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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.
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Turnout | 60.6% (voting eligible)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
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Heitkamp: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 80–90% Berg: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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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.[2]
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%.[3] Heitkamp outperformed President Barack Obama by 20.5%, the latter having lost North Dakota by 19.6% in the concurrent presidential election.[4] Heitkamp's very narrow winning margin made it the closest race of the 2012 United States Senate elections.
As of 2024[update], this was the last time a Democrat won a federal and/or statewide election in North Dakota.[5]
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.[6]
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.[20]
Individuals
Organizations
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Rick Berg | 67,849 | 66.41% | |
Republican | Duane Sand | 34,209 | 33.48% | |
Republican | Write-ins | 111 | .41% | |
Total votes | 102,281 | 100.00% |
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[41][42] |
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 |
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 |
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.[45]
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[46] | Tossup | November 1, 2012 |
Inside Elections[47] | Tilt R (flip) | November 2, 2012 |
Sabato's Crystal Ball[48] | Lean R (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
Real Clear Politics[49] | Tossup | November 5, 2012 |
Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Heidi Heitkamp (D-NPL) |
Rick Berg (R) |
Other | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pharos Research[50] | November 2–5, 2012 | 503 | ± 4.1% | 47% | 49% | — | 4% |
Pharos Research[51] | October 26–28, 2012 | 752 | ± 3.6% | 50% | 48% | — | 2% |
Mason-Dixon[52] | October 26–28, 2012 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 47% | — | 8% |
The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp)[53] | October 21–24, 2012 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 48% | 44% | — | 7% |
Pharos Research[54] | October 19–21, 2012 | 807 | ± 3.4% | 49% | 48% | — | 3% |
The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp)[55] | October 16–19, 2012 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 42% | — | 13% |
Rasmussen Reports[56] | October 17–18, 2012 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 50% | — | 5% |
Essman Research[57] | October 12–15, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 40% | 50% | — | 10% |
Mason-Dixon[58] | October 3–5, 2012 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 47% | — | 6% |
DFM Research (D)[59] | September 24–27, 2012 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 48% | 44% | — | 8% |
DFM Research (D)[60] | July 24–26, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 50% | 44% | — | 6% |
Rasmussen Reports[61] | July 10–11, 2012 | 400 | ± 5.0% | 40% | 49% | 2% | 8% |
Mason-Dixon[37] | June 4–6, 2012 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 46% | — | 7% |
Essman Research[38] | May 3–8, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.3% | 44% | 51% | — | 5% |
DFM Research (D)[62] | April 18–26, 2012 | 478 | ± 4.5% | 49% | 44% | 1% | 6% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic–NPL | Heidi Heitkamp | 161,337 | 50.24% | −18.58% | |
Republican | Rick Berg | 158,401 | 49.32% | +19.79% | |
Write-in | 1,406 | 0.44% | N/A | ||
Total votes | 321,144 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
Democratic–NPL hold |
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