Jayme Davis and Kristin Kenner Oust Incumbent North Dakota Senators
24 seats in the North Dakota Senate are up this year.
The Democratic and Republican primaries occurred today in North Dakota to select candidates for the November 2026 general election. This post covers the races for 24 seats in the State Senate. Separate posts will be covering the primaries for federal, statewide executive offices and county contests as well as 50 seats in the State House of Representatives.
The general election for 24 seats in the North Dakota Senate will be held on November 3, 2026.
District 1:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Brad Bekkedahl won the Republican primary.
District 3:
Surrey mayor Michael Thiesen won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Bob Paulson won the Republican primary.
District 5:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
State Representative Jay Fisher won the Republican primary.
District 7:
Business owner Kevin Horneman won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Michelle Axtman won the Republican primary with 57.9% (1,539) against state party official Jerri Hopfauf with 42.1% (1,119). 2,658 votes counted.
District 9:
State Representative Jayme Davis won the Democratic primary with 69.0% (662) against incumbent Richard Marcellais with 31.0% (297). 959 votes counted.
No candidate qualified for the Republican primary.
District 11:
Incumbent Tim Mathern won the Democratic primary.
Psychologist Christine O’Riley won the Republican primary.
District 13:
Former state AFL-CIO president Landis Larson won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Judy Lee won the Republican primary with 56.9% (864) against dentist Philip Sallberg with 43.1% (654). 1,518 votes counted.
District 15:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
Dentist Kristin Kenner won the Republican primary with 39.7% (1,239) against incumbent Kent Weston with 38.4% (1,198) and former State Senator Judy Estenson with 21.8% (681). 3,118 votes counted.
District 17:
Instructional designer Katie Benton won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Jonathan Sickler won the Republican primary.
District 19:
Business supervisor Jeff Hermanson won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Janne Myrdal won the Republican primary.
District 21:
State Representative Mary Schneider won the Democratic primary.
No candidate qualified for the Republican primary.
District 23:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Todd Beard won the Republican primary.
District 25:
Business executive Bob Heitkamp won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Larry Luick won the Republican primary.
District 27:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Kristin Roers won the Republican primary.
District 29:
Business owner John Kelly won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Terry Wanzek won the Republican primary.
District 31:
Pharmaceutical sales representative Kelly Spilman won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Donald Schaible won the Republican primary with 52.4% (1,231) against insurance adjuster Mary Graner with 47.6% (1,119). 2,350 votes counted.
District 33:
Archaeologist Signe Snortland won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Keith Boehm won the Republican primary.
District 35:
Investigator Dale Pittman won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Sean Cleary won the Republican primary.
District 37:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Dean Rummel won the Republican primary.
District 39:
No candidate qualified for the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Greg Kessel won the Republican primary.
District 41:
Fargo Board of Education member Nyamal Dei won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Kyle Davison won the Republican primary.
District 43:
Former State Representative Mary Adams won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Jeff Barta won the Republican primary.
District 45:
Army veteran Dan Mitchell won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Ronald Sorvaag won the Republican primary.
District 47:
Economic development leader Bill Patrie won the Democratic primary.
Incumbent Mike Dwyer won the Republican primary.