Sean D. Cleary
North Dakota State Senator, District 35 since 2022. Ran in 1 election in 2022, winning 1. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
- In office
- 3 yrs
- Since 2022
- Bills became law
- 10
- 11 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.0%
- Chamber median 1.2%
- With party
- 58%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +19.0
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Employee Benefits Programs · chair
- Appropriations
- Appropriations: Human Resources Division
- Budget Section
- Budget Section Human Resources Division
- Correction and Revision of the Journal
- Legislative Procedure and Arrangements
- Rural Health Transformation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Became law Jun 2025
Became law May 2025
Became law Apr 2025
Became law Apr 2025
Became law Apr 2025
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Cleary sits in the North Dakota State Senate
Cleary is closer to the center than 67% of the chamber's Republicans.
Closest: Jerry Klein, Greg Kessel, Ron Sorvaag
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:56 PM ET
With Cleary’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Republicans58%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills17%
Black tick: the average of Republicans in the North Dakota State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Cleary’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.
| Date | Bill | Cleary | Rep. majority | Dem. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 23, 2026 | HB 1624: A BILL for an Act to create and enact two new sections to chapter 15.1-07 of the North… | Yes | No | Yes | Failed 22–24 |
| May 3, 2025 | HB 1459: AN ACT to create and enact a new section to chapter 38-12 of the North Dakota Century… | No | Yes | No | Passed 27–19 |
| Apr 25, 2025 | HB 1143: AN ACT to provide an appropriation to the agriculture commissioner for a food… | Yes | Yes | Yes | Passed 36–9 |
| Apr 22, 2025 | HB 1015: AN ACT to provide an appropriation for defraying the expenses of the various divisions… | No | Yes | No | Failed 23–24 |
| Apr 18, 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 | Yes | Yes | Passed 25–21 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Cleary 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.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | North Dakota State Senate, District 35 | Won | R+19.0 | R+25.6 | −6.6 |
| 2022 | North Dakota State Senate, District 35 | Won | R+20.4 | R+21.0 | −0.6 |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $53.1K
- Spent
- $1.8K
Source: North Dakota Secretary of State filings through Oct 6, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 7:46 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Cleary for ND State | Active |
Source: North Dakota Secretary of State filings through Oct 6, 2026Updated Nov 1, 2026, 7:46 AM ET
Seats Cleary has held
- North Dakota State Senate, District 35 · since 2022
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Cleary has run against
- Dale Pittman (D) · 2026 election, won
- Tracy Potter (D) · 2022 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Cleary
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/ee32295a-16ef-45df-b47e-f74ac5f1765b
- Wikidata Q120435818
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET