2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election

The 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota, concurrently with other federal and statewide elections, including the U.S. presidential election. Incumbent Republican Governor Doug Burgum and Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford were both re-elected to a second term.

Republican primary

The Republican Party held a state convention in the spring to endorse a single gubernatorial candidate. That candidate and his or her running mate were automatically placed on the primary election ballot. Endorsed candidates may or may not face competition from other candidates placed there by petition—as incumbent governor Burgum did in 2016. The winner of the primary appears on the general election ballot. All primary elections in North Dakota are open to all qualified North Dakota electors, regardless of party affiliation. The 2020 primary election was held on June 9.

Candidates

Nominee

• Doug Burgum, incumbent Governor
  • Running mate: Brent Sanford, incumbent Lieutenant Governor

Eliminated in primary

• Michael Coachman, U.S. Air Force veteran and perennial candidate
  • Running mate: Joel H. Hylden

Declined

• Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota Attorney General
• Drew Wrigley, U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota

Results

Democratic-NPL primary

At the Democratic-NPL Party's virtual state convention on March 21, the party endorsed Shelley Lenz for governor and Ben Vig for lieutenant governor. As a result, they were automatically placed on the primary election ballot, where they did not face competition from other candidates. The primary election was held on June 9, entirely by mail and open to all qualified North Dakota electors, regardless of party affiliation.

Candidates

Nominee

• Shelley Lenz, veterinarian and former Killdeer school board member
  • Running mate: Ben Vig, former state representative

Declined

• Joshua Boschee, minority leader of the North Dakota House of Representatives
• Heidi Heitkamp, former U.S. Senator
• Erin Oban, state senator
• Mac Schneider, former minority leader of the North Dakota Senate

Results

Other candidates

Libertarian Party

Nominee

• DuWayne Hendrickson
  • Running mate: Joshua Voytek

Results

General election

Predictions

Polling

Results

Notes

Partisan clients

General notes

References

External links

• Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "North Dakota", Voting & Elections Toolkits
• "North Dakota: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org, Oakland, CA
• "League of Women Voters of North Dakota". (state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
• North Dakota at Ballotpedia

Official campaign websites

• Doug Burgum (R) for Governor
• Shelley Lenz (D) for Governor Archived 2020-02-20 at the Wayback Machine

1. 2024 North Dakota gubernatorial election
2. 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election
3. 2008 North Dakota gubernatorial election
4. 2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election
5. 2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election
6. 1996 North Dakota gubernatorial election
7. 1921 North Dakota gubernatorial recall election
8. 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial election
9. 1980 North Dakota gubernatorial election
10. 1932 North Dakota gubernatorial election
11. 1972 North Dakota gubernatorial election
12. 1988 North Dakota gubernatorial election
13. 1984 North Dakota gubernatorial election
14. 1968 North Dakota gubernatorial election
15. 2004 North Dakota gubernatorial election
16. 1920 North Dakota gubernatorial election
17. 1964 North Dakota gubernatorial election
18. 2024 United States gubernatorial elections
19. 1944 North Dakota gubernatorial election
20. 1904 North Dakota gubernatorial election