North Dakota's forty-fourth state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Merrill Piepkorn.

North Dakota state senators represent an average of 14,310 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 13,664 residents.

About the office

Members of the North Dakota State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Approximately half of the members are elected to four-year terms every two years. Generally, members from even-numbered districts are elected in U.S. presidential election years (2012, 2008, 2004, etc.) and members from odd-numbered districts are elected in general election years offset by two years from U.S. presidential elections (2010, 2006, 2002, etc.). North Dakota legislators assume office December 1st.

Qualifications

Article 4, Section 5 of the North Dakota Constitution states: "State Senators and Representatives must be, on the day of the election, qualified voters in the district from which they are chosen and a resident of the state for one year preceding election to office."

Salaries

Vacancies

Whenever there is an vacancy in the senate, it must be filled by the district committee of the political party that currently holds the seat. A replacement must be named no later than 21 days after the vacancy. If more than 828 days are remaining in the vacant senator's term, the replacement can serve in a interim basis until the next scheduled general election. It would be up to the Governor to schedule a special election in order to determine a permanent replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of North Dakota State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 9, 2020. The filing deadline is April 6, 2020.

2016

Elections for the North Dakota State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 14, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 11, 2016.

Merrill Piepkorn defeated incumbent Tim Flakoll in the North Dakota State Senate District 44 general election.

North Dakota State Senate, District 44 General Election, 2016

Merrill Piepkorn ran unopposed in the North Dakota State Senate District 44 Democratic primary.
Incumbent Tim Flakoll ran unopposed in the North Dakota State Senate District 44 Republican primary.

2012

Elections for the office of North Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 12, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 13, 2012. Incumbent Tim Flakoll (R) defeated Rick Olek (D) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the June 12 primary elections.

North Dakota State Senate, District 44, General Election, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2004 to 2016, candidates for North Dakota State Senate District 44 raised a total of $149,466. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $13,588 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Dakota State Senate District 44