North Dakota State Senate seat · lines in effect since 2024
North Dakota Legislative District 46
A district of about 16,000 people, 43% of adults with a bachelor's degree. It votes R+1.5 relative to the nation for president.
2024 election
Nov 5, 2024- Michelle Powers (R) · won54.5%
- Jess Arneson (D)45.3%
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
14 races since 1976; the seat changed party 1 time. 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 | Michelle Powers (R) | Jess Arneson (D) | 9.2 |
| Lines first used in 2012 | |||
| 2020 | Jim Roers (R) | Terri Hedman (D) | 8.1 |
| 2016 | Jim Roers (R)Flip | George Sinner (D) | 0.5 |
| 2012 | George Sinner (D) | Jim Roers (R) | 4.2 |
| Lines first used in 2002 | |||
| 2008 | Tom Fischer (R) | Diane R. Hill (D) | 7.1 |
| 2004 | Tom Fischer (R) | Ryan P. Okeefe (D) | 27.1 |
| Lines first used in 1992 | |||
| 2000 | Tom Fischer (R) | Diane Briggs (D) | 21.7 |
| 1996 | Tom Fischer (R) | Joan Humphrey (D) | 8.1 |
| 1992 | Jens J. Tennefos (R) | Rick D. Johnson (D) | 24.7 |
| Lines first used in 1982 | |||
| 1988 | Jens J. Tennefos (R) | Harry McAllister (D) | 25.8 |
| 1984 | Jens J. Tennefos (R) | Ruth E. Johnson (D) | 25.1 |
| 1982 | Jens J. Tennefos (R) | Ruth E. Johnson (D) | 17.1 |
| Lines first used in 1972 | |||
| 1980 | Jens J. Tennefos (R) | — | Unopposed |
| 1976 | Jens J. Tennefos (R) | Frank Conlin (D) | 7.2 |
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 46
The state's districts in other chambers that share residents with this one, and the share of District 46'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+7.7 | No race | D+1.2 |
| U.S. Senate | R+49.5 | D+14.7 | No race |
| Governor | No race | No race | R+21.9 |
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 46.
Higher than 85% of seats.
Lower than 85% of seats.
Lower than 72% of seats.
Higher than 98% of seats.
Higher than 83% of seats.
Denser than 80% 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. 1 of the 4 flipped this year.
District 1141% college gradsD+12.2CountingDistrict 41
42% college gradsR+6.7CountingDistrict 44
47% college gradsD+13.7Not up in 2026District 43
35% college gradsR+5.9Flipped D
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