The 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of North Dakota, concurrently with other statewide elections and federal elections, including the U.S. presidential election. Incumbent Republican Governor Doug Burgum and Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford were both re-elected to a second term.

Republican primary The Republican Party held a state convention in the spring to endorse a single gubernatorial candidate. That candidate and his or her running mate were automatically placed on the primary election ballot. Endorsed candidates may or may not face competition from other candidates placed there by petition—as incumbent governor Burgum did in 2016. The winner of the primary appears on the general election ballot. All primary elections in North Dakota are open to all qualified North Dakota electors, regardless of party affiliation. The 2020 primary election was held on June 9.

Candidates Nominee Doug Burgum, incumbent governor Running mate: Brent Sanford, incumbent lieutenant governor

Eliminated in primary Michael Coachman, former Larimore city councilor and perennial candidate Running mate: Joel H. Hylden

Declined Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota

Results

Democratic-NPL primary At the Democratic-NPL Party's virtual state convention on March 21, the party endorsed Shelley Lenz for governor and Ben Vig for lieutenant governor. As a result, they were automatically placed on the primary election ballot, where they did not face competition from other candidates. The primary election was held on June 9, entirely by mail and open to all qualified North Dakota electors, regardless of party affiliation.

Candidates Nominee Shelley Lenz, veterinarian and former Killdeer school board member Running mate: Ben Vig, former state representative

Declined Joshua Boschee, minority leader of the North Dakota House of Representatives Heidi Heitkamp, former U.S. senator Erin Oban, state senator Mac Schneider, former minority leader of the North Dakota Senate

Results

Other candidates Libertarian Party Nominee DuWayne Hendrickson Running mate: Joshua Voytek

Results

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political ReportOctober 23, 2020Inside ElectionsOctober 28, 2020Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 2, 2020PoliticoNovember 2, 2020Daily KosOctober 28, 2020RCPNovember 2, 2020270towinNovember 2, 2020

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougBurgum (R) ShelleyLenz (D) DuWayneHendrickson (L) UndecidedDFM ResearchDFM Research September 12–16, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.5%56%24%6%14%

with Heidi Heitkamp Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DougBurgum (R) HeidiHeitkamp (D) Other /Undecided1892 Polling (R)1892 Polling (R) July 15–17, 2019 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 62% 33% 5%

Debate The two major party candidates, as well as the Libertarian candidate DuWayne Hendrickson, had a televised debate on October 21.

Results

By county CountyDoug BurgumRepublicanShelley LenzDemocratic–NPLDuWayne HendricksonLibertarianWrite-inMarginTotalvotes#%#%#%#%#%Adams1,00079.3716312.94403.17403.1783766.431,260Barnes3,77568.441,36624.761733.142023.662,40943.675,516Benson1,09856.2570836.27613.13854.3539019.981,952Billings44270.27579.06284.4510216.2234054.05629Bottineau2,65377.0158817.07932.701113.222,06559.943,445Bowman1,25476.6517110.45533.241589.661,08366.201,636Burke86075.3112911.30433.771109.6373164.011,142Burleigh31,06762.1312,06424.132,3854.774,4878.9719,00338.0050,003Cass50,64959.3131,05536.372,7373.219511.1119,59422.9585,392Cavalier1,55177.1334317.06552.73623.081,20860.072,011Dickey1,79173.9547919.78722.97803.301,31254.172,422Divide91876.7620016.72403.34383.1871860.031,196Dunn1,71174.0728012.12994.292209.521,43161.952,310Eddy84767.6030724.50372.95624.9554043.101,253Emmons1,37570.3022511.50985.0125813.191,11757.111,956Foster1,31774.9629016.51583.30925.241,02758.451,757Golden Valley79278.1110510.36464.54717.0068767.751,014Grand Forks19,15062.7710,00632.809553.133951.299,14429.9730,506Grant96470.2617112.46715.1716612.1079357.801,372Griggs92474.4624719.90332.66372.9867754.551,241Hettinger92371.6615311.88655.0514711.4177059.781,288Kidder92864.3621514.91755.2022415.5370448.821,442LaMoure1,66675.4939117.72693.13813.671,27557.772,207Logan73969.7810910.29545.1015714.8358254.961,059McHenry2,21174.3244715.031364.571816.081,76459.292,975McIntosh1,10977.1220113.98644.45644.4590863.141,438McKenzie4,30580.6065912.341923.591853.463,64668.265,341McLean3,46663.671,09420.103055.6057910.642,37243.575,444Mercer3,35272.6559112.811753.7949610.752,76159.844,614Morton10,25462.733,34120.448655.291,88611.546,91342.2916,346Mountrail2,69165.271,07226.001704.121904.611,61939.274,123Nelson1,19267.0850428.36402.25412.3168838.721,777Oliver74170.8412311.76444.2113813.1960357.651,046Pembina2,45174.2762518.94912.761334.031,82655.333,300Pierce1,52272.2037317.69612.891527.211,14954.512,108Ramsey3,76170.121,23923.101813.371833.412,52247.025,364Ransom1,60365.5669328.34973.97522.1391037.222,445Renville1,06480.9716812.79433.27392.9789668.191,314Richland5,45870.341,96325.302363.041021.313,49545.047,759Rolette1,49639.722,15157.12802.12391.04-655-17.393,766Sargent1,41468.6457127.72532.57221.0784340.922,060Sheridan51664.9110112.70435.4113516.9838147.92795Sioux34028.8966756.67776.54937.90-327-27.781,177Slope32977.41409.41163.76409.4128968.00425Stark10,49970.841,97713.347545.091,59010.738,52257.5014,820Steele71465.6333330.61242.21171.5638135.021,088Stutsman7,07172.261,99220.363954.043273.345,07951.919,785Towner86173.7823420.05302.57423.6062753.731,167Traill2,75566.841,20129.14962.33701.701,55437.704,122Walsh3,46172.9697520.551202.531883.962,48652.404,744Ward20,29572.515,58719.961,2624.518473.0314,70852.5527,991Wells1,60668.5735615.20984.1828212.041,25053.372,342Williams10,54875.481,68912.096654.761,0727.678,85963.4013,974 Totals235,47965.8490,78925.3813,8533.8717,5384.90144,69040.46357,659

Notes Partisan clients

General notes

References

External links

(state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)

Official campaign websites Doug Burgum (R) for Governor Shelley Lenz (D) for Governor