North Dakota's At-large congressional district

North Dakota's At-large congressional district is the sole congressional district for the state of North Dakota. All of North Dakota is contained within one at large Congressional District making it the eighth largest district in the nation.

History

The district was first created when North Dakota achieved statehood on November 2, 1889, electing a single member. Following the 1900 census the state was allocated two Representatives who were both elected from the at large district, but when the 1910 census allocated a third the State drew three single-member districts. After the 1930 census eliminated the third district, North Dakota returned to electing two members from an at-large district until 1962 when two single member districts were drawn.

Since the reapportioning of Congressional seats in 1973 following the 1970 census, North Dakota has had only a single Representative. At the 1972 election, this meant that the two North Dakota congressional districts were merged into one, and Mark Andrews (Republican incumbent in the 1st Congressional District) won the newly-merged district with 72.7% of the vote. Arthur A. Link, Democratic incumbent in the 2nd congressional district, did not run for re-election, but was successful in winning election as the State's Governor.

In the post-Watergate 1974 elections, Andrews was challenged by Byron Dorgan (D) and was re-elected with 55.7% of the vote. In 1976 and 1978 he increased his majority over Democratic challengers Lloyd Omdahl and Bruce Hagen respectively.

Andrews stepped down from the House seat to run (successfully) for the United States Senate in 1980. In his place, Byron Dorgan ran for the open seat and defeated Republican Jim Smykowski by 56.8% to 42.6%. He obtained re-election with his percentage vote never dropping below 70% until 1990 (when Republican Ed Schafer, later to be elected Governor of the State, held him to only 65.2%). Dorgan in turn ran for a Senate seat in 1992 and left an open seat which was assessed as leaning Democratic. Republican John Korsmo lost to Democrat Earl Pomeroy by 39.4% to 56.8%.

Pomeroy saw some close elections when defending his seat. He won only 52.3% in 1994, 52.9% in 2000 and 52.4% in 2002. However in the 2004 elections he won 59.6% of the vote over Duane Sand and in the 2006 elections he beat Matthew Mechtel with 66% of the vote.

Pomeroy lost to Rick Berg in the 2010 general election.

List of representatives

1889 – 1913: One seat, then two seats at-large

1913 – 1933: Districts used

After the 1910 census, three seats were apportioned among districts. Representatives were again elected state-wide at-large after the 1930 census, starting with the 1932 election.

1933 – 1963: Two seats at-large

Following the 1930 census, the delegation was reduced to two seats, elected at-large statewide.

1963 – 1973: Districts used

After the 1960 census, two seats were apportioned among districts. Representatives were again elected state-wide at-large after the 1970 census, starting with the 1972 election.

1973 – present: One seat At-large

Since the 1970 census, there has only been one at-large seat, elected state-wide.

Election results

References

• Election statistics compiled by the Clerk to the House of Representatives; Michael J. Dubin, "United States Congressional Elections 1788-1997" (McFarland, 1998).
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. 
• Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

Bibliography

• Official election return, 2004