2016Final results
2016 election for North Dakota Governor
Governor · North Dakota
Doug Burgum & Brent Sanford (R) won with 76.5% of the vote, defeating Marvin E. Nelson & Joan Heckaman (D) by 57.1 points.
Doug Burgum & Brent SanfordRepublican · winner
76.5%259,863
Marvin E. Nelson & Joan HeckamanDemocrat
19.4%65,855
Marty Riske & Joshua VoytekLibertarian
3.9%13,230
339,601 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:26 PM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 2016
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:26 PM ET
The candidates
Doug Burgum & Brent Sanford (R)
Marvin E. Nelson & Joan Heckaman (D)
Also on the ballot: Marty Riske & Joshua Voytek (Libertarian), 3.9%