North Dakota State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2024
North Dakota Legislative District 20
A district of about 22,000 people, 32% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+40.2 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Randy Lemm (R) · won70.9%
- John Pederson (D)28.9%
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 12:13 PM ET
Where it sits among all 47 seats
Every North Dakota State Senate seat by partisan lean, from most Democratic to most Republican. Lean is the seat's presidential vote on current lines, relative to the nation.
Democratic
Source: 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET
Every election for this seat
16 races since 1968; the seat changed party 2 times. District numbers are redrawn after each census: each group is one set of lines.
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Won by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lines first used in 2024 | |||
| 2024 | Randy Lemm (R) | John Pederson (D) | 42.0 |
| Lines first used in 2022 | |||
| 2022 | Randy Lemm (R) | Paul R. Hanson (D) | 42.4 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Randy Lemm (R) | Paul R. Hanson (D) | 37.6 |
| 2016 | Arne Osland (R)Flip | Phil Murphy (D) | 15.6 |
| 2012 | Phil Murphy (D) | Melvin Erdmann (R) | 7.7 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Elroy N. Lindaas (D) | Martin Johnson (R) | 19.5 |
| 2004 | Elroy N. Lindaas (D) | — | Unopposed |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Elroy N. Lindaas (D) | David J. Holter (R) | 13.0 |
| 1996 | Elroy N. Lindaas (D) | Arne Osland (R) | 14.3 |
| 1992 | Elroy N. Lindaas (D) | Duane Lemm (R) | 20.1 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Clark Ewen (D)Flip | Malcolm Tweten (R) | 17.6 |
| 1984 | Malcolm Tweten (R) | Harry Hjelmstad (D) | 19.6 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Malcolm Tweten (R) | Herbert A. Anderson (D) | 8.9 |
| 1976 | Gilman A. Strand (R) | Herbert A. Anderson (D) | 0.4 |
| 1972 | Gilman A. Strand (R) | Harold Bring (D) | 8.9 |
| Lines first used in 1962 | |||
| 1968 | Oscar J. Sorlie (R) | Harold Bring (D) | 16.8 |
Won by: the winner's lead over the runner-up, in points of the vote. Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Districts that overlap District 20
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 20's area in each.
Every race on these lines
Results recomputed from precinct returns as if today's boundaries had always existed, so years compare like for like.
| 2016 | 2018 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | R+36.6 | No race | R+35.7 |
| U.S. Senate | R+62.6 | R+14.5 | No race |
| Governor | No race | No race | R+47.5 |
Outlined: the race for this seat itselfBlank: no race that year
Source: 99chambers results archive: precinct results allocated to current lines; 2026: civicAPIUpdated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Who lives here, compared
Grey bars show the spread of all 47 seats. Small marks are other seats in North Dakota. The black marker is District 20.
Higher than 52% of seats.
Higher than 72% of seats.
Lower than 74% of seats.
Lower than 80% of seats.
Lower than 57% of seats.
Less dense than 67% of seats.
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current linesUpdated Oct 13, 2026, 5:06 AM ET
Seats most like this one
Nearest seats on demographics, density and lean.
District 1525% college gradsR+43.0Held RDistrict 24
28% college gradsR+32.4Not up in 2026District 29
28% college gradsR+49.5Held RDistrict 25
25% college gradsR+37.4Counting
Source: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, allocated to current lines; 99chambers: 2024 and 2020 presidential results on current lines, relative to the nation (2024 weighted 3:1)Updated Oct 16, 2026, 5:19 AM ET