 –
March 3, 190156th Burleigh F. Spalding Republican First elected in 1898
RetiredMarch 4, 1901 –
March 3, 190357th Thomas Frank Marshall Republican First elected in 1900 March 4, 1903 –
March 3, 190558th Re-elected in 1902 Burleigh F. Spalding Republican Elected in 1902
Lost renominationMarch 4, 1905 –
March 3, 190959th Re-elected in 1904 Asle Gronna Republican First elected in 1904 60th Re-elected in 1906
Lost renominationRe-elected in 1906
Lost renominationMarch 4, 1909 –
February 11, 191161st Louis B. Hanna Republican First elected in 1908 Re-elected in 1908
Resigned when elected U.S. SenatorFebruary 11, 1911 –
March 3, 1911Vacant March 4, 1911 –
January 7, 191362nd Re-elected in 1910
Resigned when elected Governor of North DakotaHenry T. Helgesen Republican First elected in 1910
Redistricted to the 1st districtJanuary 7, 1913 –
March 3, 1913Vacant Dates Cong Representative Party Electoral history Representative Party Electoral history Member at-large Member at-large 1913 – 1933: Districts used
Main articles: North Dakota's 1st congressional district, North Dakota's 2nd congressional district, and North Dakota's 3rd congressional districtAfter the 1910 census, three seats were apportioned among districts. Representatives were again elected state-wide at-large after the 1930 census, starting with the 1932 election.
1933 – 1963: Two seats at-large
Following the 1930 census, the delegation was reduced to two seats, elected at-large statewide.
1963 – 1973: Districts used
Main articles: North Dakota's 1st congressional district and North Dakota's 2nd congressional districtAfter the 1960 census, two seats were apportioned among districts. Representatives were again elected state-wide at-large after the 1970 census, starting with the 1972 election.
1973 – present: One seat At-large
Since the 1970 census, there has only been one at-large seat, elected state-wide.
Representative Party Term Notes Mark Andrews Republican January 3, 1973 –
January 3, 1981Redistricted from the 1st district, Retired to run for U.S. Senate Byron Dorgan Democratic January 3, 1981 –
December 14, 1992Resigned when appointed U.S. Senator Vacant December 15, 1992 –
January 3, 1993Earl Pomeroy Democratic January 3, 1993 –
January 3, 2011Rick Berg Republican January 3, 2011 –
presentIncumbent Election results
Year (& Congress) Candidate Party Votes % October 1, 1889
(51st Congress)Henry C. Hansbrough Republican 26,077 68.4 D.W. Maratta Democratic 12,066 31.6 1890
(52nd Congress)Martin N. Johnson Republican 21,365 59.0 John D. Benton Democratic 14,830 41.0 1892
(53rd Congress)Martin N. Johnson Republican 17,695 48.9 James F. O'Brien Democratic 11,021 30.5 Hans A. Foss Independent 7,434 20.6 1894
(54th Congress)Martin N. Johnson Republican 21,615 55.4 Walter Muir Populist 15,660 40.2 Budd Reeve Independent 1,283 3.3 L.S. Ellis Prohibition 439 1.1 1896
(55th Congress)Martin N. Johnson Republican 25,233 54.0 John Burke Fusion 21,172 45.3 A.V. Garver Prohibition 349 0.7 1898
(56th Congress)Burleigh F. Spalding Republican 27,766 60.9 H.M. Creel Fusion 17,844 39.1 1900
(57th Congress)Thomas F. Marshall Republican 34,887 61.0 M.A. Hildreth Democratic & Independent 21,175 37.0 Charles H. Mott Prohibition 585 1.0 J.C. Charest Social Democratic 412 0.7 Martin S. Blair People's 122 0.2 1902
(58th Congress)Thomas F. Marshall Republican 32,986 67.6 Burleigh F. Spalding Republican 32,854 Lars A. Ueland Democratic 14,765 29.9 Verner E. Lovell Democratic 14,392 Royal F. King Socialist 1,195 2.5 1904
(59th Congress)Thomas F. Marshall Republican 49,111 72.7 Asle J. Gronna Republican 47,648 N. P. Rasmussen Democratic 15,622 23.3 A. G. Burr Democratic 15,398 L. F. Dow Socialist 1,734 2.6 E. D. Herring Socialist 1,697 B. H. Tibbets Prohibition 971 1.5 N. A. Colby Prohibition 967 1906
(60th Congress)Thomas F. Marshall Republican 38,923 62.9 Asle J. Gronna Republican 36,772 A. G. Burr Democratic 21,350 35.2 John D. Benton Democratic 21,050 K. Halvorson Socialist 1,151 1.9 W. J. Bailey Socialist 1,129 1908
(61st Congress)Asle J. Gronna Republican 57,357 65.7 Louis B. Hanna Republican 55,610 T. D. Casey Democratic 29,426 33.7 O. G. Major Democratic 28,448 Francis Cooper Independent 591 0.3 E. D. Herring Independent 533 0.3 1910
(62nd Congress)Louis B. Hanna Republican 51,556 63.9 Henry T. Helgesen Republican 50,600 Tobias D. Casey Democratic 25,880 32.0 M. A. Hildreth Democratic 25,322 Arthur Hagendorf Socialist 3,225 4.0 N. H. Bjornstad Socialist 3,179 1912–1930 Districts used 1932
(73rd Congress)James H. Sinclair Republican 144,339 65.7 William Lemke Republican 135,339 William D. Lynch Democratic 72,659 33.9 R. B. Murphy Democratic 71,695 Pat J. Barrett Independent 690 0.3 Ella Reeve Bloor Independent 678 1934
(74th Congress)William Lemke Republican 144,605 49.9 Usher L. Burdick Republican 114,841 William D. Lynch Democratic 85,771 31.8 G. F. Lamb Democratic 79,338 James H. Sinclair PROG N-PART R 46,304 17.8 Jasper Haaland Communist-W-FG 1,299 0.5 Effie Kjorstad Communist-W-FG 1,090 1936
(75th Congress)William Lemke Republican 131,117 54.1 Usher L. Burdick Republican 115,913 Henry Holt Democratic 100,609 41.7 J.J. Nygaard Democratic 89,722 I.J. Moe Independent 3,310 1.4 P.H. Miller Independent 3,273 1.4 E.A. Johannson Independent 2,697 1.2 Jasper Haaland Communist 540 0.2 W.D. Webster Communist 461 1938
(76th Congress)William Lemke Republican 153,106 72.3 Usher L. Burdick Republican 149,047 Howard I. Henry Democratic 55,125 23.9 Alfred S. Dale Democratic 44,691 J.B. Field Independent 8,109 3.9 1940
(77th Congress)Usher L. Burdick Republican 148,227 60.3 Charles R. Robertson Republican 111,125 R.J. Downey Democratic 63,662 29.4 Adolph Michelson Democratic 63,027 Thomas Hall Independent 23,399 10.3 John Omland Independent 20,845 1942
(78th Congress)Usher L. Burdick Republican 85,936 46.3 William Lemke Republican 65,905 Charles R. Robertson Independent 48,472 29.5 Halvor L. Halvorson Democratic 47,972 24.2 E.A. Johansson Democratic 31,547 1944
(79th Congress)William Lemke Republican 101,007 50.7 Charles R. Robertson Republican 91,425 Halvor L. Halvorson Democratic 56,699 26.9 J.R. Kennedy Democratic 45,308 Usher L. Burdick Independent R 39,888 21.0 George McClellan Independent R 3,135 1.4 A.C. Townley Independent R 2,307 1946
(80th Congress)William Lemke Republican 103,205 74.3 Charles R. Robertson Republican 102,087 James M. Hanley Democratic 41,189 25.7 Edwin Cooper Democratic 29,865 1948
(81st Congress)William Lemke Republican 132,343 69.0 Usher L. Burdick Republican 128,454 Alfred Dale Democratic 56,702 30.0 John M. Weiler Progressive 1,758 0.9 1950
(82nd Congress)Fred G. Aandahl Republican 119,047 70.7 Usher L. Burdick Republican 110,534 Ervin Schumacher Democratic 62,322 29.3 E.A. Johansson Democratic 32,946 1952
(83rd Congress)Usher L. Burdick Republican 181,218 77.2 Otto Krueger Republican 156,829 Edward Nesemeier Democratic 49,829 22.8 Scattered votes 49 0.0 1954
(84th Congress)Usher L. Burdick Republican 124,845 67.1 Otto Krueger Republican 106,341 P.W. Lanier Democratic 64,089 32.9 Raymond G. Vendsel Democratic 49,183 1956
(85th Congress)Usher L. Burdick Republican 143,514 62.3 Otto Krueger Republican 136,003 Agnes Geelan Democratic 85,743 37.7 S.B. Hocking Democratic 83,284 1958
(86th Congress)Quentin Burdick Democratic 99,562 48.4 Don L. Short Republican 97,862 51.6 Orris G. Nordhougen Republican 92,124 S.B. Hocking Democratic 78,889 1960
(87th Congress)Don L. Short Republican 135,579 53.3 Hjalmar C. Nygaard Republican 127,118 Raymond Vendsel Democratic 120,773 46.7 Anson J. Anderson Democratic 109,207 1962–1970 Districts used 1972
(93rd)Mark Andrews Republican 195,360 72.7 Richard Ista Democratic 72,850 27.1 Kenneth C. Gardener Sr. Independent 511 0.2 1974
(94th)Mark Andrews Republican 130,184 55.7 Byron Dorgan Democratic 103,504 44.3 1976
(95th)Mark Andrews Republican 181,018 62.4 Lloyd B. Omdahl Democratic 104,263 36.0 Russell Kleppe American 4,600 1.6 1978
(96th)Mark Andrews Republican 147,712 67.0 Bruce F. Hagen Democratic 68,016 30.9 Harley J. McLain Independent 3,197 1.5 Don J. Klingensmith Prohibition 1,389 0.6 1980
(97th)Byron L. Dorgan Democratic 166,437 56.8 Jim Smykowski Republican 124,707 42.6 John Lengenfelder Independent[1] 1,004 0.3 Torfin A. Teigen Independent 928 0.3 1982
(98th)Byron L. Dorgan Democratic 186,534 71.6 Kent Jones Republican 72,241 27.7 Don J. Klingensmith Prohibition 1,724 0.7 1984
(99th)Byron L. Dorgan Democratic 242,968 78.7 Lois Ivers Altenburg Republican 65,761 21.3 1986
(100th)Byron L. Dorgan Democratic 216,258 75.5 Syver Vinje Republican 66,989 23.4 Gerald W. Kopp Independent 3,114 1.1 1988
(101st)Byron L. Dorgan Democratic 212,583 70.9 Steve Sydness Republican 84,475 28.2 Kris Brekke Libertarian 2,924 1.0 1990
(102nd)Byron L. Dorgan Democratic 152,530 65.2 Ed Schafer Republican 81,443 34.8 Other 6 0.0 1992
(103rd)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 169,273 56.8 John T. Korsmo Republican 117,442 39.4 Other 11,183 3.8 1994
(104th)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 123,134 52.3 Gary Porter Republican 105,988 45.0 James Germalic Independent 6,267 2.7 1996
(105th)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 144,833 55.1 Kevin Cramer Republican 113,684 43.2 Kenneth R. Loughead Independent 4,493 1.7 1998
(106th)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 119,668 56.2 Kevin Cramer Republican 87,511 41.1 Kenneth R. Loughead Independent 5,709 2.7 2000
(107th)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 151,173 52.9 John Dorso Republican 127,251 44.5 Jan Shelver Independent 4,731 1.7 Kenneth R. Loughead Independent 2,481 0.9 Write-in 22 0.0 2002
(108th)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 121,073 52.4 Rick Clayburgh Republican 109,957 47.6 2004
(109th)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 185,130 59.6 Duane Sand Republican 125,684 40.4 2006
(110th)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 142,934 65.7 Matt Mechtel Republican 74,687 34.3 2008
(111th)Earl Pomeroy Democratic 194,175 62.1 Duane Sand Republican 118,519 37.9 2010
(112th)Rick Berg Republican 129,802 54.7 Earl Pomeroy Democratic 106,542 44.9 Write-in 793 0.4 Year (& Congress) Candidate Party Votes % References
- ^ John Lengenfelder described himself as "Academic Christian Freedom, Prolife-Family" when filing for election.
- Election statistics compiled by the Clerk to the House of Representatives; Michael J. Dubin, "United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997" (McFarland, 1998).
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
- Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
Bibliography
North Dakota's congressional districts All districts: Territory At-large 1 2 3
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd districts are obsolete
See also: North Dakota's past & present Representatives, Senators, and Delegations, 2010 elections, 2012 elections
All U.S. districts – Apportionment – Redistricting – Gerrymandering – MapsCategories:- Congressional districts of North Dakota
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