2012 United States Senate election in North Dakota explained

Election Name:	2012 United States Senate election in North Dakota
Country:	North Dakota
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2006 United States Senate election in North Dakota
Previous Year:	2006
Next Election:	2018 United States Senate election in North Dakota
Next Year:	2018
Election Date:	November 6, 2012
Turnout:	60.6% (voting eligible)^[1]
Image1:	File:Heidi Heitkamp official portrait.jpg
Nominee1:	Heidi Heitkamp
Party1:	North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party
Popular Vote1:	161,337
Percentage1:	50.24%
Nominee2:	Rick Berg
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	158,401
Percentage2:	49.32%
U.S. Senator
Before Election:	Kent Conrad
Before Party:	North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party
After Election:	Heidi Heitkamp
After Party:	North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

The 2012 United States Senate election in North Dakota took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, other United States Senate elections, United States House of Representatives elections, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic-NPL Senator Kent Conrad decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a fifth term.

Though each party endorses a single candidate in state conventions in the spring, ballot access for the general election was determined in a primary election held on June 12, 2012.^[2]

Heidi Heitkamp, a Democratic-NPL former North Dakota Attorney General, won the open seat over Republican Rick Berg, North Dakota's at-large U.S. Representative, by a margin of 0.9%.^[3] Heitkamp outperformed President Barack Obama by 20.5%, the latter having lost North Dakota by 19.6% in the concurrent presidential election.^[4] Heitkamp's very narrow winning margin made it the closest race of the 2012 United States Senate elections.

, this was the last time a Democrat won a federal and/or statewide election in North Dakota.^[5]

Democratic-NPL primary

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party held their state convention March 16–18, 2012, in Grand Forks. Former state attorney general and 2000 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Heidi Heitkamp was uncontested in seeking the official party nomination and was the only member of the party elected to appear on the state primary ballot.^[6]

Candidates

Nominee

• Heidi Heitkamp, former attorney general of North Dakota and nominee for Governor of North Dakota in 2000^[7]

Withdrew

• Thomas Potter, Presbyterian pastor and former professor of finance at UND^[8] (dropped out February 2012)^[9]

Declined

• Kent Conrad, incumbent U.S. Senator^[10]
• Pam Gulleson, former state representative and former chief of staff and former state director for former senator Byron Dorgan^[11]
• Kristin Hedger, nominee for North Dakota Secretary of State in 2006^[12]
• Joel Heitkamp, brother of Heidi Heitkamp, radio personality and former state senator^[13]
• Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union and former North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner^[14]
• Tim Mathern, state senator and nominee for governor in 2008^[15]
• Earl Pomeroy, former U.S. Representative^[16]
• Tracy Potter, state senator and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010^[15]
• Tim Purdon, U.S. Attorney^[17]
• Jasper Schneider, USDA rural development State Director^{[15] [18]}
• Mac Schneider, state senator^[12]
• Ryan Taylor, Minority Leader of the North Dakota Senate^[19]

Republican primary

North Dakota Republicans endorsed U.S. Representative Rick Berg at their convention, though general election ballot access is determined by a statewide primary election held on June 12, 2012. In contrast to state political tradition, declared candidate Duane Sand did not seek the party endorsement, trying instead to defeat Berg on the June primary ballot.^[20]

Candidates

Nominee

• Rick Berg, U.S. Representative^{[21] [22]}

Eliminated in primary

• Duane Sand, former North and South Dakota Director for Americans for Prosperity and nominee for ND-AL in 2004 and 2008^[23]

Declined

• Al Carlson, North Dakota state house majority leader^[24]
• Tony Clark, state public service commissioner^[25]
• Kevin Cramer, state public service commissioner^[25]
• Jack Dalrymple, North Dakota governor and 1992 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate^[26]
• Cory Fong, state tax commissioner^[27]
• Shane Goettle, U.S. Senator John Hoeven's state director^[28]
• Tony Grindberg, state senator^[29]
• Bob Harms, North Dakota Republican Party treasurer^[15]
• Brian Kalk, state public service commissioner (running for House)^[30]
• Kim Koppelman, state representative^[31]
• Ed Schafer, former U.S. agriculture secretary and former North Dakota governor^[32]
• Kelly Schmidt, North Dakota treasurer^[33]
• Wayne Stenehjem, North Dakota attorney general^[34]
• John Warford, mayor of Bismarck^[35]
• Drew Wrigley, North Dakota lieutenant governor^[26]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Rick Berg	Duane Sand	Undecided
Mason-Dixon^[36]	June 4–6, 2012	625	± 4.0%	align=center	73%	16%	11%
Essman Research^[37]	May 3–8, 2012	500	± 4.3%	align=center	65%	21%	14%

Results

General election

Candidates

• Rick Berg (R), U.S. Representative^{[21] [22]}
• Heidi Heitkamp (D), former attorney general of North Dakota and nominee for governor in 2000^[7]
• Bill Kiefer (I), businessman^[38]

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 15, 2012 - C-SPAN
• Complete video of debate, October 25, 2012 - C-SPAN

Fundraising

Candidate (party)	Receipts	Disbursements	Cash on hand	Debt
	Heidi Heitkamp (D)	$5,341,362	$5,318,232	$23,130	$0
	Rick Berg (R)	$6,501,693	$6,129,026	$316,641	$0
Source: Federal Election Commission^[39] ^[40]

Top contributors

^[41]

Heidi Heitkamp	Contribution	Rick Berg	Contribution
Motley Rice LLC	$41,750	Verizon Communications	$43,666
Council for a Livable World	$26,705	Elliott Management Corporation	$29,413
Weitz & Luxenberg	$22,400	NORPAC	$26,700
Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP	$15,050	Mewbourne Oil Co	$25,000
Medcenter One Health Systems	$12,000	Rurban Financial	$22,700
American Association for Justice	$10,833	Hess Corp	$22,500
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld	$10,750	NACCO Industries	$22,000
American Federation of Teachers	$10,300	Marathon Oil	$21,000
Patton Boggs LLP	$10,250	Berkshire Hathaway	$20,500
American Postal Workers Union	$10,000	Koch Industries	$20,000

Top industries

^[42]

Heidi Heitkamp	Contribution	Rick Berg	Contribution
Lawyers/law firms	$433,811	Oil & gas	$433,949
Leadership PACs	$284,500	Leadership PACs	$277,163
Women's issues	$111,593	Financial institutions	$274,941
Lobbyists	$103,635	Retired	$218,909
Retired	$100,812	Real estate	$171,686
Agribusiness	$78,450	Agribusiness	$163,583
Public sector unions	$73,800	Insurance	$140,011
Financial institutions	$64,713	Commercial banks	$127,140
Education	$60,960	Health professionals	$114,438
Building trade unions	$52,500	Mining	$106,804

Independent expenditures

In early October 2012, Crossroads GPS announced that it would launch a $16 million advertising buy in national races, of which four were this and three other Senate elections.^[43]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report^[44]		November 1, 2012
align=left	Inside Elections^[45]		November 2, 2012
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball^[46]		November 5, 2012
align=left	Real Clear Politics^[47]		November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Heidi Heitkamp (D)	Rick Berg (R)	Other	Undecided
Pharos Research^[48]	November 2–5, 2012	503	± 4.1%	47%	align=center	49%	—	4%
Pharos Research^[49]	October 26–28, 2012	752	± 3.6%	align=center	50%	48%	—	2%
Mason-Dixon^[50]	October 26–28, 2012	625	± 4.0%	45%	align=center	47%	—	8%
The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp)^[51]	October 21–24, 2012	600	± 4.0%	align=center	48%	44%	—	7%
Pharos Research^[52]	October 19–21, 2012	807	± 3.4%	align=center	49%	48%	—	3%
The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp)^[53]	October 16–19, 2012	600	± 4.0%	align=center	45%	42%	—	13%
Rasmussen Reports^[54]	October 17–18, 2012	600	± 4.0%	45%	align=center	50%	—	5%
Essman Research^[55]	October 12–15, 2012	500	± 4.4%	40%	align=center	50%	—	10%
Mason-Dixon^[56]	October 3–5, 2012	625	± 4.0%	47%	47%	—	6%
DFM Research (D)^[57]	September 24–27, 2012	600	± 4.0%	align=center	48%	44%	—	8%
DFM Research (D)^[58]	July 24–26, 2012	400	± 4.9%	align=center	50%	44%	—	6%
Rasmussen Reports^[59]	July 10–11, 2012	400	± 5.0%	40%	align=center	49%	2%	8%
Mason-Dixon	June 4–6, 2012	625	± 4.0%	align=center	47%	46%	—	7%
Essman Research	May 3–8, 2012	500	± 4.3%	44%	align=center	51%	—	5%
DFM Research (D)^[60]	April 18–26, 2012	478	± 4.5%	align=center	49%	44%	1%	6%

Results By County

County	Heidi Heitkamp Democratic–NPL		Rick Berg Republican		Write-in		Margin		Total votes
	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%		data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type="number"		data-sort-type="number"	%
	Adams		473		36.90		806		62.87		3		0.23		-333		-25.97		1,282
	Barnes		3,181		57.51		2,329		42.11		21		0.38		852		15.40		5,531
	Benson		1,453		67.08		709		32.73		4		0.18		744		34.45		2,166
	Billings		160		27.92		412		71.90		1		0.17		-252		-43.98		573
	Bottineau		1,636		46.33		1,875		53.10		20		0.57		-239		-6.77		3,531
	Bowman		621		36.29		1,086		63.47		4		0.23		-465		-27.18		1,711
	Burke		360		35.29		657		64.41		3		0.29		-731		-29.12		1,020
	Burleigh		19,284		44.79		23,538		54.67		231		0.54		-4,254		-9.88		43,053
	Cass		41,480		56.51		31,569		43.00		359		0.49		9,911		13.51		73,408
	Cavalier		1,087		52.49		977		47.18		7		0.34		110		5.31		2,071
	Dickey		1,125		44.43		1,399		55.25		8		0.32		-274		-10.92		2,532
	Divide		592		50.95		567		48.80		3		0.26		25		2.15		1,162
	Dunn		746		36.71		1,283		63.14		3		0.15		-537		-26.43		2,032
	Eddy		693		60.00		455		39.39		7		0.61		238		20.61		1,155
	Emmons		709		37.85		1,152		61.51		12		0.64		-443		-23.66		1,873
	Foster		853		51.05		810		48.47		8		0.48		43		2.58		1,671
	Golden Valley		265		28.59		660		71.20		2		0.22		-395		-42.61		927
	Grand Forks		16,542		55.60		13,101		44.04		107		0.36		3,441		11.56		29,750
	Grant		542		38.66		853		60.84		7		0.50		-311		-22.18		1,402
	Griggs		704		52.85		628		47.15		0		0.00		76		5.70		1,332
	Hettinger		511		37.63		843		62.08		4		0.29		-332		-24.45		1,358
	Kidder		613		46.19		706		53.20		8		0.60		-93		-7.01		1,327
	LaMoure		1,065		48.34		1,125		51.07		13		0.59		-60		-2.73		2,203
	Logan		446		42.00		610		57.44		6		0.56		-164		-15.44		1,062
	McHenry		1,359		50.20		1,339		49.46		9		0.33		20		0.74		2,707
	McIntosh		648		42.35		872		56.99		10		0.65		-224		-14.64		1,530
	McKenzie		1,229		36.02		2,177		63.80		6		0.18		-948		-26.98		3,412
	McLean		2,357		47.96		2,544		51.76		14		0.28		-187		-3.80		4,915
	Mercer		1,807		40.59		2,627		59.01		18		0.40		-820		-18.42		4,452
	Morton		6,325		46.68		7,135		52.66		90		0.66		-810		-5.98		13,550
	Mountrail		1,745		50.92		1,673		48.82		9		0.26		72		2.10		3,427
	Nelson		993		59.50		670		40.14		6		0.36		323		19.36		1,669
	Oliver		446		44.33		555		55.17		5		0.50		-109		-10.84		1,006
	Pembina		1,672		51.30		1,579		48.45		8		0.25		93		2.85		3,259
	Pierce		1,027		47.22		1,136		52.23		12		0.55		-109		-5.01		2,175
	Ramsey		2,766		55.18		2,229		44.46		18		0.36		537		10.72		5,013
	Ransom		1,669		68.71		755		31.08		5		0.21		914		37.63		2,429
	Renville		580		46.00		676		53.61		5		0.40		-96		-7.61		1,261
	Richland		4,445		58.39		3,135		41.18		102		1.31		1,310		17.21		7,613
	Rolette		3,662		80.08		902		19.72		9		0.20		2,760		60.36		4,573
	Sargent		1,321		65.66		679		33.75		12		0.60		642		31.91		2,012
	Sheridan		299		36.29		521		63.23		4		0.49		-222		-26.94		824
	Sioux		963		83.52		185		16.05		5		0.43		778		67.47		1,153
	Slope		149		33.48		294		66.07		2		0.45		-100		-32.59		445
	Stark		4,110		35.63		7,393		64.09		32		0.28		-3,283		-28.46		11,535
	Steele		641		61.63		398		38.27		1		0.10		243		23.36		1,040
	Stutsman		4,800		50.61		4,654		49.07		30		0.32		146		1.54		9,484
	Towner		699		59.39		472		40.10		6		0.51		227		19.29		1,177
	Traill		2,311		59.06		1,589		40.61		13		0.33		722		18.45		3,913
	Walsh		2,645		54.94		2,151		44.68		18		0.37		494		10.26		4,814
	Ward		11,230		44.45		13,888		54.97		145		0.57		-2,658		-10.52		25,263
	Wells		982		41.59		1,363		57.73		16		0.68		-381		16.14		2,361
	Williams		3,142		32.37		6,541		67.38		24		0.25		-3,399		-35.01		9,707
Totals	161,163	50.23	158,282	49.33	1,406	0.44	2,492	0.9	320,851

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Adams (largest city: Hettinger)
• Billings (largest city: Medora)
• Bottineau (largest city: Bottineau)
• Bowman (largest city: Bowman)
• Burke (largest city: Powers Lake)
• Burleigh (largest city: Bismarck)
• Dickey (largest city: Oakes)
• Dunn (largest city: Killdeer)
• Emmons (largest city: Linton)
• Golden Valley (largest city: Beach)
• Grant (largest city: Elgin)
• Hettinger (largest city: Mott)
• Kidder (largest city: Steele)
• LaMoure (largest city: LaMoure)
• Logan (largest city: Napoleon)
• McIntosh (largest city: Wishek)
• McKenzie (largest city: Watford City)
• McLean (largest city: Garrison)
• Mercer (largest city: Beulah)
• Morton (largest city: Mandan)
• Oliver (largest city: Center)
• Pierce (largest city: Rugby)
• Renville (largest city: Mohall)
• Sheridan (largest city: McClusky)
• Slope (largest city: Marmarth)
• Stark (largest city: Dickinson)
• Ward (largest city: Minot)
• Wells (largest city: Harvey)
• Williams (largest city: Williston)

See also

• 2012 United States Senate elections
• 2012 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota
• 2012 North Dakota gubernatorial election

External links

• North Dakota Secretary of State
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets
• Outside spending at Sunlight Foundation
• Candidate issue positions at On the Issues

Official campaign websites (Archived)

• Rick Berg for U.S. Senate
• Heidi Heitkamp for U.S. Senate

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2012 General Election Turnout Rates . . Dr. Michael McDonald . February 9, 2013 . April 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130424003112/http://elections.gmu.edu/Turnout_2012G.html . April 24, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
2. Web site: North Dakota election calendar. July 2011. August 17, 2011. Secretary of State.
3. News: Heidi Heitkamp scores upset win in North Dakota. Kate Nocera. Politico. November 7, 2012. April 17, 2014.
4. Web site: Can Heitkamp Win Again in Red North Dakota?. www.realclearpolitics.com. 2019-10-21.
5. Web site: The Associated Press . 2024-02-22 . North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer says he's seeking reelection . 2024-02-23 . Toronto Star . en.
6. News: ND Democrats set their fall legislative ticket . . . March 17, 2012 . March 29, 2012.
7. News: Daum. Kristen M. SPECULATION NO MORE: Heitkamp announces U.S. Senate run. November 8, 2011. Flickertales from The Hill. November 8, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120716024945/http://ndpolitics.areavoices.com/?p=92261. July 16, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
8. Web site: Nodland. Chad. Tom Potter: I'm Running For Senate. NorthDecoder.com. October 25, 2011. October 25, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120402105111/http://www.northdecoder.com/Latest/tom-potter-im-running-for-senate.html. April 2, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
9. Web site: Potter drops Senate bid. February 24, 2012. February 25, 2012. The Bismarck Tribune. Nick. Smith.
10. Web site: Conrad will not run for re-election in 2012. January 18, 2011. January 18, 2011. Grand Forks Herald. Chuck. Haga. https://archive.today/20121216121710/http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/190488. December 16, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
11. News: Miller. Joshua. Ex-State Rep. Pam Gulleson Launches House Bid. October 25, 2011. Roll Call. September 26, 2011. November 16, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111116223523/http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_34/ex_state_rep_pam_gulleson_launches_house_bid_iowa-209010-1.html. dead.
12. News: State Sen. Schneider: 2012 U.S. Senate race not now 'in the cards'. October 25, 2011. Grand Forks Herald. August 1, 2011.
13. Web site: Heitkamp telling Dems she's running for Senate. November 1, 2011. February 25, 2012. Politico. David. Catanese.
14. Web site: Retirements Shuffle 2012 Senate Landscape. January 18, 2011. January 18, 2011. Roll Call. Tricia. Miller. January 21, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110121004957/http://www.rollcall.com/news/-202576-1.html. dead.
15. Web site: Neither party lacking Senate contenders. January 18, 2011. January 18, 2011. Bismarck Tribune. Rebecca. Beitsch.
16. News: West Virginia, North Dakota Senate Race Ratings Change. October 25, 2011. Roll Call. April 11, 2011. Trygstad, Kyle. Toeplitz, Shira. September 17, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110917020258/http://www.rollcall.com/news/west_virginia_north_dakota_senate_race_ratings_change-204812-1.html. dead.
17. Web site: Club For Growth Slams Berg. April 28, 2011. April 29, 2011. National Journal. Sean. Sullivan. https://web.archive.org/web/20120406011444/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/04/club-for-growth-8.php. April 6, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
18. Web site: Schneider says he hasn't ruled out running for Conrad's Senate seat. January 19, 2011. January 19, 2011. The Jamestown Sun. Ben. Rodgers.
19. Web site: Democrat Taylor joins race for N.D. governor. December 12, 2011. December 19, 2011. Grand Forks Herald.
20. News: Divide within North Dakota's GOP creates friction in endorsement process . Kristen . Daum . . March 29, 2012 . March 29, 2012 .
21. News: Sobel. Julie. Berg Enters N.D. Senate Race. October 25, 2011. National Journal

    Hotline On Call

    . May 16, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111104070503/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/05/berg-enters-nd.php. November 4, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
22. News: Toeplitz. Shira. House Freshman Berg Will Run for Senate in North Dakota. October 25, 2011. Roll Call. May 16, 2011. February 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216003338/http://www.rollcall.com/news/house_freshman_berg_will_run_for_senate_in_north_dakota-205672-1.html?pos=hln. dead.
23. Sand Announces Entry into North Dakota Senate Race. Standard Newswire. October 25, 2011. August 8, 2011.
24. News: Toeplitz. Shira. N.D. GOP Expecting Competitive House Race. October 25, 2011. Roll Call. May 3, 2011. January 6, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120106020650/http://www.rollcall.com/issues/56_115/North-Dakota-GOP-House-Race-205263-1.html. dead.
25. News: Catanese. David. N.D. lawmakers unite behind Berg for Senate. October 25, 2011. Politico. April 26, 2011.
26. Web site: Dalrymple to run in 2012. November 3, 2011. November 3, 2011. Williston Herald. Nick. Smith.
27. News: Daum. Kristen M. N.D. tax commissioner opts against congressional bid in 2012. October 25, 2011. Flickertales from The Hill. October 13, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111218134641/http://ndpolitics.areavoices.com/?p=92136. December 18, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
28. News: Daum. Kristen M. Goettle declares as 4th GOP contender in 2012 U.S. House race. November 29, 2011. Flickertales from The Hill. November 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120716035323/http://ndpolitics.areavoices.com/?p=92340. July 16, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
29. News: Beitsch. Rebecca. Sand starts Senate campaign committee. October 25, 2011. Bismarck Tribune. May 13, 2011.
30. Web site: Kalk to Run for House Instead of Senate in North Dakota. May 20, 2011. May 20, 2011. Roll Call. Kyle. Trygstad. May 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110523081746/http://www.rollcall.com/news/Kalk-Drops-Senate-Bid-for-House-205843-1.html. dead.
31. News: Daum. Kristen M. West Fargo legislator seeks GOP nod in packed U.S. House race. December 5, 2011. Flickertales from The Hill. December 5, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120715201436/http://ndpolitics.areavoices.com/?p=92365. July 15, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
32. Web site: North Dakota GOPers Target Conrad Seat. December 27, 2010. January 17, 2011. Roll Call. Tricia. Miller. https://web.archive.org/web/20101230174619/http://www.rollcall.com/news/-201928-1.html. December 30, 2010. live.
33. Web site: Kelly Schmidt to seek third term as North Dakota treasurer. February 20, 2012. February 25, 2012. The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Teri. Finneman.
34. News: Gonzales. Nathan L. Berg Senate Run Likely in North Dakota. October 25, 2011. Roll Call. April 26, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110429182449/http://www.rollcall.com/news/Rick-Berg-Senate-Bid-Likely-205147-1.html. April 29, 2011. live.
35. Web site: In Focus with Bismarck Mayor John Warford. June 1, 2011. February 25, 2012. Great Plains Examiner. Matt. Bunk. https://web.archive.org/web/20110613100734/http://www.greatplainsexaminer.com/2011/06/01/in-focus-with-bismarck-mayor-john-warford. June 13, 2011. dead.
36. News: June 7, 2012 . Heitkamp Leads Berg in Latest Poll . . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120607224903/http://www.valleynewslive.com/story/18730731/exclusive-poll-results-5pm-6pm-tonight . June 7, 2012.
37. News: Daum . Kristen . May 17, 2012 . Poll: Berg leads Heitkamp in U.S. Senate race . . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120523204346/http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/361074/ . May 23, 2012.
38. News: September 6, 2012 . Candidate throws his name into the U.S. Senate Race . . . https://web.archive.org/web/20120910070513/http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/68540/ . September 10, 2012.
39. Web site: 2012 House and Senate Campaign Finance for North Dakota HEITKAMP, HEIDI . fec.gov . November 26, 2012 . December 17, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110421070013/http://fec.gov/disclosurehs/HSCandDetail.do . April 21, 2011 . dead .
40. Web site: 2012 House and Senate Campaign Finance for North Dakota BERG, RICHARD A . fec.gov . November 26, 2012 . December 17, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110421070013/http://fec.gov/disclosurehs/HSCandDetail.do . April 21, 2011 . dead .
41. Web site: North Dakota Senate 2012 Race . September 2, 2022 . OpenSecrets.
42. Web site: North Dakota Senate 2012 Race: Top Industries . September 2, 2022 . OpenSecrets.
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44. Web site: 2012 Senate Race Ratings for November 1, 2012 . The Cook Political Report . September 20, 2018 . August 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180829035855/https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings/139117 . dead .
45. Web site: 2012 Senate Ratings . September 20, 2018 . Senate Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report.
46. Web site: 2012 Senate . September 20, 2018 . Sabato's Crystal Ball.
47. Web site: 2012 Elections Map - Battle for the Senate 2012 . Real Clear Politics . September 20, 2018.
48. https://www.scribd.com/doc/112348675/ND-Pharos-Poll Pharos Research
49. Web site: North Dakota Polling Report: 10/26/12-10/28/12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141020034108/http://www.pharosresearchgroup.com/Home/North%20Dakota.pdf . October 20, 2014 . Pharos Research Group.
50. https://web.archive.org/web/20121103023432/http://www.valleynewslive.com/story/19945942/valley-news-live-mason-dixon-poll Mason-Dixon
51. http://gallery.mailchimp.com/6ba6160c0880598e39e1b623b/files/12mem1025_f_Heitkamp.pdf The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp)
52. https://www.scribd.com/doc/111054878/North-Dakota-Pharos-Research-Oct-2012 Pharos Research
53. http://images.politico.com/global/2012/10/heitkamp22.html The Mellman Group (D-Heitkamp)
54. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_senate_elections/north_dakota/election_2012_north_dakota_senate Rasmussen Reports
55. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026061508/http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/377890/ Essman Research
56. https://web.archive.org/web/20121011025651/http://www.valleynewslive.com/story/19767078/poll Mason-Dixon
57. http://images.politico.com/global/2012/09/120928_september_survey.pdf DFM Research (D)
58. http://images.politico.com/global/2012/07/survey_july_2012_dem-npl.html DFM Research (D)
59. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/archive/election_2012_archive/north_dakota/north_dakota_senate_berg_r_49_heitkamp_d_40 Rasmussen Reports
60. https://www.scribd.com/document/91567464/DFM-Survey-Memo-4-27 DFM Research (D)