2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election


The 2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect a governor and lieutenant governor of North Dakota. Incumbent Governor Jack Dalrymple succeeded to the office when then-Governor John Hoeven resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate. Dalrymple, a member of the Republican Party, won election to a first full term. Ryan Taylor was the Democratic nominee. Jack Dalrymple prevailed with 63% of the vote.

Republican Party

Candidates

The North Dakota Republican Party selected Incumbent Governor Jack Dalrymple as their nominee and incumbent Lieutenant Governor Drew Wrigley was his running mate. Dalrymple defeated Fargo architect Paul Sorum who later ran as an independent.

Declined

Candidates

The Libertarian Party of North Dakota selected Roland Riemers, a real estate investor and a failed 2010 candidate for Grand Forks County Sheriff and failed 1996 candidate for president as their candidate.
On July 5, 2012, it was announced that Riemers will not appear on the ballot because his running mate, Richard Ames, failed to file a page of his paperwork.
On September 12, 2012 after being disqualified from appearing on the November ballot, Roland Riemers, a libertarian now running as an independent with Anthony Johns, said in a news release that he’d submitted more than 1,100 signatures to the secretary of state. The pair appears on the ballot certified by the secretary on Monday. Roland Riemers has filed a lawsuit to have the other candidates removed from the ballot.

Democratic-NPL Party

Candidates

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party selected rancher and Senate minority leader Ryan Taylor as their nominee. Ellen Chaffee was his running mate.

General election

Debates

Polling

Results