# 2012 United States Senate election in North Dakota

Elections in North Dakota :
Federal government
Presidential
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
1996
2000
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2004
2008
2012
2024
U.S. Senate
1889
1891
1893
1897
1899
1903
1905
1909
1911
1911 sp
1914
1916
1920
1922
1926
1926 sp
1928
1932
1934
1938
1940
1944
1946
1946 sp
1950
1952
1956
1958
1960 sp
1962
1964
1968
1970
1974
1976
1980
1982
1986
1988
1992
1992 sp
1994
1998
2000
2004
2006
2010
2012
2016
2018
2022
2024
U.S. House
1889
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1917
1st sp
1918
1920
1922
1924
2nd sp
1926
1928
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1963
1st sp
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
State government
State elections
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1889
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1921 (recall)
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Secretary of State elections
2018
2022
Attorney General elections
2018
2022
State Treasurer elections
2020
2024
State Auditor elections
2020
2024
State Senate elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
2004
Constitutional Measure 1
2022
Constitutional Measure 1 :
Fargo
City elections
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Mayoral elections
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2015
2018
2022 :
Bismarck
City elections
2020
2022
2024
2026
Mayoral elections
2022 :
Grand Forks
City elections
2020
2024
Mayoral elections
2020
2024 :
vte :
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.
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.
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%. Heitkamp outperformed President Barack Obama by 20.5%, the latter having lost North Dakota by 19.6% in the concurrent presidential election. Heitkamp's very narrow winning margin made it the closest race of the 2012 United States Senate elections. The victory made Heitkamp the first woman ever elected to Congress from North Dakota.
As of 2024, this was the last time a Democrat won a federal and/or statewide election in North Dakota.

## Democratic-NPL primary

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.

### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Heidi Heitkamp, former attorney general of North Dakota and nominee for Governor of North Dakota in 2000

#### Withdrew

* Thomas Potter, Presbyterian pastor and former professor of finance at UND (dropped out February 2012)

#### Declined

* Kent Conrad, incumbent U.S. Senator
* Pam Gulleson, former state representative and former chief of staff and former state director for former senator Byron Dorgan
* Kristin Hedger, nominee for North Dakota Secretary of State in 2006
* Joel Heitkamp, brother of Heidi Heitkamp, radio personality and former state senator
* Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union and former North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner
* Tim Mathern, state senator and nominee for governor in 2008
* Earl Pomeroy, former U.S. Representative
* Tracy Potter, state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010
* Tim Purdon, U.S. Attorney
* Jasper Schneider, USDA rural development State Director
* Mac Schneider, state senator
* Ryan Taylor, Minority Leader of the North Dakota Senate

## Republican primary

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.

### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Rick Berg, U.S. Representative

#### Eliminated in primary

* Duane Sand, former North and South Dakota Director for Americans for Prosperity and nominee for ND-AL in 2004 and 2008

#### Declined

* Al Carlson, North Dakota state house majority leader
* Tony Clark, state public service commissioner
* Kevin Cramer, state public service commissioner
* Jack Dalrymple, North Dakota governor and 1992 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate
* Cory Fong, state tax commissioner
* Shane Goettle, U.S. Senator John Hoeven's state director
* Tony Grindberg, state senator
* Bob Harms, North Dakota Republican Party treasurer
* Brian Kalk, state public service commissioner (running for House)
* Kim Koppelman, state representative
* Ed Schafer, former U.S. agriculture secretary and former North Dakota governor
* Kelly Schmidt, North Dakota treasurer
* Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota attorney general
* John Warford, mayor of Bismarck
* Drew Wrigley, North Dakota lieutenant governor

### Endorsements

Individuals
* Katie Anderson, Mayor of Jamestown
* John Hoeven, United States Senator from North Dakota
* Kay Bailey Hutchison, United States Senator from Texas
* Mike Hynek, Mayor of Stanley
* Dennis Johnson, Mayor of Dickinson
* Nancy Johnson, state representative
* Ward Koeser, Mayor of Williston
* Rich Mattern, Mayor of West Fargo
* Ed McConnell, Mayor of Casselton
* George Nodland, state senator
* Mitt Romney
* Brent Sanford, Mayor of Watford City
* Mike Schatz, state representative
* Vicky Steiner, state representative
* Jim Sturdevant, Mayor of Wahpeton
* Rich Wardner, State Senate Majority Leader
* John Warford, Mayor of Bismarck
* Curt Zimbelman, Mayor of Minot
Organizations
* Susan B. Anthony List
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* North Dakota Farm Bureau

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Berg | Duane Sand | Undecided |
| Mason-Dixon | June 4–6, 2012 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 73% | 16% | 11% |
| Essman Research | May 3–8, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.3% | 65% | 21% | 14% |

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Rick Berg | 67,849 | 66.41% |
| | Republican | Duane Sand | 34,209 | 33.48% |
| | Republican | Write-ins | 111 | .41% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 102,281 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Candidates

* Rick Berg (R), U.S. Representative
* Heidi Heitkamp (D), former attorney general of North Dakota and nominee for governor in 2000
* Bill Kiefer (I), businessman

### Debates

* Complete video of debate, October 15, 2012 - C-SPAN
* Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012 - C-SPAN

### Fundraising

| 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 |||||

#### Top contributors

| 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 |

#### Top industries

| 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 |

#### Independent expenditures

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.

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | November 1, 2012 |
| Inside Elections | Tilt R (flip) | November 2, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean R (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| Real Clear Politics | Tossup | November 5, 2012 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Heidi Heitkamp (D-NPL) | Rick Berg (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Pharos Research | November 2–5, 2012 | 503 | ± 4.1% | 47% | 49% | — | 4% |
| Pharos Research | October 26–28, 2012 | 752 | ± 3.6% | 50% | 48% | — | 2% |
| Mason-Dixon | October 26–28, 2012 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 47% | — | 8% |
| The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp) | October 21–24, 2012 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 48% | 44% | — | 7% |
| Pharos Research | October 19–21, 2012 | 807 | ± 3.4% | 49% | 48% | — | 3% |
| The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp) | October 16–19, 2012 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 42% | — | 13% |
| Rasmussen Reports | October 17–18, 2012 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 45% | 50% | — | 5% |
| Essman Research | October 12–15, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.4% | 40% | 50% | — | 10% |
| Mason-Dixon | October 3–5, 2012 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 47% | — | 6% |
| DFM Research (D) | September 24–27, 2012 | 600 | ± 4.0% | 48% | 44% | — | 8% |
| DFM Research (D) | July 24–26, 2012 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 50% | 44% | — | 6% |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 10–11, 2012 | 400 | ± 5.0% | 40% | 49% | 2% | 8% |
| Mason-Dixon | June 4–6, 2012 | 625 | ± 4.0% | 47% | 46% | — | 7% |
| Essman Research | May 3–8, 2012 | 500 | ± 4.3% | 44% | 51% | — | 5% |
| DFM Research (D) | April 18–26, 2012 | 478 | ± 4.5% | 49% | 44% | 1% | 6% |

### Results

United States Senate election in North Dakota, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic–NPL | Heidi Heitkamp | 161,337 | 50.24% | −18.58% |
| | Republican | Rick Berg | 158,401 | 49.32% | +19.79% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 1,406 | 0.44% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 321,144 | 100.00% | N/A |
| | Democratic–NPL hold | Democratic–NPL hold | Democratic–NPL hold | Democratic–NPL hold | Democratic–NPL hold |

#### By county

By county :
| County | Heidi Heitkamp Democratic–NPL | Heidi Heitkamp Democratic–NPL | Rick Berg Republican | Rick Berg Republican | Write-in | Write-in | Margin | Margin | Total votes |
| County | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total votes |
| Adams | 473 | 36.90 | 806 | 62.87 | 3 | 0.23 | -333 | -25.97 | 1,282 |
| Barnes | 3,181 | 57.51 | 2,329 | 42.11 | 21 | 0.38 | 852 | 15.40 | 5,531 |
| Benson | 1,453 | 67.08 | 709 | 32.73 | 4 | 0.18 | 744 | 34.45 | 2,166 |
| Billings | 160 | 27.92 | 412 | 71.90 | 1 | 0.17 | -252 | -43.98 | 573 |
| Bottineau | 1,636 | 46.33 | 1,875 | 53.10 | 20 | 0.57 | -239 | -6.77 | 3,531 |
| Bowman | 621 | 36.29 | 1,086 | 63.47 | 4 | 0.23 | -465 | -27.18 | 1,711 |
| Burke | 360 | 35.29 | 657 | 64.41 | 3 | 0.29 | -731 | -29.12 | 1,020 |
| Burleigh | 19,284 | 44.79 | 23,538 | 54.67 | 231 | 0.54 | -4,254 | -9.88 | 43,053 |
| Cass | 41,480 | 56.51 | 31,569 | 43.00 | 359 | 0.49 | 9,911 | 13.51 | 73,408 |
| Cavalier | 1,087 | 52.49 | 977 | 47.18 | 7 | 0.34 | 110 | 5.31 | 2,071 |
| Dickey | 1,125 | 44.43 | 1,399 | 55.25 | 8 | 0.32 | -274 | -10.92 | 2,532 |
| Divide | 592 | 50.95 | 567 | 48.80 | 3 | 0.26 | 25 | 2.15 | 1,162 |
| Dunn | 746 | 36.71 | 1,283 | 63.14 | 3 | 0.15 | -537 | -26.43 | 2,032 |
| Eddy | 693 | 60.00 | 455 | 39.39 | 7 | 0.61 | 238 | 20.61 | 1,155 |
| Emmons | 709 | 37.85 | 1,152 | 61.51 | 12 | 0.64 | -443 | -23.66 | 1,873 |
| Foster | 853 | 51.05 | 810 | 48.47 | 8 | 0.48 | 43 | 2.58 | 1,671 |
| Golden Valley | 265 | 28.59 | 660 | 71.20 | 2 | 0.22 | -395 | -42.61 | 927 |
| Grand Forks | 16,542 | 55.60 | 13,101 | 44.04 | 107 | 0.36 | 3,441 | 11.56 | 29,750 |
| Grant | 542 | 38.66 | 853 | 60.84 | 7 | 0.50 | -311 | -22.18 | 1,402 |
| Griggs | 704 | 52.85 | 628 | 47.15 | 0 | 0.00 | 76 | 5.70 | 1,332 |
| Hettinger | 511 | 37.63 | 843 | 62.08 | 4 | 0.29 | -332 | -24.45 | 1,358 |
| Kidder | 613 | 46.19 | 706 | 53.20 | 8 | 0.60 | -93 | -7.01 | 1,327 |
| LaMoure | 1,065 | 48.34 | 1,125 | 51.07 | 13 | 0.59 | -60 | -2.73 | 2,203 |
| Logan | 446 | 42.00 | 610 | 57.44 | 6 | 0.56 | -164 | -15.44 | 1,062 |
| McHenry | 1,359 | 50.20 | 1,339 | 49.46 | 9 | 0.33 | 20 | 0.74 | 2,707 |
| McIntosh | 648 | 42.35 | 872 | 56.99 | 10 | 0.65 | -224 | -14.64 | 1,530 |
| McKenzie | 1,229 | 36.02 | 2,177 | 63.80 | 6 | 0.18 | -948 | -26.98 | 3,412 |
| McLean | 2,357 | 47.96 | 2,544 | 51.76 | 14 | 0.28 | -187 | -3.80 | 4,915 |
| Mercer | 1,807 | 40.59 | 2,627 | 59.01 | 18 | 0.40 | -820 | -18.42 | 4,452 |
| Morton | 6,325 | 46.68 | 7,135 | 52.66 | 90 | 0.66 | -810 | -5.98 | 13,550 |
| Mountrail | 1,745 | 50.92 | 1,673 | 48.82 | 9 | 0.26 | 72 | 2.10 | 3,427 |
| Nelson | 993 | 59.50 | 670 | 40.14 | 6 | 0.36 | 323 | 19.36 | 1,669 |
| Oliver | 446 | 44.33 | 555 | 55.17 | 5 | 0.50 | -109 | -10.84 | 1,006 |
| Pembina | 1,672 | 51.30 | 1,579 | 48.45 | 8 | 0.25 | 93 | 2.85 | 3,259 |
| Pierce | 1,027 | 47.22 | 1,136 | 52.23 | 12 | 0.55 | -109 | -5.01 | 2,175 |
| Ramsey | 2,766 | 55.18 | 2,229 | 44.46 | 18 | 0.36 | 537 | 10.72 | 5,013 |
| Ransom | 1,669 | 68.71 | 755 | 31.08 | 5 | 0.21 | 914 | 37.63 | 2,429 |
| Renville | 580 | 46.00 | 676 | 53.61 | 5 | 0.40 | -96 | -7.61 | 1,261 |
| Richland | 4,445 | 58.39 | 3,135 | 41.18 | 102 | 1.31 | 1,310 | 17.21 | 7,613 |
| Rolette | 3,662 | 80.08 | 902 | 19.72 | 9 | 0.20 | 2,760 | 60.36 | 4,573 |
| Sargent | 1,321 | 65.66 | 679 | 33.75 | 12 | 0.60 | 642 | 31.91 | 2,012 |
| Sheridan | 299 | 36.29 | 521 | 63.23 | 4 | 0.49 | -222 | -26.94 | 824 |
| Sioux | 963 | 83.52 | 185 | 16.05 | 5 | 0.43 | 778 | 67.47 | 1,153 |
| Slope | 149 | 33.48 | 294 | 66.07 | 2 | 0.45 | -100 | -32.59 | 445 |
| Stark | 4,110 | 35.63 | 7,393 | 64.09 | 32 | 0.28 | -3,283 | -28.46 | 11,535 |
| Steele | 641 | 61.63 | 398 | 38.27 | 1 | 0.10 | 243 | 23.36 | 1,040 |
| Stutsman | 4,800 | 50.61 | 4,654 | 49.07 | 30 | 0.32 | 146 | 1.54 | 9,484 |
| Towner | 699 | 59.39 | 472 | 40.10 | 6 | 0.51 | 227 | 19.29 | 1,177 |
| Traill | 2,311 | 59.06 | 1,589 | 40.61 | 13 | 0.33 | 722 | 18.45 | 3,913 |
| Walsh | 2,645 | 54.94 | 2,151 | 44.68 | 18 | 0.37 | 494 | 10.26 | 4,814 |
| Ward | 11,230 | 44.45 | 13,888 | 54.97 | 145 | 0.57 | -2,658 | -10.52 | 25,263 |
| Wells | 982 | 41.59 | 1,363 | 57.73 | 16 | 0.68 | -381 | 16.14 | 2,361 |
| Williams | 3,142 | 32.37 | 6,541 | 67.38 | 24 | 0.25 | -3,399 | -35.01 | 9,707 |
| Totals | 161,163 | 50.23 | 158,282 | 49.33 | 1,406 | 0.44 | 2,492 | 0.9 | 320,851 |