2010 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota

The 2010 House election in North Dakota took place on November 2, 2010, to elect the state's at-large Representative to the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; this election was for the 112th Congress from January 3, 2011, until January 3, 2013. North Dakota has one seat in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census.

2010 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota

← 2008 November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02) 2012 →
Turnout237,137
 
Nominee Rick Berg Earl Pomeroy
Party Republican Democratic–NPL
Popular vote 129,802 106,542
Percentage 54.7% 44.9%

County results
Berg:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Pomeroy:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. Representative before election

Earl Pomeroy
Democratic–NPL

Elected U.S. Representative

Rick Berg
Republican

The election was held concurrently with the United States Senate elections of 2010 (including one in North Dakota), the United States House elections in other states and various state and local elections.

Background

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Despite Republican dominance at the presidential level in North Dakota, which has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, as well as state and local elections, Democrats achieved several consecutive victories in congressional elections in the state since the 1980s. Democrats had held the state's at-large House seat since 1981. From 1987 to 2011, North Dakota had a completely Democratic congressional delegation.

Since his first election in 1992, incumbent Democrat Earl Pomeroy had usually won reelection by comfortable margins. However, with Democrats fighting in a much tougher political environment in 2010, Republicans planned on putting forward a serious challenge.[1] Republicans running against him included state Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer, state Representative Rick Berg, and former University of Mary football coach Paul Schaffner. Pomeroy was likely more vulnerable than usual due to his support for the Democratic House Healthcare bill, which 64% of North Dakotans opposed,[citation needed] and President Barack Obama's declining job approval ratings in the state.[2]

General election

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Candidates

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Democrats

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Republicans

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Polling

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Poll source Date(s)dministered Earl
Pomeroy (D)
Rick
Berg (R)
Other Undecided
Public Opinion Strategies[3] October 24–25, 2010 42% 51% - -
Rasmussen Reports[4] October 18–19, 2010 42% 52% 1% 5%
The Hill/ANGA[5] October 16–19, 2010 45% 44% - 9%
Prairie Poll[6] October 2010 44% 34% - -
Rasmussen Reports[7] September 20–21, 2010 45% 48% 1% 5%
Garin-Hart-Yang[8] September 10–12, 2010 46% 44% - -
Rasmussen Reports[9] August 10–11, 2010 44% 53% 1% 3%
Rasmussen Reports[10] July 21, 2010 46% 49% 1% 5%
Rasmussen Reports[11] June 15–16, 2010 44% 51% 1% 5%
Rasmussen Reports[12] May 19, 2010 43% 52% 2% 3%
Rasmussen Reports[13] April 20, 2010 45% 49% 2% 4%
Rasmussen Reports[14] March 23–24, 2010 44% 51% 1% 4%
Rasmussen Reports[15] February 9–10, 2010 40% 46% 3% 11%

†Internal poll (Garin-Hart-Yang for Pomeroy and Public Opinion Strategies for Berg)

Results

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In the general election Berg unseated Pomeroy by a vote of 129,802 (55%) to 106,542 (45%) becoming the first Republican since 1980 to represent North Dakota's at-large congressional district.

North Dakota's at-large congressional district election, 2010[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Berg 129,802 54.74
Democratic–NPL Earl Pomeroy (incumbent) 106,542 44.93
Write-in 793 0.33
Total votes 237,137 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic–NPL

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Cadei, Emily (February 12, 2010). "Pomeroy Trails GOP Challenger in North Dakota - The Eye (CQ Politics)". Blogs.cqpolitics.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  2. ^ "Election 2010: North Dakota House of Representatives - Rasmussen Reports". Rasmussenreports.com. August 16, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2010.
  3. ^ Public Opinion Strategies
  4. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  5. ^ The Hill/ANGA
  6. ^ Prairie Poll
  7. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  8. ^ Garin-Hart-Yang
  9. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  10. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  11. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  12. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  13. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  14. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  15. ^ Rasmussen Reports
  16. ^ "North Dakota Secretary of State".
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Debates