North Dakota's 2nd congressional district

North Dakota's 2nd congressional district is an obsolete congressional district in the state of North Dakota that was created by reapportionments in 1913, and eliminated by the reapportionments in 1933. North Dakota elected its two Representatives in a two-member at large district from 1932 to 1960, but then resurrected single-member districts in 1962. The district was eliminated by the reapportionment as a result of the 1970 redistricting cycle after the 1970 United States census. The seat was last filled from 1971 to 1973 by Arthur A. Link, who sought the office of Governor of North Dakota after not being able to run again for the defunct seat.

North Dakota's 2nd congressional district
Obsolete district
Created1910
1960
Eliminated1930
1970
Years active1913-1933

Boundaries

When existing between 1913 and 1933, the district included the capital Bismarck and consisted of the following counties of central North Dakota: Bottineau, Rolette, McHenry, Pierce, Benson, Sheridan, Wells, Eddy, Foster, Griggs, Stutsman, Barnes, Kidder, Burleigh, Emmons, Logan, McIntosh, LaMoure, and Dickey.

The 1963 recreation was different, consisting of the western half of the state, again including Bismarck. It contained the following counties: Bottineau, McHenry, Sheridan, Wells, Kidder, Burleigh, Emmons, Logan, McIntosh, Divide, Burke, Renville, Ward, Mountrail, Williams, McKenzie, McLean, Dunn, Mercer, Oliver, Billings, Stark, Morton, Hettinger, Bowman, Adams, Golden Valley, Grant, Slope and Sioux.

List of members representing the district

MemberPartyYearsCong
ress
Electoral history
District established March 4, 1913

George M. Young
(Valley City)
RepublicanMarch 4, 1913 –
September 2, 1924
63rd
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
Elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Resigned to become judge of the U.S. Customs Court.
VacantSeptember 2, 1924 –
November 4, 1924
68th

Thomas Hall
(Bismarck)
RepublicanNovember 4, 1924 –
March 3, 1933
68th
69th
70th
71st
72nd
Elected to finish Young's term.
Re-elected in 1926
Re-elected in 1928
Re-elected in 1930
Redistricted to the at-large district and lost renomination.
District dissolved January 3, 1933
District re-established January 3, 1963

Don L. Short
(Medora)
RepublicanJanuary 3, 1963 –
January 3, 1965
88thRedistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1962.
Lost re-election.

Rolland W. Redlin
(Crosby)
Democratic–NPLJanuary 3, 1965 –
January 3, 1967
89thElected in 1964.
Lost re-election.

Thomas S. Kleppe
(Bismarck)
RepublicanJanuary 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1971
90th
91st
Elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Retired to run for U.S. Senator.

Arthur A. Link
(Alexander)
Democratic–NPLJanuary 3, 1971 –
January 3, 1973
92ndElected in 1970.
Retired to run for Governor of North Dakota.
District dissolved January 3, 1973

Election results

YearCandidatePartyVotes%
1912 (63rd Congress)George M. YoungRepublican16,91264.3
J. A. MincklerDemocratic7,42628.2
John A. YoderSocialist1,9227.3
1914 (63rd Congress)George M. YoungRepublican18,68068.4
James J. WeeksDemocratic7,07325.9
N. H. BjornstadSocialist1,5535.7
1916 (65th Congress)George M. YoungRepublican22,22771.7
Hugh McDonaldDemocratic7,63824.6
Samuel O. OlsonIndependent1,1503.7
1918 (66th Congress)George M. YoungRepublican20,51674.5
L. N. TorsonDemocratic7,03825.5
1920 (67th Congress)George M. YoungRepublican34,84951.7
Ole H. OlsonNPL32,61848.4
1922 (68th Congress)George M. YoungRepublican36,52869.8
J. W. DeemyProgressive15,83430.2
Special election (68th Congress)Thomas HallRepublican33,46051.0
Gerald P. NyeNPL32,20549.0
1924 (69th Congress)Thomas HallRepublican31,21242.2
Gerald P. NyeNPL28,19338.1
M. C. FreercksIndependent14,51119.6
1926 (70th Congress)Thomas HallRepublican33,60766.3
J. L. PageDemocratic13,63527.1
C. W. ReichertFarmer-Labor3,3506.6
1928 (71st Congress)Thomas HallRepublican42,84461.7
J. L. PageDemocratic26,56638.3
1930 (72nd Congress)Thomas HallRepublican34,06355.6
P. W. LanierDemocratic25,78042.3
Alfred B. KnutsonCommunist1,3042.1

Recreated in 1962

YearCandidatePartyVotes%
1962 (88th Congress)Don L. ShortRepublican56,20354.0
Robert VogelD-NPL47,82546.0
1964 (89th Congress)Rolland RedlinD-NPL60,75152.5
Don L. ShortRepublican54,87847.5
1966 (90th Congress)Thomas S. KleppeRepublican50,80151.9
Rolland RedlinD-NPL46,99348.1
1968 (91st Congress)Thomas S. KleppeRepublican55,96249.9
Rolland RedlinD-NPL54,65548.7
Russell KleppeIndependent1,5261.4
1970 (92nd Congress)Arthur A. LinkD-NPL50,41650.3
Robert McCarneyRepublican49,88849.7

References

  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
  • Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present

46°49′N 100°47′W / 46.817°N 100.783°W / 46.817; -100.783