Unofficial Election Results: Key Candidates Lead in North Dakota Districts 37 and 39

Four Republican incumbents and one GOP newcomer are leading their races in southwestern North Dakota’s Districts 37 and 39, securing the party’s grip on the legislative delegation that represents Dickinson and the surrounding oil patch, The Dickinson Press reported Wednesday morning. With all precincts reporting as of 11:16 p.m. Tuesday, the unofficial returns from the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office show State Sen. Dean Rummel and State Sen. Greg Kessel running unopposed in their respective districts, while State Reps. Vicky Steiner, Mike Schatz, and Keith Kempenich all hold commanding leads over their Democratic challengers in the House contests.

These results matter because the four House seats and two Senate seats at stake determine who will vote on property tax relief, energy infrastructure, and rural health care funding.

Rummel and Kessel Face No Opposition in Senate Races

In District 37, State Sen. Dean Rummel captured 3,001 votes, or 96.12% of the total, running unopposed in the general election. A Republican who has served in the Senate since December 1, 2022, Rummel previously spent 11 years on the Dickinson Public Schools Board and volunteers with both the Dickinson Volunteer Fire Department and Dickinson Rural Fire Department. He told The Dickinson Press that his priorities include increasing the primary property tax credit, strengthening the labor market, and developing policy to reduce housing costs while expanding opportunities for the state’s energy and agricultural resources.

District 39 saw a similar story, with State Sen. Greg Kessel receiving 4,973 votes, or 97.57%, without opposition. Kessel, who also began his Senate tenure on December 1, 2022, comes from an agriculture and energy background. In a March interview with The Dickinson Press, he identified his top priority as addressing grid problems, saying he aims to “figure out the grid problems that we have, not just like the electrical grid, but oil and gas.”

House Races in District 37 Come Down to the Wire Between Republicans

The District 37 House race featured two Republicans competing against two Democrats for two seats. State Rep. Vicky Steiner, who has served in the House since December 1, 2010, received 2,355 votes, or 36.93%, narrowly ahead of Kylan Klauzer, a former Dickinson Police detective and regulatory compliance specialist for ONEOK, who garnered 2,234 votes, or 35.03%. Democrats Shelley Lenz and Susan Josephson trailed the two Republican candidates in the four-way race.

Steiner told The Dickinson Press she would “continue fighting for tax relief, quality education, greater freedoms and a stronger economy so that Dickinson will continue to prosper.” She expressed gratitude to voters, saying, “I’m honored that they would give me another opportunity to represent them—I’m very excited to get to work.”

“I’m just excited to get to work for District 37,” Klauzer said. “Even if you didn’t vote for us, nothing changes for any of those folks either—we’re going to be here just the same to represent 37 and their concerns.”

Klauzer, who ran alongside Rummel, emphasized property tax relief, strong local schools, respect for landowners, increased workforce, and strengthening rural health care systems “through responsible funding mechanisms.”

Schatz and Kempenich Lead in District 39 House Contest

In District 39, State Rep. Mike Schatz led with 4,193 votes, or 44.62%, while State Rep. Keith Kempenich followed with 3,818 votes, or 40.63%. Schatz has served in the House uninterrupted since 2008, with an earlier stint from 1988 to 1990, while Kempenich has held his seat since 1992.

Kempenich told The Dickinson Press that he believes North Dakota relies on too few revenue sources and hopes to broaden the economy through avenues like tourism. He also identified keeping young people in the state as a critical challenge.

“When I first got involved in politics, North Dakota was upside down,” Kempenich said. “We’ve turned it around to where we’re healthy financially.” He added, “The thing going forward now is to chart a path through some of the challenges that are facing us.”

What the Results Mean for Southwest North Dakota

Unofficial results show Democrats trailing in both districts, with Lenz, Josephson, and Baertsch behind the Republican candidates. For constituents, the practical impact will be felt in debates over property tax credits—a priority for both Rummel and Steiner—and in decisions about energy infrastructure, an issue Kessel has flagged as a top priority.

All results are unofficial until certified by the canvassing board, but the vote totals from the Secretary of State’s Office show Republicans will keep all four House seats and both Senate seats in the Dickinson area when the 69th Legislative Assembly begins, unless the count changes.

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