North Dakota Midterm Senator Elections by Stella Crowther https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf en-us 2018-10-25 01:17:10 UTC 2026-03-02 09:44:55 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Balance.png 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296741148 2018-10-25 01:36:23 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296741148 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296741749 2018-10-25 01:39:28 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296741749 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296742268 2018-10-25 01:41:56 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296742268 Politics in North Dakota 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296743234 (Pre-Midterm Election)]]> 2018-10-25 01:46:57 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296743234 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296743900 2018-10-25 01:50:40 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296743900 Mixed Media 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296744230 2018-10-25 01:52:35 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/296744230 North Dakota District Map 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301674711 2018-11-07 17:50:23 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301674711 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301686617 2018-11-07 18:05:24 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301686617 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301688302 2018-11-07 18:07:33 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301688302 Post-Election Results 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301689915 2018-11-07 18:09:49 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301689915 55.4% votes for Kevin Cramer (178,876 people) 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301692782 2018-11-07 18:14:06 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301692782 44.6% votes for Heidi Heitkamp (143,737 people) 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301695107 2018-11-07 18:17:44 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/301695107 Who is most likely to win? 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/302727990 We believe Kevin Cramer will win the race, due to the fact that Cramer is a republican, and North Dakota is of 82.6% republican (voter districts). His opponent and incumbent Heidi Heitkamp, a democrat, has recently taken liberal stances on certain political issues. In the Brett Kavanaugh case, Heitkamp voted NO to electing him as a Supreme Court Justice, a choice that was the minority decision. Because North Dakota is a red state, we assume that the citizens disagree with her vote on Kavanaugh’s case, due to the pattern of the Republican leaders' votes in support of Kavanaugh, thus causing her to lose support. Heitkamp also tried to show her support for sexual assault victims by releasing a list of survivors. However, she did not receive the victims’ permission for her to release their personal information. She later apologized for her actions, but she lost respect by a large number of voters. It is more logical that Kevin Cramer would win the election because we are currently living in “Trump’s America”; Cramer was one of Trump's allies in congress, and Trump has strongly advocated for him, resulting in him winning the support of former Trump voters. According to the current polling data, Cramer is ahead of Heitkamp by over 9 points in all polling groups (i.e: FOX News, Trafalgar Group, NBC Valley News, etc.). So, incumbent Heidi Heitkamp will likely lose her seat to Kevin Cramer. 

]]> 2018-11-09 19:08:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/302727990 Breakdown of North Dakota 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/302729601 Total Population: 755,393 people 

Gender Breakdown: 105 men for every 10 women 

Racial Demographics of ND: White American: 90.0% (88.7% non-Hispanic white) 
Native American: 5.4% 
African American: 1.2%

North Dakota does not require voters to register prior to Election Day. You just need to bring  proof of ID and residency to the polls in order to vote.]]> 2018-11-09 19:11:17 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/302729601 Voter's Guide 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898035 (Part 2)]]> 2018-11-13 17:30:49 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898035 Heidi Heitkamp (D) 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898078 Incumbent
https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/]]> 2018-11-13 17:30:54 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898078 Kevin Cramer (R) 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898113 Challenger
https://cramer.house.gov/]]> 2018-11-13 17:30:57 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898113 Candidate's background 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898219 Heidi Heitkamp is North Dakota's first female elected senator. She has been senator since January 3rd, 2013. Heitkamp's former occupation was the former director of the Dakota Gasification synfuels plant. Senator Heitkamp sits on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. She helped write, negotiate, and pass a long-term, comprehensive Farm Bill which Congress passed in 2014. Heitkamp is also a member on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, as well as the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where Heitkamp serves as the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management. Senator Heitkamp previously served as North Dakota’s Tax Commissioner.]]> 2018-11-13 17:31:09 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898219 Candidate's background 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898301 Kevin Cramer has been a state representative since January 3rd, 2013. He serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; three subcommittees: Communications and Technology, Energy, and Environment; and he was elevated to the influential House Republican Steering Committee – as the Small State Representative. He is Co-Chairman of the House Rural Broadband Caucus, which develops policy solutions addressing Rural America’s digital divide, and the Northern Border Caucus, which fosters continued growth in the relationship between the United States and Canada. He is also a founding Chair of the Congressional Kids Safety Caucus. Cramer was elected Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, making him the youngest member of the Republican National Committee. He served in former Governor Ed Schafer's cabinet, first as State Tourism Director from 1993 to 1997, then as State Economic Development & Finance Director from 1997 to 2000.

]]> 2018-11-13 17:31:16 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898301 Stances on the issues important to this race 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898376
  • Gun Control:
    • Heitkamp has voted against most gun control amendments, including acts introduced to Congress after Sandy Hook and Orlando Nightclub shootings. She has an A+ rating from the NRA. (not in support)
    • Free (or affordable) Health Care:
    Heitkamp supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care act, although she stated that it had 'good and bad' elements. (middle ground)
    • Abortion:
    Heitkamp has a 100% lifetime rating from Planned Parenthood, and voted to filibuster a bill that would make abortion illegal after the fifth month of pregnancy except when the mother's life is endangered. (in support)
    • Environment:
    Heitkamp has been a supporter of domestic energy development, both in fossil fuels and renewable resources. She also supports fracking, all of which lead to environmental damage. (in support of energy development over environment)
    ]]>     2018-11-13 17:31:23 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898376     Stances on the issues important to this race 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898429
  • Gun Control:
    • Cramer has said that gun control would not have saved the Orlando Nightclub shooting, and the issue is not the US constitution, but rather "Islamic Terrorism". (not in support)
    • Free (or affordable) Health Care:
    Cramer has voted to repeal Obamacare 5 times, and voted against the health insurance protections for patients with pre-existing conditions and against the expansion of Medicaid. (not in support)
    • Abortion:
    Cramer is a critic of Planned Parenthood and has called for cutting off public funding for the group. (not in support)
    • Environment:
    Cramer rejects the idea of climate change, and supports the increase of oil and gas drilling on public lands. (in support of energy development over environment)
    ]]>     2018-11-13 17:31:28 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898429     Sources of funding 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898478 Heitkamp has raised about $27,017,314 for her campaign (2013-2018). Her top contributors are Alphabet Inc., Motley Rice LLC, University of California, Goldman Sachs, and Votesane PAC. Since Heitkamp's contributors are universities, law firms, investment banks, and corporations, it is hard to know what Heitkamp will focus on issue-wise in Congress. However, her top industries from her funding are education and women's issues, so one can infer that she will be focusing on social and educational issues in Congress.]]> 2018-11-13 17:31:33 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898478 Sources of funding 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898527 Cramer has raised about $5,531,588 for his campaign (2017-2018). His top contributors are Energy Transfer Equity, Ellingson Companies, Alliance Resource Partners, Marathon Oil, and the State of North Dakota. One can infer that because Cramer's main contributors are in the oil and energy industry, Cramer's main interest for his possible future senate seat will be in energy.]]> 2018-11-13 17:31:36 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898527 How is the race being covered in the media? 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898599 2018-11-13 17:31:43 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898599 Horse Race 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898651 (part 3)]]> 2018-11-13 17:31:46 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898651 Polling Data 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898750 FOX News:
    9/8 - 9/11: Cramer +4
    9/29 - 10/2: Cramer +12
    10/27 - 10/30: Cramer +9
    Trafalgar Group:
    10/23 - 10/24: Cramer +9
    NBC Valley News:
    9/17 - 9/27: Cramer +10
    10/12 - 10/19: Cramer +16
    Mason Dixon:
    6/13 - 6/15: Cramer +4
    Conclusion:
    Cramer has always been leading the polls for the midterm election.]]>     2018-11-13 17:31:53 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898750     Debate Recap 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898844 Cramer:
    Cramer confronted Heitkamp over her 'mistakes' in voting, including voting NO on Kavanaugh's nomination (over 60% of North Dakotans wanted her to vote YES). He also confronted her for revealing a list of sexual assault victims without their permission.
    Heitkamp:
    Heitkamp opened the debate by apologizing for her sexual assault victim fiasco (view prediction for more information). To Cramer, she disagreed with his support of Trump's tariffs and explained that tariffs will decimate soybean market, North Dakota's most important cash crop.
    Conclusion:
    All news sources had an even outlook on both candidates in the debate. Both had strengths and weaknesses. While Cramer focused more on going against moral beliefs Heitkamp held (said his relatives are against the #metoo movement because they are "strong"), Senator Heitkamp worked on making amends with people she's hurt in the past, as well as challenging Cramer on Trump's policies that he supports. In my opinion, Senator Heitkamp won this debate because she mainly focused on the importance of cash crops and other issues in the state that she specializes in, while Cramer focused more on attacking Heitkamp than explaining his own positions on issues.]]>     2018-11-13 17:31:59 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898844     Right Leaning Article 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898906 Fox News covered how Cramer and his two daughters used a paid commercial to confront her about her belief in keeping abortion legal. The video stated that after a bill passed legalizing abortion after the fifth month, she "high fived" another Senator. One of Cramer's daughters is pregnant, so they used pathos to try to turn voters against Heitkamp.]]> 2018-11-13 17:32:04 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/303898906 Left Leaning Article 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304054589 CNN covered how although Senator Heitkamp voted NO in the Kavanaugh case (majority of North Dakotans disagreed with her choice), she managed to raise $12.5 million from those who supported her decision, thus showing that she still has support after her unpopular vote in the case.]]> 2018-11-13 22:03:59 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304054589 Left Leaning Article 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304058429 The Bismarck Tribune wrote that Joe Biden has endorsed Heitkamp and will campaign for her in Fargo, North Dakota. Heitkamp receiving endorsement from an esteemed Vice President is extremely beneficial to her image, and is guaranteed to rope in support from democrats.]]> 2018-11-13 22:17:16 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304058429 Right Leaning Article 20crowthers https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304058452 KVRR, a North Dakotan Fox affiliated news source stated that Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, a former Fox News host visited North Dakota to endorse Kevin Cramer in his campaign. The President's notable son showing support for the candidate helps Cramer garner attention from the Republicans and Trump supporters.]]> 2018-11-13 22:17:19 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304058452 Senatorial Elections 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304549180 In 2010, John Hoeven became the first Republican in the Senate for North Dakota since 1987. In 2016, John Hoeven won re-election in his second term. 

    ]]>     2018-11-14 20:52:54 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304549180     Presidential Elections 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304552360 North Dakota has participated in 32 presidential elections, voting Republican in 26 of them.]]> 2018-11-14 21:01:47 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304552360 Gubernatorial Elections 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304553761 The last time North Dakota had a Democratic Governor was in 1992.  ]]> 2018-11-14 21:06:12 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304553761 Politics in North Dakota 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304555626 The political party in North Dakota is mostly conservative. Throughout the first half of the 1900s, the liberal Nonpartisan League (NPL) was a popular political force. The NPL candidates usually advocated for farming related issues. Nowadays, the main political parties in North Dakota is the Republican Party and the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, which merged with the Democratic Party in 1956. The Republican Party focuses more on business aspects of society, not agriculture unlike the NPL. The Republicans have been in office since 1992 for the people of North Dakota. ]]> 2018-11-14 21:12:05 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304555626 Who did win: 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304622362 As we predicted, Kevin Cramer won the election. It was a close race, with 55.4% of the people voting for Cramer and 44.6% voting for Heitkamp. Heidi's favorability rating was 43% on Election Day; she was viewed as too liberal by 47% of voters. Kevin's favorability rating was 53%; 40% of voters saw him as too conservative.]]> 2018-11-15 02:26:42 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304622362 Current Political Representation 20waldrono https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304625387
  • (Republican) North Dakota Treasurer- Kelly Schmidt (since 2004 and re-elected in 2008, 2012 and 2016) 
  • (Republican) Governor of North Dakota- Doug Burgum (since 2016) 
  • (Republican) Speaker of the House- Larry Bellew (since 2001) 
  • (Republican) Majority Leader-Al Carlson (since 1993) 
  • (Republican) Senators are John Hoeven (served in 2010 and was reelected in 2016) and Kevin Cramer  (2018)
    • ]]>     2018-11-15 02:43:07 UTC https://padlet.com/20crowthers/212ffgmas7zf/wish/304625387