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{{short description|North Dakota state affiliate of the Democratic Party}}
'''The Democratic-Nonpartisan League''' (abbreviated '''Democratic-NPL''' or '''Dem-NPL''') is a [[North Dakota]] [[political party]] affiliated with the [[United States Democratic Party]].
{{Infobox political party
| name = North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League
| logo = File:North Dakota Democratic-NPL Logo.png
| abbreviation = D-NPL
| chairperson = Adam Goldwyn
| leader1_title = Senate leader
| leader1_name = [[Kathy Hogan]]
| leader2_title = House leader
| leader2_name = [[Zac Ista]]
| foundation = {{Start date|1956}} (merging of [[North Dakota Democratic Party]] and [[North Dakota Nonpartisan League|Nonpartisan League]])
| colors = {{color box|{{party color|North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Red states and blue states|Blue]]
| headquarters = 1325 23rd St S Suite B<br/>Fargo, ND 58103<br/><small>{{coord|46.860146|-96.81786|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}</small>
| ideology = [[Modern liberalism in the United States|Modern liberalism]]<br>[[Progressivism in the United States|Progressivism]]
| position = [[Center-left]]
| national = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]
| seats1_title = [[North Dakota Senate]]
| seats1 = {{Infobox political party/seats|4|47|hex={{party color|North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party}}}}<ref name=dem-senators>{{cite web|title=67th Assembly Members: By Chamber/Party|url=https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/67-2021/members/members-by-party?field_legis_chamber_tid=4&tid=3|website=North Dakota Legislative Branch|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>
| seats2_title = [[North Dakota House of Representatives]]
| seats2 = {{Infobox political party/seats|12|94|hex={{party color|North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party}}}}<ref name=dem-representatives>{{cite web|title=65th Assembly Members: By Chamber/Party|url=http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/65-2017/members/members-by-party?field_legis_chamber_tid=1&tid=3|website=North Dakota Legislative Branch|access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref>
| website = {{Official URL}}
| state = North Dakota
| country = the United States
| logo_size = 250px
| colorcode = {{party color|North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party}}
| symbol = [[File:Democratic Disc.svg|100px]]
}}


The '''North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party''' (abbreviated '''Democratic-NPL''' or simply '''D-NPL''') is the [[North Dakota]] affiliate of the national [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]]. It was formed as the outcome of a merger of two parties; the state previously had a three-party political system. It is one of only two state Democratic Party affiliates to have a different name from the central party, the other is the neighboring [[Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party]].
It was formed in [[1956]] by the merger of the state Democratic Party with the [[Non-Partisan League]].


==History==
==Elected Officials==
The North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party has roots in the [[Progressive Era]] of American history. At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, progressives – including lawyers, merchants, editors, and professors – joined both the [[North Dakota Republican Party|Republican Party]], which had strong control of state politics, as well as the state [[North Dakota Democratic Party|Democratic Party]], the progressive faction of which called itself "the party of the laborer and the farmer."<ref name=HistoryOfND>{{cite book|last=Robinson|first=Elwyn|title=[[History of North Dakota (book)|History of North Dakota]]|year=1966|publisher=University of Nebraska Press}}</ref> Although they did not alter the control of the Republican Party during this era, progressives found support in the Norwegian-settled state, especially in the east.<ref name=HistoryOfND/> By 1906, progressive sympathies were growing in opposition to what most saw as complete control of state politics by the railway companies.<ref name=HistoryOfND/> The initial organization and calls for reform laid a foundation that would soon grow into a statewide socialist workers' movement that eventually spread throughout the Midwest.
*United States Senate: [[Kent Conrad]], [[Byron Dorgan]]
*United States Congress: [[Earl Pomeroy]]
*Agriculture Commissioner: [[Roger Johnson]]
*State Treasurer: [[Kathi Gilmore]]
*Superintendent of Public Instruction: [[Wayne Sanstead]]
*House Minority Leader: [[Merle Boucher]]
*Senate Minority Leader: [[David O'Connell]]


===1906 through 1915===
==Candidates==
The prewar decade was marked by a series of progressive successes, starting with progressive Democrat [[John Burke (North Dakota politician)|John Burke]]'s [[1906 North Dakota gubernatorial election|election]] as [[Governor of North Dakota|governor]] in 1906. Republican [[Alexander McKenzie (American politician)|Alexander McKenzie]]'s conservative [[political machine]] still controlled the Senate, but the House of Representatives was filled with progressive Democrats and Republicans, who managed to introduce many anti-railroad bills despite staunch opposition by lobbyists. Progressive reforms and legislation were passed during this time, including a [[Partisan primary|direct primary law]], a joint resolution for a constitutional amendment for initiative and referendum power, a [[public library]] commission law, and laws to enforce prohibition. Subsequent years would see the end of Alexander McKenzie and his Republican political machine. By 1908, the first State electoral primaries solidified his retirement. That year the Republican Party, free from McKenzie's conservative influence, crafted a progressive party platform. Progressive Democratic Governor John Burke enjoyed support of progressive Republicans.<ref name=HistoryOfND/>
Statewide candidates are chosen by delegates to the party caucus prior to the election. In [[2004]], the convention was held [[2 April]] to [[4 April]] in [[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo]], at the civic auditorium.


North Dakota again demonstrated its progressive sympathies in 1912, when the state held the first United States [[United States presidential primary|Presidential Preference Primary]] on March 19.<ref name=HistoryOfND/> North Dakota Republicans favored progressive presidential candidate [[Robert M. La Follette, Sr.|Robert M. La Follette]] over [[Theodore Roosevelt]] and [[William Howard Taft]]. Though an angry Roosevelt formed the [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive Party]] after losing the Republican nomination to Taft, he had little support from North Dakota, where many Progressives distrusted his backers, [[George Walbridge Perkins]] of the [[J. P. Morgan]] group and [[International Harvester]]. Because of such opposition, [[Woodrow Wilson]] carried the state in November. Republican [[Louis B. Hanna]] was elected governor in 1912 and 1914. Once in office, he and his legislative allies halted the creation of a state-operated grain elevator, which may have convinced progressives to unite in 1915.<ref name=HistoryOfND/>
'''Agriculture Commissioner:'''
*[[Roger Johnson]], incumbent


===Rise of the Nonpartisan League===
'''Governor:'''
*[[Joe Satrom]], businessman and lobbyist


When [[Arthur C. Townley]] came to [[Bismarck, North Dakota]], in 1915, he saw strife between a conservative legislature and farmers' interest groups. With his background in organizing farmers for the [[Socialist Party of North Dakota|Socialist Party]] (socialist activity had begun in North Dakota in 1900 when Arthur Basset organized a socialist club in Fargo<ref name="HistoryOfND"/>), Townley brought his expertise to North Dakota.<ref name=Tostlebe>{{cite book|last=Tostlebe|first=Alvin|title=The Bank of North Dakota: An experiment in agrarian banking|year=1969|publisher=AMS Press|location=New York}}</ref> He knew that with the recent strife in Bismarck between a conservative legislature and the [[American Society of Equity]] and its farm following, the time was ripe for a political revolution. Townley resolved to organize the farmers so that they could control the primaries, whether it be Republicans or Democrats or both. This was the organization of the [[Nonpartisan League|Farmers Nonpartisan League]] (later called the National Nonpartisan League). Townley organized the farmers of the state together for united action in nominating at the primaries and electing at the polls the men of their own choosing and men who would carry out their programs.<ref name=Tostlebe/>
'''Public Service Commissioner:'''
*[[Ron Gumeringer]], civil servant


The method of organization was simple, scientific and successful. Organizers carefully went forth in ever increasing numbers to sell the idea to the farmers and to get their support for the new movement. The league grew quickly. The first members were pledged in February 1915. Before midsummer, there were 10,000 members, and before winter set in, there were 26,000 names enrolled.<ref name=Tostlebe/>
'''Tax Commissioner:'''
*[[Mike Every]], Assistant Senate Minority Leader (withdrawn from race, replacement pending)


The Nonpartisan League membership pledge was $2.50 a year; it later rose to $9 a year. The goals of the league were to use their collective best efforts to secure the nomination and election of men for office within the state who would support legislation to save millions of dollars each year for farmers.<ref name=Tostlebe/>
'''US Senate:'''
*[[Byron Dorgan]], incumbent


The League program consisted of five planks:
'''US Representative:'''
*[[Earl Pomeroy]], incumbent


# State-owned and operated elevators, flour mills, and packing plants
The Democratic-NPL also nominates 2 State House and 1 State Senate candidates from each legislative district at district conventions. There are currently 47 legislative districts in [[North Dakota]].
# State hail insurance
# Exemption of farm improvements from taxation
# Fair grain grades, based upon milling and baking values
# Rural credits at cost


Each was designed to remedy what the farmers conceived as an abuse, and each was to lower the cost of producing and marketing grain.<ref name=Tostlebe/>
==External Links==
[http://www.demnpl.com/ North Dakota Democratic-NPL website]


The determination of the league fulfilled their pledge and many of their planks passed legislation. The growth of far-left sympathies was on the rise in North Dakota. The Socialists had considerable success. They brought in many outside speakers; [[Eugene V. Debs]] spoke at a large [[antiwar]] rally at Garrison in 1915. By 1912, there were 175 Socialist locals in the state. Rugby and Hillsboro elected Socialist mayors. The party established a weekly paper, the ''[[Iconoclast (newspaper)|Iconoclast]]'', in [[Minot, North Dakota]].<ref name="HistoryOfND"/>


Throughout the decades, the League pushed for the establishments of state-operated mills, elevators, and banks. The state was not entirely isolationist, just as it was neither entirely liberal nor entirely conservative. By 1952, the Nonpartisan League was itself divided.
{{msg:stub}}

[[Category:U.S. state Democratic Parties]][[Category:North Dakota]]
===Toward a two-party system===
Two factions divided the traditionally liberal Nonpartisan League: on one side the insurgents, on the other, the old guard.<ref name="HistoryOfND"/> Those that called themselves insurgents aligned liberally with pro-farmers' union, pro-[[organized labor]], and pro-Democratic party groups. The insurgents wanted to take the league into the Democratic Party. In 1952, the insurgents formed the Volunteers for Stevenson Committee, to help elect then Democratic Candidate [[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]]. To the contrary the members of the old guard, also known as the [[Capitol Crowd]], were more conservative, anti-farmers' union, anti-labor, and pro-Republican segment of the league, these members wanted to keep the Nonpartisan League in the Republican Party; they supported [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in the 1952 presidential race. Over the next four years legislative polarization grew and the Nonpartisan League eventually split in two; in 1956 North Dakota was fundamentally realigned into a two-party system. That year, the Nonpartisan League finally moved into the Democratic Party, and all Republicans joined in one organization. Two statewide parties vied for the votes of North Dakota citizens. Creation of the Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party was codified in March during the League Convention; 173 to 3 voted yes to file candidates in the Democratic column. The new party introduced a full slate of candidates for state office and adopted a liberal platform that included the repeal of the [[Taft–Hartley Act]], creation of a $1.25 an hour [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]], and a graduated [[land tax]] on property worth $20,000 or more. Two months later in May 1956 the Democratic Convention accepted the Nonpartisan League's candidates and adopted its platform. Republicans in North Dakota also united after conservative supports broke away from the league.<ref name="HistoryOfND" />

The Executive Committee of the NPL still formally exists within the party structure of the North Dakota Democratic–NPL. It was at one point headed by former State Senator [[Buckshot Hoffner|"Buckshot" Hoffner]] (D-NPL, Esmond), Chairman, and former Lt. Governor [[Lloyd Omdahl]], Secretary.

Although the Democratic Party was still the minority, the number of Democrats in the state legislature increased greatly. Before the league moved into the Democratic Party, there were only five Democrats among the 162 members of both houses of the legislature in 1955. In 1957, the number grew to 28. By 1959, the numbers continued to grow reaching 67, despite dropping to 62 members in 1961. Nevertheless, for the first time in history, North Dakota was becoming a two-party state.<ref name="HistoryOfND" />

==Recent events==
North Dakota has one of the lowest unemployment rates of all 50 states.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unemployment Rates for States|url=https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm|publisher=Bureau of Labor Statistics|access-date=March 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318011934/https://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm|archive-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> The [[Nonpartisan League]] laid a foundation of enriched [[public ownership]] and responsibility in such institutions as a state bank. One study has drawn conclusions that publicly operated institutions such as the state bank have helped North Dakota weather economic storms.<ref>{{Cite report |last1= Kodrzycki |first1= Yolanda K |last2= Elmatad |first2= Tal |date=May 2011 |title= The Bank of North Dakota: A model for Massachusetts and other states? |url= http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/neppc/researchreports/2011/neppcrr1102.pdf |publisher= New England Public Policy Center |access-date= December 6, 2011}}</ref>

The [[Bank of North Dakota]] was created to address market failures associated with monopoly power among large financial and business institutions in the early twentieth century. This market power meant that small farming operations had inadequate access to credit. One of the goals of the Nonpartisan League was to remedy limited access to credit by establishing this institution. A measure of the public good brought about by the Bank's establishment that still stands today is what some have identified as the Bank's role in reducing the impact of economic recession. The public-private relationship establishes roles assigned according to what each sector does best, allowing the mutual benefit of public and private banks balancing out inequality and building equality, thus creating an economic safety net for North Dakota citizens. These early roots of the Democratic-Nonpartisan League party have been celebrated for establishing a foundation that rights the state in times of national crisis and provides economic security to generations of the state's farmers.

==Electoral history==
{{further|Political party strength in North Dakota}}

=== Legislative Leadership ===

* Senate Minority Leader: [[Kathy Hogan]]
* Assistant Senate Minority Leader: [[Merrill Piepkorn]]
* Senate Minority Caucus Chair: [[Ryan Braunberger]]
* House Minority Leader: [[Zac Ista]]
* Assistant House Minority Leader: [[Joshua Boschee]]
* House Minority Caucus Chair: [[Jayme Davis]]

===Members of the State House===
As of the 68th session of the [[North Dakota Legislative Assembly]] (2022–2024), the Democratic–NPL Party has a total of 12 house members.

The 12 members are as follows:<ref name=dem-representatives/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Representative !! District
|-
| [[Lisa Finley-DeVille]] ||4th
|-
| [[Jayme Davis]] || 9th
|-
| [[Hamida Dakane]] ||10th
|-
| [[Liz Conmy]] || 11th
|-
| [[Gretchen Dobervich]] || 11th
|-
| [[Corey Mock]] || 18th
|-
| [[LaurieBeth Hager]] || 21st
|-
| [[Mary Schneider (politician)|Mary Schneider]] || 21st
|-
| [[Alisa Mitskog]] || 25th
|-
|[[Zachary M. Ista]] ||43rd
|-
| [[Joshua Boschee]] || 44th
|-
| [[Karla Rose Hanson]] || 44th
|}

===Members of the State Senate===
The four members of the [[North Dakota Senate]] are as follows:<ref name=dem-senators/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Senator !! District
|-
| [[Ryan Braunberger]] || 10th
|-
| [[Tim Mathern]] || 11th
|-
| [[Kathy Hogan]]|| 21st
|-
| [[Merrill Piepkorn]] || 44th
|}

===U.S. House of Representatives===
[[File:Heidi Heitkamp official portrait 113th Congress.jpg|thumb|Former US Senator [[Heidi Heitkamp]]]]

====1st congressional district====
*1959–1960 [[Quentin Burdick]]

====2nd congressional district====
*1965–1967 [[Rolland W. Redlin]]
*1971–1973 [[Arthur A. Link]]

====At-large Representative====
*1981–1992 [[Byron Dorgan]]
*1993–2011 [[Earl Pomeroy]]

===U.S. Senate history===
====Class I====
*1960–1992 [[Quentin N. Burdick]]
*1992 [[Jocelyn Burdick]]
*1992–2013 [[Kent Conrad]]
*2013–2019 [[Heidi Heitkamp]]

====Class III====
*1987–1992 [[Kent Conrad]]
*1992–2011 [[Byron Dorgan]]

== Election results ==

=== Presidential ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party presidential election results
!Election
!Presidential Ticket
!Votes
!Vote %
!Electoral votes
!Nationwide result
|-
|'''[[1956 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1956]]'''
|[[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]]/[[Estes Kefauver]]
|96,742
|38.09%
|{{Composition bar|0|4|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[1960 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1960]]'''
|[[John F. Kennedy]]/[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]
|123,963
|44.52%
|{{Composition bar|0|4|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|'''[[1964 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1964]]'''
|[[Lyndon B. Johnson]]/[[Hubert Humphrey]]
|149,784
|57.97%
|{{Composition bar|4|4|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|'''[[1968 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1968]]'''
|[[Hubert Humphrey]]/[[Edmund Muskie]]
|94,769
|38.23%
|{{Composition bar|0|4|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[1972 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1972]]'''
|[[George McGovern]]/[[Sargent Shriver]]
|100,384
|35.79%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[1976 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1976]]'''
|[[Jimmy Carter]]/[[Walter Mondale]]
|136,078
|45.80%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|'''[[1980 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1980]]'''
|[[Jimmy Carter]]/[[Walter Mondale]]
|79,189
|26.26%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[1984 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1984]]'''
|[[Walter Mondale]]/[[Geraldine Ferraro]]
|104,429
|33.80%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[1988 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1988]]'''
|[[Michael Dukakis]]/[[Lloyd Bentsen]]
|127,739
|42.97%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[1992 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1992]]'''
|[[Bill Clinton]]/[[Al Gore]]
|99,168
|32.18%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|'''[[1996 United States presidential election in North Dakota|1996]]'''
|[[Bill Clinton]]/[[Al Gore]]
|106,905
|40.13%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|'''[[2000 United States presidential election in North Dakota|2000]]'''
|[[Al Gore]]/[[Joe Lieberman]]
|95,284
|33.1%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[2004 United States presidential election in North Dakota|2004]]'''
|[[John Kerry]]/[[John Edwards]]
|111,052
|35.50%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[2008 United States presidential election in North Dakota|2008]]'''
|[[Barack Obama]]/[[Joe Biden]]
|141,403
|44.50%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|'''[[2012 United States presidential election in North Dakota|2012]]'''
|[[Barack Obama]]/[[Joe Biden]]
|124,966
|38.70%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|'''[[2016 United States presidential election in North Dakota|2016]]'''
|[[Hillary Clinton]]/[[Tim Kaine]]
|93,758
|27.23%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|-
|'''[[2020 United States presidential election in North Dakota|2020]]'''
|[[Joe Biden]]/[[Kamala Harris]]
|114,902
|31.76%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Won}}
|-
|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in North Dakota|2024]]'''
|[[Kamala Harris]]/[[Tim Walz]]
|112,327
|30.51%
|{{Composition bar|0|3|{{party color|Democratic Party (US)}}}}
|{{Lost}}
|}

=== Gubernatorial ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party gubernatorial election results
!Election
!Gubernatorial candidate
!Votes
!Vote %
!Result
|-
|'''[[1956 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1956]]'''
|Wallace E. Warner
|104,869
|41.54%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[1958 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1958]]'''
|John F. Lord
|98,763
|46.90%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[1960 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1960]]'''
|[[William L. Guy]]
|136,148
|49.44%
|'''Won''' {{Y}}
|-
|'''[[1962 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1962]]'''
|[[William L. Guy]]
|115,258
|50.44%
|'''Won''' {{Y}}
|-
|'''[[1964 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1964]]'''
|[[William L. Guy]]
|146,414
|55.74%
|'''Won''' {{Y}}
|-
|'''[[1968 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1968]]'''
|[[William L. Guy]]
|135,955
|54.82%
|'''Won''' {{Y}}
|-
|'''[[1972 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1972]]'''
|[[Arthur A. Link]]
|143,899
|51.04%
|'''Won''' {{Y}}
|-
|'''[[1976 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1976]]'''
|[[Arthur A. Link]]/[[Wayne Sanstead]]
|153,309
|51.58%
|'''Won''' {{Y}}
|-
|'''[[1980 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1980]]'''
|[[Arthur A. Link]]/[[Wayne Sanstead]]
|140,391
|46.39%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[1984 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1984]]'''
|[[George A. Sinner]]/[[Ruth Meiers]]
|173,922
|55.32%
|'''Won''' {{Y}}
|-
|'''[[1988 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1988]]'''
|[[George A. Sinner]]/[[Lloyd Omdahl]]
|179,094
|59.88%
|'''Won''' {{Y}}
|-
|'''[[1992 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1992]]'''
|[[Nicholas Spaeth]]/Julie Hill
|123,845
|40.62%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[1996 North Dakota gubernatorial election|1996]]'''
|[[Lee Kaldor]]/Barbara Pyle
|89,349
|33.81%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election|2000]]'''
|[[Heidi Heitkamp]]/[[Aaron Krauter]]
|130,144
|44.97%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[2004 North Dakota gubernatorial election|2004]]'''
|[[Joe Satrom]]/Deb Mathern
|84,877
|27.39%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[2008 North Dakota gubernatorial election|2008]]'''
|[[Tim Mathern]]/[[Merle Boucher]]
|74,279
|23.53%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election|2012]]'''
|[[Ryan Taylor (politician)|Ryan Taylor]]/Ellen Chaffee
|109,048
|34.31%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election|2016]]'''
|[[Marvin Nelson]]/[[Joan Heckaman]]
|65,855
|19.39%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election|2020]]'''
|Shelley Lenz/[[Ben Vig]]
|90,789
|25.38%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|-
|'''[[2024 North Dakota gubernatorial election|2024]]'''
|[[Merrill Piepkorn]]/Patrick Hart
|94,043
|25.98%
|'''Lost''' {{N}}
|}

===Mayors===
* [[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo]]: [[Tim Mahoney (North Dakota politician)|Tim Mahoney]]

==See also==
*[[Politics of North Dakota]]
*[[North Dakota Republican Party]] – North Dakota affiliate of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]
*[[Political party strength in North Dakota]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.demnpl.com/ North Dakota Democratic-NPL website]

{{NDParties}}
{{U.S. Democratic Party state parties}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:North Dakota Democratic-Npl Party}}
[[Category:Democratic Party (United States) by state]]
[[Category:Political parties in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1956]]
[[Category:1956 establishments in North Dakota]]
[[Category:North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party|*]]
[[Category:State and local socialist parties in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 22:23, 19 December 2024

North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League
AbbreviationD-NPL
ChairpersonAdam Goldwyn
Senate leaderKathy Hogan
House leaderZac Ista
Founded1956 (1956) (merging of North Dakota Democratic Party and Nonpartisan League)
Headquarters1325 23rd St S Suite B
Fargo, ND 58103
46°51′37″N 96°49′04″W / 46.860146°N 96.81786°W / 46.860146; -96.81786
IdeologyModern liberalism
Progressivism
Political positionCenter-left
National affiliationDemocratic Party
Colors  Blue
North Dakota Senate
4 / 47
[1]
North Dakota House of Representatives
12 / 94
[2]
Election symbol
Website
www.demnpl.com Edit this at Wikidata

The North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party (abbreviated Democratic-NPL or simply D-NPL) is the North Dakota affiliate of the national Democratic Party. It was formed as the outcome of a merger of two parties; the state previously had a three-party political system. It is one of only two state Democratic Party affiliates to have a different name from the central party, the other is the neighboring Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party.

History

[edit]

The North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party has roots in the Progressive Era of American history. At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, progressives – including lawyers, merchants, editors, and professors – joined both the Republican Party, which had strong control of state politics, as well as the state Democratic Party, the progressive faction of which called itself "the party of the laborer and the farmer."[3] Although they did not alter the control of the Republican Party during this era, progressives found support in the Norwegian-settled state, especially in the east.[3] By 1906, progressive sympathies were growing in opposition to what most saw as complete control of state politics by the railway companies.[3] The initial organization and calls for reform laid a foundation that would soon grow into a statewide socialist workers' movement that eventually spread throughout the Midwest.

1906 through 1915

[edit]

The prewar decade was marked by a series of progressive successes, starting with progressive Democrat John Burke's election as governor in 1906. Republican Alexander McKenzie's conservative political machine still controlled the Senate, but the House of Representatives was filled with progressive Democrats and Republicans, who managed to introduce many anti-railroad bills despite staunch opposition by lobbyists. Progressive reforms and legislation were passed during this time, including a direct primary law, a joint resolution for a constitutional amendment for initiative and referendum power, a public library commission law, and laws to enforce prohibition. Subsequent years would see the end of Alexander McKenzie and his Republican political machine. By 1908, the first State electoral primaries solidified his retirement. That year the Republican Party, free from McKenzie's conservative influence, crafted a progressive party platform. Progressive Democratic Governor John Burke enjoyed support of progressive Republicans.[3]

North Dakota again demonstrated its progressive sympathies in 1912, when the state held the first United States Presidential Preference Primary on March 19.[3] North Dakota Republicans favored progressive presidential candidate Robert M. La Follette over Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Though an angry Roosevelt formed the Progressive Party after losing the Republican nomination to Taft, he had little support from North Dakota, where many Progressives distrusted his backers, George Walbridge Perkins of the J. P. Morgan group and International Harvester. Because of such opposition, Woodrow Wilson carried the state in November. Republican Louis B. Hanna was elected governor in 1912 and 1914. Once in office, he and his legislative allies halted the creation of a state-operated grain elevator, which may have convinced progressives to unite in 1915.[3]

Rise of the Nonpartisan League

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When Arthur C. Townley came to Bismarck, North Dakota, in 1915, he saw strife between a conservative legislature and farmers' interest groups. With his background in organizing farmers for the Socialist Party (socialist activity had begun in North Dakota in 1900 when Arthur Basset organized a socialist club in Fargo[3]), Townley brought his expertise to North Dakota.[4] He knew that with the recent strife in Bismarck between a conservative legislature and the American Society of Equity and its farm following, the time was ripe for a political revolution. Townley resolved to organize the farmers so that they could control the primaries, whether it be Republicans or Democrats or both. This was the organization of the Farmers Nonpartisan League (later called the National Nonpartisan League). Townley organized the farmers of the state together for united action in nominating at the primaries and electing at the polls the men of their own choosing and men who would carry out their programs.[4]

The method of organization was simple, scientific and successful. Organizers carefully went forth in ever increasing numbers to sell the idea to the farmers and to get their support for the new movement. The league grew quickly. The first members were pledged in February 1915. Before midsummer, there were 10,000 members, and before winter set in, there were 26,000 names enrolled.[4]

The Nonpartisan League membership pledge was $2.50 a year; it later rose to $9 a year. The goals of the league were to use their collective best efforts to secure the nomination and election of men for office within the state who would support legislation to save millions of dollars each year for farmers.[4]

The League program consisted of five planks:

  1. State-owned and operated elevators, flour mills, and packing plants
  2. State hail insurance
  3. Exemption of farm improvements from taxation
  4. Fair grain grades, based upon milling and baking values
  5. Rural credits at cost

Each was designed to remedy what the farmers conceived as an abuse, and each was to lower the cost of producing and marketing grain.[4]

The determination of the league fulfilled their pledge and many of their planks passed legislation. The growth of far-left sympathies was on the rise in North Dakota. The Socialists had considerable success. They brought in many outside speakers; Eugene V. Debs spoke at a large antiwar rally at Garrison in 1915. By 1912, there were 175 Socialist locals in the state. Rugby and Hillsboro elected Socialist mayors. The party established a weekly paper, the Iconoclast, in Minot, North Dakota.[3]

Throughout the decades, the League pushed for the establishments of state-operated mills, elevators, and banks. The state was not entirely isolationist, just as it was neither entirely liberal nor entirely conservative. By 1952, the Nonpartisan League was itself divided.

Toward a two-party system

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Two factions divided the traditionally liberal Nonpartisan League: on one side the insurgents, on the other, the old guard.[3] Those that called themselves insurgents aligned liberally with pro-farmers' union, pro-organized labor, and pro-Democratic party groups. The insurgents wanted to take the league into the Democratic Party. In 1952, the insurgents formed the Volunteers for Stevenson Committee, to help elect then Democratic Candidate Adlai Stevenson. To the contrary the members of the old guard, also known as the Capitol Crowd, were more conservative, anti-farmers' union, anti-labor, and pro-Republican segment of the league, these members wanted to keep the Nonpartisan League in the Republican Party; they supported Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 presidential race. Over the next four years legislative polarization grew and the Nonpartisan League eventually split in two; in 1956 North Dakota was fundamentally realigned into a two-party system. That year, the Nonpartisan League finally moved into the Democratic Party, and all Republicans joined in one organization. Two statewide parties vied for the votes of North Dakota citizens. Creation of the Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party was codified in March during the League Convention; 173 to 3 voted yes to file candidates in the Democratic column. The new party introduced a full slate of candidates for state office and adopted a liberal platform that included the repeal of the Taft–Hartley Act, creation of a $1.25 an hour minimum wage, and a graduated land tax on property worth $20,000 or more. Two months later in May 1956 the Democratic Convention accepted the Nonpartisan League's candidates and adopted its platform. Republicans in North Dakota also united after conservative supports broke away from the league.[3]

The Executive Committee of the NPL still formally exists within the party structure of the North Dakota Democratic–NPL. It was at one point headed by former State Senator "Buckshot" Hoffner (D-NPL, Esmond), Chairman, and former Lt. Governor Lloyd Omdahl, Secretary.

Although the Democratic Party was still the minority, the number of Democrats in the state legislature increased greatly. Before the league moved into the Democratic Party, there were only five Democrats among the 162 members of both houses of the legislature in 1955. In 1957, the number grew to 28. By 1959, the numbers continued to grow reaching 67, despite dropping to 62 members in 1961. Nevertheless, for the first time in history, North Dakota was becoming a two-party state.[3]

Recent events

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North Dakota has one of the lowest unemployment rates of all 50 states.[5] The Nonpartisan League laid a foundation of enriched public ownership and responsibility in such institutions as a state bank. One study has drawn conclusions that publicly operated institutions such as the state bank have helped North Dakota weather economic storms.[6]

The Bank of North Dakota was created to address market failures associated with monopoly power among large financial and business institutions in the early twentieth century. This market power meant that small farming operations had inadequate access to credit. One of the goals of the Nonpartisan League was to remedy limited access to credit by establishing this institution. A measure of the public good brought about by the Bank's establishment that still stands today is what some have identified as the Bank's role in reducing the impact of economic recession. The public-private relationship establishes roles assigned according to what each sector does best, allowing the mutual benefit of public and private banks balancing out inequality and building equality, thus creating an economic safety net for North Dakota citizens. These early roots of the Democratic-Nonpartisan League party have been celebrated for establishing a foundation that rights the state in times of national crisis and provides economic security to generations of the state's farmers.

Electoral history

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Further information: Political party strength in North Dakota

Legislative Leadership

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Members of the State House

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As of the 68th session of the North Dakota Legislative Assembly (2022–2024), the Democratic–NPL Party has a total of 12 house members.

The 12 members are as follows:[2]

Representative District
Lisa Finley-DeVille 4th
Jayme Davis 9th
Hamida Dakane 10th
Liz Conmy 11th
Gretchen Dobervich 11th
Corey Mock 18th
LaurieBeth Hager 21st
Mary Schneider 21st
Alisa Mitskog 25th
Zachary M. Ista 43rd
Joshua Boschee 44th
Karla Rose Hanson 44th

Members of the State Senate

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The four members of the North Dakota Senate are as follows:[1]

Senator District
Ryan Braunberger 10th
Tim Mathern 11th
Kathy Hogan 21st
Merrill Piepkorn 44th

U.S. House of Representatives

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Former US Senator Heidi Heitkamp

1st congressional district

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2nd congressional district

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At-large Representative

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U.S. Senate history

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Class I

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Class III

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Election results

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Presidential

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North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party presidential election results
Election Presidential Ticket Votes Vote % Electoral votes Nationwide result
1956 Adlai Stevenson/Estes Kefauver 96,742 38.09%
0 / 4
 Lost
1960 John F. Kennedy/Lyndon B. Johnson 123,963 44.52%
0 / 4
 Won
1964 Lyndon B. Johnson/Hubert Humphrey 149,784 57.97%
4 / 4
 Won
1968 Hubert Humphrey/Edmund Muskie 94,769 38.23%
0 / 4
 Lost
1972 George McGovern/Sargent Shriver 100,384 35.79%
0 / 3
 Lost
1976 Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale 136,078 45.80%
0 / 3
 Won
1980 Jimmy Carter/Walter Mondale 79,189 26.26%
0 / 3
 Lost
1984 Walter Mondale/Geraldine Ferraro 104,429 33.80%
0 / 3
 Lost
1988 Michael Dukakis/Lloyd Bentsen 127,739 42.97%
0 / 3
 Lost
1992 Bill Clinton/Al Gore 99,168 32.18%
0 / 3
 Won
1996 Bill Clinton/Al Gore 106,905 40.13%
0 / 3
 Won
2000 Al Gore/Joe Lieberman 95,284 33.1%
0 / 3
 Lost
2004 John Kerry/John Edwards 111,052 35.50%
0 / 3
 Lost
2008 Barack Obama/Joe Biden 141,403 44.50%
0 / 3
 Won
2012 Barack Obama/Joe Biden 124,966 38.70%
0 / 3
 Won
2016 Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine 93,758 27.23%
0 / 3
 Lost
2020 Joe Biden/Kamala Harris 114,902 31.76%
0 / 3
 Won
2024 Kamala Harris/Tim Walz 112,327 30.51%
0 / 3
 Lost

Gubernatorial

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North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party gubernatorial election results
Election Gubernatorial candidate Votes Vote % Result
1956 Wallace E. Warner 104,869 41.54% Lost Red XN
1958 John F. Lord 98,763 46.90% Lost Red XN
1960 William L. Guy 136,148 49.44% Won Green tickY
1962 William L. Guy 115,258 50.44% Won Green tickY
1964 William L. Guy 146,414 55.74% Won Green tickY
1968 William L. Guy 135,955 54.82% Won Green tickY
1972 Arthur A. Link 143,899 51.04% Won Green tickY
1976 Arthur A. Link/Wayne Sanstead 153,309 51.58% Won Green tickY
1980 Arthur A. Link/Wayne Sanstead 140,391 46.39% Lost Red XN
1984 George A. Sinner/Ruth Meiers 173,922 55.32% Won Green tickY
1988 George A. Sinner/Lloyd Omdahl 179,094 59.88% Won Green tickY
1992 Nicholas Spaeth/Julie Hill 123,845 40.62% Lost Red XN
1996 Lee Kaldor/Barbara Pyle 89,349 33.81% Lost Red XN
2000 Heidi Heitkamp/Aaron Krauter 130,144 44.97% Lost Red XN
2004 Joe Satrom/Deb Mathern 84,877 27.39% Lost Red XN
2008 Tim Mathern/Merle Boucher 74,279 23.53% Lost Red XN
2012 Ryan Taylor/Ellen Chaffee 109,048 34.31% Lost Red XN
2016 Marvin Nelson/Joan Heckaman 65,855 19.39% Lost Red XN
2020 Shelley Lenz/Ben Vig 90,789 25.38% Lost Red XN
2024 Merrill Piepkorn/Patrick Hart 94,043 25.98% Lost Red XN

Mayors

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "67th Assembly Members: By Chamber/Party". North Dakota Legislative Branch. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "65th Assembly Members: By Chamber/Party". North Dakota Legislative Branch. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Robinson, Elwyn (1966). History of North Dakota. University of Nebraska Press.
  4. ^ a b c d e Tostlebe, Alvin (1969). The Bank of North Dakota: An experiment in agrarian banking. New York: AMS Press.
  5. ^ "Unemployment Rates for States". Bureau of Labor Statistics. Archived from the original on March 18, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  6. ^ Kodrzycki, Yolanda K; Elmatad, Tal (May 2011). The Bank of North Dakota: A model for Massachusetts and other states? (PDF) (Report). New England Public Policy Center. Retrieved December 6, 2011.
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