Closest U.S. Senate elections in North Dakota
The closest U.S. Senate election in North Dakota history was in 1974, a margin of 0.07 points. Milton R. Young beat William L. Guy, 114,117 to 113,931. Next closest are 1986 (0.73 points) and 2012 (0.92 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race North Dakota has held, special elections included, see the North Dakota U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in North Dakota history?
The North Dakota Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1974, 0.07 points. Milton R. Young beat William L. Guy, 114,117 to 113,931. The next closest were 1986 (0.73 points) and 2012 (0.92 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for North Dakota’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the North Dakota Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first North Dakota election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1974 | Milton R. Young R def. William L. Guy D | 114,117 – 113,931 | 0.07 points |
| 2 | 1986 | Kent Conrad D def. Mark Andrews R | 143,932 – 141,812 | 0.73 points |
| 3 | 2012 | Heidi Heitkamp D def. Rick Berg R | 161,337 – 158,401 | 0.92 points |
| 4 | 1940 | William Langer R def. William Lemke I | 100,647 – 92,593 | 3.0 points |
| 5 | 1922 | Lynn J. Frazier R def. J. F. O'Connor D | 101,312 – 92,464 | 4.6 points |
| 6 | 1938 | Gerald P. Nye R def. William Langer I | 131,907 – 112,007 | 7.6 points |
| 7 | 2018 | Kevin Cramer R def. Heidi Heitkamp D | 179,720 – 144,376 | 10.8 points |
| 8 | 1944 | John Moses D def. Gerald P. Nye R | 95,102 – 69,530 | 12.2 points |
| 9 | 1964 | Quentin N. Burdick D def. Thomas S. Kleppe R | 149,264 – 109,681 | 15.3 points |
| 10 | 1916 | Porter J. McCumber R def. John Burke D | 57,714 – 40,988 | 15.6 points |
| 11 | 1958 | William Langer R def. Raymond Vendsel D | 117,070 – 84,892 | 15.7 points |
| 12 | 1994 | Kent Conrad D def. Ben Clayburgh R | 137,157 – 99,390 | 16.0 points |
| 13 | 1934 | Lynn J. Frazier I def. Henry Holt D | 151,205 – 104,477 | 18.0 points |
| 14 | 1920 | Edwin F. Ladd R def. H. H. Perry D | 130,614 – 87,765 | 19.6 points |
| 15 | 1992 | Byron L. Dorgan D def. Steve Sydness R | 179,347 – 118,162 | 20.1 points |
| 16 | 1988 | Quentin N. Burdick D def. Earl Strinden R | 171,899 – 112,937 | 20.4 points |
| 17 | 1962 | Milton R. Young R def. P. W. Lanier D | 135,705 – 88,032 | 21.3 points |
| 18 | 1914 | Asle J. Gronna R def. W. E. Purcell D | 48,732 – 29,640 | 21.9 points |
| 19 | 2000 | Kent Conrad D def. Duane Sand R | 176,470 – 111,069 | 22.7 points |
| 20 | 1976 | Quentin N. Burdick D def. Robert Stroup R | 175,772 – 103,466 | 25.6 points |
| 21 | 1956 | Milton R. Young R def. Quentin N. Burdick D | 155,305 – 87,919 | 27.6 points |
| 22 | 1998 | Byron L. Dorgan D def. Donna Nalewaja R | 134,747 – 75,013 | 28.0 points |
| 23 | 1982 | Quentin N. Burdick D def. Gene Knorr R | 164,873 – 89,304 | 28.8 points |
| 24 | 1946 | William Langer R def. Arthur E. Thompson I | 88,210 – 38,804 | 29.9 points |
| 25 | 1968 | Milton R. Young R def. Herschel Lashkowitz D | 154,968 – 80,815 | 30.9 points |