Bob Martinson
North Dakota State Representative, District 35 since 1976. Lost the 2026 race for North Dakota Legislative District 37; leaves office in January 2027. Ran in 21 elections between 1972 and 2022, winning 19.
- In office
- 50 yrs
- Since 1976
- Bills became law
- 0
- 0 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 2.4%
- Chamber median 2.4%
- With party
- 65%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +1.4
- Won 2022
- Elections
- 22
- 1972–2026
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Appropriations
- Appropriations: Education and Environment Division
- Budget Section
- Budget Section Commerce and Legal Services Division
- Budget Section Education and Environment Division
- Higher Education Institutions
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
No bills in this list for the 2025–2026 session.
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Martinson sits in the North Dakota House of Representatives
Martinson is closer to the center than 91% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Mike Nathe, Steve Swiontek, Mark Sanford
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:56 PM ET
With Martinson’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans65%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills17%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the North Dakota House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Martinson’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Martinson | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2025 | HB 1459: AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 38-12 of the North Dakota Century… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 63–26 |
| May 1, 2025 | HB 1298: AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 39-06.1-06, 39-09-02, 39-09-04, and 39-09-07.1, and… | No | No | Yes | Failed 46–45 |
| Apr 23, 2025 | SB 2018: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the department of… | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 48–44 |
| Apr 21, 2025 | HB 1482: AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 15.1-07-03, 15.1-07-04, 21-03-04, 21-03-07,… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 88–4 |
| Apr 21, 2025 | HB 1540: AN ACT to create and enact a new chapter to title 15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code,… | No | Yes | No | Passed 49–43 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Martinson was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Martinson has held
- North Dakota House of Representatives, District 35 · since 2002
- North Dakota House of Representatives, District 49 · since 1976
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Martinson has run against
- Karen Karls (R) · 2022 election, won
- Margaret Sitte (R) · 2002 election, won
- Kevin Stewart (D) · 2000 special election, won
- Connie Johnsen (R) · 1996 election, won
- Kit Henegar (R) · 1994 election, won
- Audrey Cleary (D) · 1992 election, won
- Alvin Hausauer (R) · 1988 election, won
- Walter R. Hjelle (D) · 1982 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Martinson
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/f8720088-51ae-4178-87f8-abbb73faf444
- Wikidata Q20640919
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET