Political party chaos changes elections

North Dakota’s electoral process is unique, as we recently explained.

The chaos in the state’s majority party could mean chaos in this year’s primary election.

Primaries in most states have been the opportunity for other candidates to challenge candidates endorsed by the major political parties. If challengers win primary elections, where votes are cast by members of each political party, they become the nominees of the respective parties and move on to the general election ballot as their party’s nominee.

The process makes sense when parties endorse candidates and members of that party (the “rank and file”) vote in primaries and have the final say over who will be their party’s standard bearer. In most cases, each party’s endorsed candidates win but, in some cases, challengers defeat them in primaries, but thats not how it works in North Dakota.

Why North Dakota is different

Because ours is the only state without voter registration and because ours is an ”open” primary”, it is not members of each party (Democrats and Republicans) who vote in North Dakota primaries to determine the ultimate nominees of their respective parties. It is anyone, of any political persuasion, who comes to vote in the primary election, including those who have no affiliation or connection with the party of the candidates they’re voting to nominate.

That means that Republicans could determine who the Democrats’ candidates will be and Democrats could determine who the Republicans’ candidates will be. Furthermore, independents could determine who the Democrats’ and Republicans’ candidates are.

Shouldn’t Republican voters decide who the Republicans’ candidates will be? Shouldn’t Democratic voters decide who the Democrats’ candidates will be? One would think so, but that’s not how it works in North Dakota.

Of course, it is all voters (Democrats, Republicans, independents and members of other parties) who determine, in the general election, who is ultimately elected to each office, and that’s as it should be. But most would agree that the political parties—or at least their members and supporters—should decide whose name is on the ballot in those elections as the nominee of their respective parties.

As we’ve written, this not only creates a unique problem in North Dakota’s elections, it also could spell the end of the state’s political parties, as we’ve known them, or at least that of the state’s majority party.

Why is this a new problem this year?

The political landscape in North Dakota is radically changing in 2026. 

For the first time ever, every statewide elected official (Republicans, all) have vowed to refuse to attend the North Dakota Republican Party’s State Convention this weekend.

This unprecedented snub follows similar actions at some District Republican Party Conventions earlier this year. While some District conventions showed familiar signs of party unity after endorsement races were decided in some cases, in others, candidates (even incumbent office holders) similarly avoided the conventions in Legislative Districts which had previously endorsed them, apparently due to fear of losing endorsements this time. Instead, they’re reportedly gathering signatures to be placed on primary ballots where Democrats, Independents and Republicans can, ironically, nominate them as Republican candidates in the general election in November.

A “Big Tent” no more

The general party unity North Dakota Republicans remember appears to be a thing of the past. Ironically, that party had long boasted of being “A Big Tent” (broad and inclusive enough in philosophy and function to tolerate members and voters who may have agreed to disagree on several issues but who were united by common principles and a shared political and governing philosophy).

Ironically, many of those famous for espousing the “Big Tent” are now apparently folding their tents and rushing for the nearest exits. What that means for the future of the party which has dominated the state’s political landscape for decades remains to be seen, but the turmoil is on stage for all to see. The future hangs in the balance.

Meanwhile, the state’s Democrats reportedly attracted more to their convention this year than they had for many years and they appear to be more united. The question is whether they will moderate and move away from the far left positions their party has espoused in recent years, alienating many. If they do, it is obviously an unprecedented opportunity for them to gain ground, as their opposition seems to be self destructing.

It brings to mind the old adage which advises that if your adversaries are busy destroying themselves, don’t get in their way.

It will be an interesting weekend. It will be an interesting June primary. It will be an interesting election year.