2010 United States Senate election in North Dakota

none March 2026 December 2017 2010 United States Senate election in North Dakota North Dakota presidential Yes 2004 United States Senate election in North Dakota 2004 2016 United States Senate election in North Dakota 2016 November 2, 2010 File:John Hoeven, Official Senate Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg 150x150px John Hoeven Republican Party (United States) 181,689 76.08% File:Tracy Potter - 20100704 (cropped).jpg Tracy Potter North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party 52,955 22.17% 2010 United States Senate election in North Dakota results map by county.svg 250px County resultsHoeven: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70% #d72f30 70–80% #c21b18 80–90% U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party John Hoeven Republican Party (United States) The 2010 United States Senate election in North Dakota took place on November 2, 2010, alongside other elections to the United States Senate in other states as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan announced in January 2010 that he would not seek re-election, leading to the first open seat election since 1992. Governor John Hoeven won the seat in a landslide, taking 76.1% of the vote, sweeping every county in the state, and becoming North Dakota's first Republican senator since 1987. Hoeven's 54 point margin of victory was a dramatic and historic shift from the 2004 election for this seat, when Dorgan won in a 36-point landslide and himself swept every county. Background Incumbent Byron Dorgan never had a difficult time getting elected, as he obtained 59%, 63%, and 68% in his three senate election bids, respectively. However, in December 2009, Rasmussen Reports conducted a hypothetical matchup of Governor John Hoeven against the incumbent. Hoeven led by a large margin, 58% to Dorgan's 36%. Polls showed that 61% of the state still had a favorable view of Dorgan, and if pitted against state senator Duane Sand, the incumbent led 52% to 37%.http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/north_dakota/2010_north_dakota_senate_hoeven_58_dorgan_36 2010 North Dakota Senate: Hoeven 58%, Dorgan 36% - Rasmussen Reports Rasmussenreports.com August 21, 2010 Several prominent members of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party expressed an interest in the U.S. Senate race once Senator Dorgan announced that he would not run again. Among those people were Joel Heitkamp, a former North Dakota state senator and current radio talk show host of News and Views on KFGO in Fargo. His sister, former North Dakota attorney general Heidi Heitkamp of Bismarck, also considered running, but declined to enter the race as well. Heidi Heitkamp later held North Dakota’s other Senate seat from 2013 to 2019. Others who had indicated an interest in the race were businesswoman Kristin Hedger and national progressive talk show host Ed Schultz. Hedger was the Democratic candidate for North Dakota secretary of state in the 2006 general election, which she lost to the incumbent, Republican Alvin Jaeger. While flattered to have been asked, Schultz said he had to decline since he would have been forced to give up his nightly television program on MSNBC The Ed Show as well as his daily progressive national radio show, The Ed Schultz Show, in order to run. Also, Federal Communications Commission regulations decree that equal and free air time would have had to be given to whoever Schultz's opponents would have been in the election in order to allow them to respond to anything that Schultz would have said about them on his programs. Democratic-NPL primary Candidates Nominee Tracy Potter, state senatorhttp://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/election2010/article_7e41c5b8-126f-11df-b9de-001cc4c03286.html Potter seeks center in Senate race Bismarcktribune.com February 5, 2010 June 14, 2010 Declined Byron Dorgan, incumbent U.S. SenatorThomas Ken Writer Associated Press 2010-01-06 Dorgan says he will not seek re-election in fall https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-dorgan-says-he-will-not-seek-re-election-in-fall-2010jan05-story.html 2024-01-01 San Diego Union-Tribune en-US Kristin Hedger, manufacturing executive and nominee for North Dakota Secretary of State in 2006Cadei Emily October 6, 2023 https://rollcall.com/2010/03/08/north-dakota-democrats-struggle-to-find-senate-nominee/ March 8, 2010 Roll Call North Dakota: Democrats Struggle to Find Senate Nominee Heidi Heitkamp, former North Dakota Attorney General and nominee for Governor of North Dakota in 2000 Ed Schultz, TV and radio talk show hostThe San Diego Union-Tribune October 6, 2023 Associated Press January 7, 2010 https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-talk-host-ed-schultz-wont-run-for-us-senate-in-nd-2010jan07-story.html Talk host Ed Schultz won’t run for US Senate in ND Results Democratic-NPL primary resultshttp://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?text=Race&type=SW&map=CTY North Dakota Secretary of State ND Secretary of State June 9, 2010 Tracy Potter North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party 26,211 99.6% Write-in North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party 95 0.4% 26,306 100.0% Republican primary Candidates Nominee John Hoeven, Governor of North Dakotahttp://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_65226d46-ff26-11de-a363-001cc4c002e0.html Hoeven ends suspense, enters Senate race Bismarcktribune.com January 11, 2010 June 14, 2010 Eliminated in primary Timothy Beattie Results Republican primary results John Hoeven Republican Party (United States) 64,978 99.8% Timothy Beattie Republican Party (United States) 130 0.2% 65,108 100.0% Libertarian primary Candidates Nominee Keith Hanson, engineerHoeven raises $1.37M in donations for N.D. Senate campaign Grand Forks Herald Associated Press Dale Wetzel http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/157847/group/Elections%202010 August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Results Libertarian primary results Keith Hanson Libertarian Party (United States) 532 97.6% Write-in Libertarian Party (United States) 13 2.4% 545 100.0% General election Campaign Hoeven was challenged in the race by North Dakota state senator Tracy Potter of Bismarck. Potter received the endorsement of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party at its state convention on March 27, 2010. Governor Hoeven and Senator Potter advanced to the November 2, 2010 general election following balloting in North Dakota's primary election, which was held on June 8, 2010. Neither candidate faced any significant opposition in the primary election. Aggregate polling throughout 2010 indicated that Hoeven had large double-digit leads against Potter. Hoeven was enormously popular and enjoyed instant name recognition throughout the state of North Dakota. Having won an unprecedented third consecutive four-year term as governor in November 2008, his election in 2010 to the U.S. Senate was all but certain.Rudin Ken https://www.npr.org/blogs/politicaljunkie/2009/11/early_look_at_2010_senate_race.html Early Look At 2010 Senate Races: GOP Shows Improvement Since June NPR November 11, 2009 June 14, 2010Silver Nate http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/03/democrats-now-project-to-hold-average.html Politics Done Right: Senate Forecast Update, 3/24 FiveThirtyEight March 24, 2010 June 14, 2010 June 20, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100620031528/http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/03/democrats-now-project-to-hold-average.html dead John Hoeven was sworn into the U.S. Senate on January 3, 2011. As of 2026, 2010 is the last U.S. Senate race in North Dakota where any candidate won every county. Predictions Source Ranking As of Cook Political Reporthttp://cookpolitical.com/senate Senate Cook Political Report October 26, 2010 Safe R Flip October 26, 2010 Inside Electionshttp://rothenbergpoliticalreport.com/ratings/senate Senate Ratings Rothenberg Political Report October 26, 2010 Safe R Flip October 22, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball2010 Senate Ratings http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate October 26, 2010 Sabato's Crystal Ball October 28, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101028092918/http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-senate/ dead Safe R Flip October 21, 2010 RealClearPoliticsBattle for the Senate http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/senate/2010_elections_senate_map.html October 26, 2010 RealClearPolitics Safe R Flip October 26, 2010 CQ Politicshttp://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate Race Ratings Chart: Senate CQ Politics October 26, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101028234525/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=ratings-senate October 28, 2010 Safe R Flip October 26, 2010 Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JohnHoeven (R) TracyPotter (D) Other Undecided Rasmussen Reports (report) February 9–10, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 71% 17% 4% 8% Rasmussen Reports (report) March 23, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 68% 25% 2% 5% Rasmussen Reports (report) April 20, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 69% 24% 2% 5% Rasmussen Reports (report) May 18–19, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 72% 23% 2% 3% Rasmussen Reports (report) June 15–16, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 73% 19% 2% 6% Rasmussen Reports (report) July 21, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 69% 22% 2% 7% Rasmussen Reports (report) August 10, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 69% 25% 1% 5% Rasmussen Reports (report) September 20–21, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 68% 25% 2% 5% Rasmussen Reports (report) October 20, 2010 500 ± 4.5% 72% 25% 0% 3% Fundraising Candidate (party) Receipts Disbursements Cash on hand Debt John Hoeven (R) $3,419,202 $2,246,827 $1,172,375 $100,000 Tracy Potter (D) $117,739 $82,505 $35,332 $13,601 Source: Federal Election Commissionhttp://www.fec.gov:80/DisclosureSearch/HSRefreshCandList.do?category=stateS_all&stateName=ND&election_yr=2010 2010 House and Senate Campaign Finance for North Dakota fec.gov June 7, 2010 August 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Results General election resultsOfficial Results General Election https://results.sos.nd.gov/ResultsSW.aspx?text=All&type=SW&map=CTY&eid=22 North Dakota Secretary of State May 2, 2026 November 2, 2010 Republican Party (United States) John Hoeven 181,689 76.08% +44.36% North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Tracy Potter 52,955 22.17% -46.11% Libertarian Party (United States) Keith Hanson 3,890 1.63% N/A 278 0.12% N/A 238,814 100.00% N/A Republican Party (United States) North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Results by county CountyJohn HoevenRepublicanTracy Potter DemocraticAll OthersMarginTotal votes#%#%#%#%Adams96381.0%20116.9%252.1%76263.1%1,189Barnes3,53874.2%1,14023.9%871.8%2,39850.3%4,765Benson1,11562.7%62134.9%432.4%49427.8%1,779Billings44388.4%489.6%102.0%39578.8%501Bottineau2,42681.7%49716.7%481.6%1,92965.0%2,971Bowman1,23484.7%18412.6%392.7%1,05072.1%1,457Burke66784.4%11214.2%111.4%55572.2%790Burleigh25,42077.9%6,70520.5%5251.6%18,71557.4%32,650Cass34,88272.0%12,74326.3%8431.7%22,13945.7%48,468Cavalier1,50381.6%32217.5%160.9%1,18164.1%1,841Dickey1,63580.7%36418.0%281.4%1,27162.7%2,027Divide67674.9%21023.3%160.8%46651.6%902Dunn1,23679.5%29619.0%221.4%94060.5%1,554Eddy69568.9%28127.9%323.2%41442.0%1,008Emmons1,26280.8%25716.5%432.7%1,00564.3%1,562Foster1,16579.8%26518.2%302.1%90071.6%1,460Golden Valley64086.1%9112.2%121.6%54973.9%743Grand Forks14,98473.7%5,04924.8%2951.4%9,93548.9%20,328Grant94981.7%19516.8%171.5%75464.9%1,161Griggs84574.3%27424.1%191.7%57150.2%1,138Hettinger93480.1%20517.6%272.3%72962.5%1,166Kidder85774.1%26122.6%383.3%59651.5%1,156LaMoure1,61677.5%42620.4%442.1%1,19057.1%2,086Logan80082.7%14615.1%212.2%65467.6%967McHenry1,77475.9%51622.1%461.9%1,25853.8%2,336McIntosh1,16884.1%19714.2%241.8%97169.9%1,389McKenzie1,80382.9%34515.9%281.2%1,45867.0%2,176McLean3,03076.6%85921.7%681.7%2,17154.9%3,957Mercer2,89579.4%69119.0%601.7%2,20460.4%3,646Morton7,42275.3%2,24222.7%1961.9%5,18052.6%9,860Mountrail1,45066.9%66430.6%532.5%78636.3%2,167Nelson1,16073.8%38124.2%312.0%77949.6%1,572Oliver72680.2%15417.0%252.8%57263.2%905Pembina2,18181.6%44716.7%441.6%1,73464.9%2,672Pierce1,57181.0%33917.5%291.5%1,23263.5%1,939Ramsey3,25377.7%86220.6%721.7%2,39157.1%4,187Ransom1,31369.8%53828.6%301.6%77541.2%1,881Renville83278.5%20919.7%191.8%62358.8%1,060Richland4,32276.8%1,20521.4%1041.8%3,11755.4%5,631Rolette2,08952.7%1,75444.2%1233.1%3358.5%3,966Sargent1,03864.8%54634.1%171.0%49230.7%1,601Sheridan66184.6%11114.2%91.1%55070.4%781Sioux42654.5%32741.9%283.6%9913.6%781Slope27982.5%4914.5%103.0%23068.0%338Stark6,42182.9%1,17915.2%1481.9%5,24267.7%7,748Steele60266.5%29332.4%101.1%30934.1%905Stutsman6,01177.4%1,59620.6%1562.0%4,41556.8%7,763Towner76774.5%24724.0%161.6%52050.5%1,030Traill2,26273.6%76524.9%481.6%1,49748.7%3,075Walsh3,23579.7%76718.9%551.3%2,46860.8%4,057Ward15,46580.6%3,45318.0%2751.5%12,01262.6%19,193Wells1,77480.9%38717.7%311.4%1,38763.2%2,192Williams5,27483.3%93914.8%1222.0%4,33568.5%6,335Totals181,68976.1%52,95522.2%4,1681.7%128,73453.9%238,812 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican All 53 References External links North Dakota - Elections and Voting U.S. Congress candidates for North Dakota https://web.archive.org/web/20100930122629/http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=ND September 30, 2010 at Project Vote Smart North Dakota U.S. Senate 2010 from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions from Open Secrets 2010 North Dakota Senate General Election: All Head-to-Head MatchupsAugust 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com Election 2010: North Dakota Senate from Rasmussen Reports 2010 North Dakota Senate Race from Real Clear Politics https://archive.today/20130119180219/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=senate-2010-ND 2010 North Dakota Senate Race el from CQ Politics Race profile from The New York Times Official campaign websites (Archived) Keith Hanson for U.S. Senate John Hoeven for U.S. Senate Tracy Potter for U.S. Senate Paul Sorum for U.S. Senate Category:2010 North Dakota elections North Dakota 2010