In October 2013, Dalrymple was appointed Chair of the Natural Resources Committee in the National Governors Association by NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and NGA Vice Chair Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. He was replaced by Gov. Matt Mead (R) of Wyoming in 2015.

In March 2013, Dalrymple made headlines by signing into law three controversial bills that, at the time, made North Dakota the toughest state in the nation in which to get an abortion.

In January 2013, Dalrymple became the fourth Republican governor to support an expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, known as "Obamacare," something he had previously said was "wrong for North Dakota."

A June 2013 analysis by The Business Journals ranked 45 governors based on the annual private sector growth rate in all 50 states using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dalrymple was ranked number 1. The five governors omitted from the analysis all assumed office in 2013.

Main article: U.S. governors and their responses to Syrian refugees

After the attacks in Paris, France, on November 13, 2015, many U.S. governors declared their support or opposition to Syrian refugee resettlement in their states. Dalrymple expressed conditional opposition to the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state of North Dakota. He said:

Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota (2000-2010)

In 2000, Dalrymple was elected lieutenant governor as John Hoeven's running mate. The pair was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.

In 2010, Hoeven ran successfully for a seat in the U.S. Senate, vacating the gubernatorial seat and leaving Dalrymple to serve the remainder of his four-year term.

North Dakota House of Representatives (1985-2000)

Dalrymple served eight terms in the North Dakota House of Representatives beginning in 1985, and served as chair of the House Appropriations Committee.

Dalrymple assumed the state's governorship in 2011 when John Hoeven won a seat in the U.S. Senate. He won re-election to a full term in 2012.

An analysis of Republican governors by Nate Silver of the New York Times in April 2013 ranked Dalrymple as the 26th most conservative governor in the country.

Natural Resources Committee

In October 2013, Dalrymple was appointed Chair of the Natural Resources Committee in the National Governors Association by NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and NGA Vice Chair Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. He was replaced by Gov. Matt Mead (R) of Wyoming in 2015.

Abortion access

In March 2013, Dalrymple made headlines by signing into law three controversial bills that, at the time, made North Dakota the toughest state in the nation in which to get an abortion.

Medicaid expansion

In January 2013, Dalrymple became the fourth Republican governor to support an expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act, known as "Obamacare," something he had previously said was "wrong for North Dakota."

Job creation ranking

A June 2013 analysis by The Business Journals ranked 45 governors based on the annual private sector growth rate in all 50 states using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Dalrymple was ranked number 1. The five governors omitted from the analysis all assumed office in 2013.

Stance on Syrian refugee resettlement

Main article: U.S. governors and their responses to Syrian refugees

After the attacks in Paris, France, on November 13, 2015, many U.S. governors declared their support or opposition to Syrian refugee resettlement in their states. Dalrymple expressed conditional opposition to the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state of North Dakota. He said:

In 2000, Dalrymple was elected lieutenant governor as John Hoeven's running mate. The pair was re-elected in 2004 and 2008.

In 2010, Hoeven ran successfully for a seat in the U.S. Senate, vacating the gubernatorial seat and leaving Dalrymple to serve the remainder of his four-year term.

Dalrymple served eight terms in the North Dakota House of Representatives beginning in 1985, and served as chair of the House Appropriations Committee.