North Dakota local trial court judicial elections, 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

Nineteen of the 23 seats up for election were unopposed. Eighteen of those seats were retained by incumbents.

The primary election on June 14, 2016, only impacted two of the 23 races; all of the seats, however, appeared on the primary ballot

Seven of the seats were up for partial term election.

Map

Choose a county from the menu on the left to learn in which judicial district it lies, which of the district's seats were up for election, and who are the candidates who ran in those races. The counties are shaded on the map to indicate the eight judicial districts.

Northwest

Northwest Judicial District

North Dakota's Northwest Judicial District covers the counties of Divide, McKenzie, and Williams. Judges No. 1, 3, and 4 were up for election in 2016. The three sitting judges in those positions won re-election without opposition.

Primary election

Candidate list Judge No. 1 ☑ Joshua B. Rustad (i) Judge No. 3 ☑ Paul Jacobson (i) Judge No. 4 ☑ Robin Schmidt (i)

Results Incumbent Joshua B. Rustad ran unopposed in the Northwest Judicial District Judge No. 1 primary election. North Dakota Northwest Judicial District, Judge No. 1, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Joshua B. Rustad Incumbent (unopposed) 99.46% 2,953 Write-in votes 0.54% 16 Total Votes 2,969 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Incumbent Paul Jacobson ran unopposed in the Northwest Judicial District Judge No. 3 primary election. North Dakota Northwest Judicial District, Judge No. 3, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Paul Jacobson Incumbent (unopposed) 99.52% 2,893 Write-in votes 0.48% 14 Total Votes 2,907 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Incumbent Robin Schmidt ran unopposed in the Northwest Judicial District Judge No. 4 primary election. North Dakota Northwest Judicial District, Judge No. 4, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Robin Schmidt Incumbent (unopposed) 99.59% 2,918 Write-in votes 0.41% 12 Total Votes 2,930 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.

Northeast

Northeast Judicial District

North Dakota's Northeast Judicial District covers the counties of Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Rolette, Towner, and Walsh. Judges No. 1 and 5 were up for election in 2016.

The Judge No. 1 race was one of only two North Dakota District Court races where the primary contest limited the pool of candidates for the general election. Four candidates filed to replace sitting Judge Lee A. Christofferson in this race. The two candidates who received the most votes in the primary advanced to the general election. Meanwhile, Judge No. 5 Laurie A. Fontaine won re-election without opposition.

Primary election

Candidate list Judge No. 1 ☐ Kari Agotness ☑ Lonnie Olson ☐ Ryan Thompson ☑ Jim Wang Judge No. 5 ☑ Laurie A. Fontaine (i)

Results Lonnie Olson and Jim Wang defeated Kari Agotness and Ryan Thompson in the Northeast Judicial District Judge No. 1 primary election. North Dakota Northeast Judicial District, Judge No. 1, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Lonnie Olson 56.64% 12,039 Jim Wang 43.24% 9,192 Kari Agotness 0.00% Ryan Thompson 0.00% Write-in votes 0.12% 26 Total Votes 21,257 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Incumbent Laurie A. Fontaine ran unopposed in the Northeast Judicial District Judge No. 5 primary election. North Dakota Northeast Judicial District, Judge No. 5, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Laurie A. Fontaine Incumbent (unopposed) 99.75% 19,226 Write-in votes 0.25% 49 Total Votes 19,275 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.

North Central

North Central Judicial District

North Dakota's North Central Judicial District covers the counties of Burke, Mountrail, and Ward. Three of the court's seats were up for election, but only one race was contested.

Judge No. 4 Stacy J. Louser was one of just two incumbents running for re-election to face a challengers in 2016. Bob Martin challenged but ultimately lost to Louser. Judge No. 2 Gary H. Lee and Judge No. 5 Todd Cresap won re-election without opposition.

Primary election

Candidate list Judge No. 2 ☑ Gary H. Lee (i) Judge No. 4 ☑ Stacy J. Louser (i) ☑ Bob Martin Judge No. 5 ☑ Todd Cresap (i)

Results Incumbent Gary H. Lee ran unopposed in the North Central Judicial District Judge No. 2 general election. North Dakota North Central Judicial District, Judge No. 2, General Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Gary H. Lee Incumbent (unopposed) 98.72% 26,813 Write-in votes 1.28% 349 Total Votes 27,162 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 8, 2016 Incumbent Stacy J. Louser defeated Bob Martin in the North Central Judicial District Judge No. 4 general election. North Dakota North Central Judicial District, Judge No. 4, General Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Stacy J. Louser Incumbent 71.32% 20,618 Bob Martin 28.20% 8,153 Write-in votes 0.48% 138 Total Votes 28,909 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 8, 2016 Incumbent Todd Cresap ran unopposed in the North Central Judicial District Judge No. 5 general election. North Dakota North Central Judicial District, Judge No. 5, General Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Todd Cresap Incumbent (unopposed) 99.06% 26,677 Write-in votes 0.94% 252 Total Votes 26,929 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 8, 2016

Northeast Central

Northeast Central Judicial District

North Dakota's Northeast Central Judicial District covers the counties of Grand Forks, and Nelson. The court's Judge No. 3 seat, held by Jon Jay Jensen was up for election. Jensen won re-election without opposition.

Primary election

Candidate list Judge No. 3 ☑ Jon Jay Jensen (i)

Results Incumbent Jon Jay Jensen ran unopposed in the Northeast Central Judicial District Judge No. 3 primary election. North Dakota Northeast Central Judicial District, Judge No. 3, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Jon Jay Jensen Incumbent (unopposed) 99.71% 10,102 Write-in votes 0.29% 29 Total Votes 10,131 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.

East Central

East Central Judicial District

North Dakota's East Central Judicial District covers the counties of Cass, Steele, and Traill. Five of the court's seats were up for election. All five races were won by unopposed incumbents seeking re-election.

Primary election

Candidate list Judge No. 2 ☑ Douglas R. Herman (i) Judge No. 3 ☑ Steven E. McCullough (i) Judge No. 4 ☑ Steven L. Marquart (i) Judge No. 6 ☑ Thomas Olson (i) Judge No. 9 ☑ Norman G. Anderson (i)

Results Incumbent Douglas R. Herman ran unopposed in the East Central Judicial District Judge No. 2 general election. North Dakota East Central Judicial District, Judge No. 2, General Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Douglas R. Herman Incumbent (unopposed) 99.06% 63,887 Write-in votes 0.94% 607 Total Votes 64,494 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 8, 2016 Incumbent Steven E. McCullough ran unopposed in the East Central Judicial District Judge No. 3 general election. North Dakota East Central Judicial District, Judge No. 3, General Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Steven E. McCullough Incumbent (unopposed) 98.99% 63,851 Write-in votes 1.01% 654 Total Votes 64,505 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 8, 2016 Incumbent Steven L. Marquart ran unopposed in the East Central Judicial District Judge No. 4 general election. North Dakota East Central Judicial District, Judge No. 4, General Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Steven L. Marquart Incumbent (unopposed) 99.00% 63,947 Write-in votes 1% 646 Total Votes 64,593 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 8, 2016 Incumbent Thomas Olson ran unopposed in the East Central Judicial District Judge No. 6 general election. North Dakota East Central Judicial District, Judge No. 6, General Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Thomas Olson Incumbent (unopposed) 99.09% 63,256 Write-in votes 0.91% 583 Total Votes 63,839 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 8, 2016 Incumbent Norman G. Anderson ran unopposed in the East Central Judicial District Judge No. 9 general election. North Dakota East Central Judicial District, Judge No. 9, General Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Norman G. Anderson Incumbent (unopposed) 99.08% 62,982 Write-in votes 0.92% 583 Total Votes 63,565 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed November 8, 2016

Southeast

Southeast Judicial District

North Dakota's Southeast Judicial District covers the counties of Barnes, Dickey, Eddy, Foster, Griggs, LaMoure, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Stutsman, and Wells. Judges No. 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were up for election in 2016. Two of the five races were contested.

Southeast Judicial District Judge No. 2 Jerod Tufte was appointed to the position on July 11, 2014, but chose to seek election to the state supreme court in 2016 instead of running for a full term on the district court. Three newcomers ran to replace him in the primary election. The top two vote recipients advanced to the general election.

Judge No. 5 Daniel D. Narum was one of just two incumbent district court judges statewide to face a challenger in the 2016 elections. Kim Radermacher ran against him. Judge No. 4 James Hovey and Judge No. 6 Jay Schmitz won re-election unopposed. Newcomer Troy LeFevre also won the election unopposed in the Judge No. 7 race.

Primary election

Candidate lists Judge No. 2 ☑ Mark Blumer ☑ Lyle Bopp ☐ Carl Martineck Judge No. 4 ☑ James Hovey (i) Judge No. 5 ☑ Daniel D. Narum (i) ☑ Kim Radermacher Judge No. 6 ☑ Jay Schmitz (i) Judge No. 7 ☑ Troy LeFevre

Results Mark Blumer and Lyle Bopp defeated Carl Martineck in the Southeast Judicial District Judge No. 2 primary election. North Dakota Southeast Judicial District, Judge No. 2, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Mark Blumer 63.60% 11,298 Lyle Bopp 36.27% 6,443 Carl Martineck 0.00% Write-in votes 0.14% 24 Total Votes 17,765 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Incumbent James Hovey ran unopposed in the Southeast Judicial District Judge No. 4 primary election. North Dakota Southeast Judicial District, Judge No. 4, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes James Hovey Incumbent (unopposed) 99.70% 17,817 Write-in votes 0.3% 54 Total Votes 17,871 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Incumbent Daniel D. Narum and Kim Radermacher were unopposed in the Southeast Judicial District Judge No. 5 primary election. North Dakota Southeast Judicial District, Judge No. 5, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Daniel D. Narum Incumbent 55.61% 10,402 Kim Radermacher 44.25% 8,277 Write-in votes 0.14% 27 Total Votes 18,706 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Incumbent Jay Schmitz ran unopposed in the Southeast Judicial District Judge No. 6 primary election. North Dakota Southeast Judicial District, Judge No. 6, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Jay Schmitz Incumbent (unopposed) 99.79% 17,630 Write-in votes 0.21% 37 Total Votes 17,667 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Troy LeFevre ran unopposed in the Southeast Judicial District Judge No. 7 primary election. North Dakota Southeast Judicial District, Judge No. 7, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Troy LeFevre  (unopposed) 99.82% 17,519 Write-in votes 0.18% 31 Total Votes 17,550 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.

South Central

South Central Judicial District

North Dakota's South Central Judicial District covers the counties of Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, Kidder, Logan, McIntosh, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan, and Sioux. Three seats on the court were up for election in 2016, but all three were unopposed.

Primary election

Candidate list Judge No. 2 ☑ Sonna M. Anderson (i) Judge No. 5 ☑ Cynthia Feland (i) Judge No. 8 ☑ James Hill (i)

Results Incumbent Sonna M. Anderson ran unopposed in the South Central Judicial District Judge No. 2 primary election. North Dakota South Central Judicial District, Judge No. 2, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Sonna M. Anderson Incumbent (unopposed) 99.59% 26,837 Write-in votes 0.41% 110 Total Votes 26,947 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Incumbent Cynthia Feland ran unopposed in the South Central Judicial District Judge No. 5 primary election. North Dakota South Central Judicial District, Judge No. 5, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes Cynthia Feland Incumbent (unopposed) 99.21% 26,596 Write-in votes 0.79% 212 Total Votes 26,808 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available. Incumbent James Hill ran unopposed in the South Central Judicial District Judge No. 8 primary election. North Dakota South Central Judicial District, Judge No. 8, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes James Hill Incumbent (unopposed) 99.71% 26,470 Write-in votes 0.29% 76 Total Votes 26,546 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.

Southwest

Southwest Judicial District

North Dakota's Southwest Judicial District the counties of Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden Valley, Hettinger, Slope, and Stark. Judge No. 2 William Herauf was the only judge up for election in the district. He won re-election without opposition.

Primary election

Candidate list Judge No. 2 ☑ William Herauf (i)

Results Incumbent William Herauf ran unopposed in the Southwest Judicial District Judge No. 2 primary election. North Dakota Southwest Judicial District, Judge No. 2, Primary Election, 2016 Candidate Vote % Votes William Herauf Incumbent (unopposed) 99.18% 3,770 Write-in votes 0.82% 31 Total Votes 3,801 Source: North Dakota Voting Information & Central Election Systems, "Unofficial Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016," June 15, 2016 These election results are unofficial and will be updated after official vote totals are made available.