CalledUnofficial results
North Dakota Legislative District 3
North Dakota State Senate · North Dakota
Bob Paulson won re-election by 26.2 points over Michael Thiesen.
Staggered terms in both chambers
Bob PaulsonRepublican · winner · incumbent
63.0%2,349
Michael ThiesenDemocrat
36.8%1,373
NonpartisanNonpartisan
0.1%5
100% of the expected vote counted · 3,727 votes
Source: civicAPI unofficial results and race callsUpdated Nov 4, 2026, 4:55 AM ET
Where the race moved
Against the 2024 presidential vote
The seat's recent races
Source: Past results: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
Michael ThiesenBob Paulson
$3.6K
Raised by the campaign
$10.4K
$0
Spent by the campaign
$0
Campaign money: North Dakota Secretary of State, through Oct 1, 2026; North Dakota Secretary of State, through Sep 18, 2026.
Source: North Dakota Secretary of State campaign filingsUpdated Oct 1, 2026
Pre-election forecast (final, Nov 3)
Our model's last run before Election Day, Nov 3, 2026. It no longer updates.
- Michael Thiesen
- <1%
- Bob Paulson
- >99%
- Projected margin
- R+36.9
The candidates
Bob Paulson (R)
Incumbent senatorMichael Thiesen (D)
Incumbent senatorMichael Thiesen (D)
Also on the ballot: Nonpartisan (Nonpartisan), 0.1%