North Dakota's forty-third state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator JoNell Bakke.

North Dakota state senators represent an average of 14,310 residents, as of the 2010 Census. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 13,664 residents.

About the office

Members of the North Dakota State Senate serve four-year terms and are not subject to term limits. Approximately half of the members are elected to four-year terms every two years. Generally, members from even-numbered districts are elected in U.S. presidential election years (2012, 2008, 2004, etc.) and members from odd-numbered districts are elected in general election years offset by two years from U.S. presidential elections (2010, 2006, 2002, etc.). North Dakota legislators assume office December 1st.

Qualifications

Article 4, Section 5 of the North Dakota Constitution states: "State Senators and Representatives must be, on the day of the election, qualified voters in the district from which they are chosen and a resident of the state for one year preceding election to office."

Salaries

Vacancies

Whenever there is an vacancy in the senate, it must be filled by the district committee of the political party that currently holds the seat. A replacement must be named no later than 21 days after the vacancy. If more than 828 days are remaining in the vacant senator's term, the replacement can serve in a interim basis until the next scheduled general election. It would be up to the Governor to schedule a special election in order to determine a permanent replacement.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of North Dakota State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for June 9, 2020. The filing deadline is April 6, 2020.

2018

2014

Elections for the North Dakota State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 10, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 7, 2014. Incumbent Lonnie Laffen was unopposed in the Republican primary, while JoNell Bakke was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Laffen defeated Bakke in the general election.

North Dakota State Senate, District 43, General Election, 2014

2010

Elections for the office of North Dakota State Senate consisted of a primary election on June 8, 2010, and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 8, 2010. Lonnie Laffen (R) defeated incumbent JoNell Bakke (D) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the June 8 primary elections.

North Dakota State Senate, District 43, General Election, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for North Dakota State Senate District 43 raised a total of $96,448. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $12,056 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, North Dakota State Senate District 43