In 2026, 38.5% of the state legislative incumbents running for election in North Dakota will face primary contests, tying 2024 for the highest share since 2010.
In total, 20 incumbents face contested primaries across the North Dakota House and Senate. The average number of incumbents contested each election cycle since 2010 was 10. Nineteen of the contested incumbents are Republicans and one is a Democrat.
North Dakota has 16 contested state legislative primaries in 2026, the same number as the preceding cycle and less than the high of 24 in 2022.
Fifteen of these primaries are for Republicans, one fewer than in 2024. One of the primaries is for Democrats, who had no primaries in 2024.
In total, 144 major party candidates—59 Democrats and 85 Republicans—filed to run. Forty-six of the state’s 94 House seats and 24 of 47 Senate seats are up for election. Nineteen of those seats are open, meaning no incumbents filed. Seventeen seats were open in 2024.
North Dakota has had a Republican trifecta since 1995, when Republicans gained control of the state Senate. Republicans currently have an 83-10 majority in the House with one vacancy and a 42-5 majority in the Senate.
North Dakota’s state legislative primaries are scheduled for June 9.
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