Leaving office January 1, 2027.Lost re-election in 2026. This page switches to the former-officeholder layout when the term ends.

RepublicanIn office until January 1, 2027

Mark Sanford

North Dakota State Representative, District 17 since 2010. Lost re-election in 2026; leaves office in January 2027.

North Dakota State Representative, District 17Born 1939

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 16 yrs; Since 2010
Bills became law: 1; 1 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 8.2%; Chamber median 2.4%
With party: 65%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +15.2; Won 2022

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Higher Education Institutions · vice chair
Appropriations
Appropriations: Education and Environment Division
Budget Section
Budget Section Commerce and Legal Services Division
Budget Section Education and Environment Division

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 1 sponsored · 1 became law

BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw

HB 1625 AN ACT to amend and reenact section 15-10-64 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the sale of the…
Became law Jan 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Sanford sits in the North Dakota House of Representatives

Sanford is closer to the center than 86% of the chamber's Republicans.

Closest: Steve Swiontek, Donald Longmuir, Mike Nathe

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:56 PM ET

With Sanford’s party

Votes with the chamber's Republicans65%
Cosponsorships of the other party's bills10%

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: Sanford’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Date	Bill	Sanford	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…	Yes	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 Sanford was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

2010201220142016201820202022202420262028North Dakota House of Representatives, District 17

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.

Year	Race	Result	Margin	Seat	+/−
2026	North Dakota Legislative District 17	Lost	—	R+18.6	—
2022	North Dakota House of Representatives, District 17	Won	R+15.2	—	—
2018	North Dakota House of Representatives, District 17	Won	R+6.1	—	—
2014	North Dakota House of Representatives, District 17	Won	R+9.5	—	—
2014	North Dakota House of Representatives, District 17 (primary)	Won	+9.6	—	—
2010	North Dakota House of Representatives, District 17	Won	R+9.6	—	—