Secretary of State North Dakota in Statewide, North Dakota

2026 Primary Election

• Ryan Braunberger — Incumbent North Dakota State Senator in ND

  Ryan Braunberger is a North Dakota politician currently serving as a member of the North Dakota State Senate, representing District 10. He assumed this office on December 1, 2022, and his current term is scheduled to conclude on December 1, 2028. A member of the Democratic Party, Braunberger is now seeking to be elected to a statewide executive office. He is running for North Dakota Secretary of State and is on the ballot in the Democratic primary election, which is set for June 9, 2026. He is considered the presumptive Democratic–NPL nominee for the position. There are no incumbents in the Secretary of State race he is running in.

• Michael Howe — Incumbent Secretary of State in West Fargo, ND

  Michael Howe, a fifth-generation farmer with deep roots in North Dakota, serves as the state's Secretary of State, having assumed office in January 2023. A graduate of North Dakota State University, he previously represented District 22 in the North Dakota House of Representatives from 2016 to 2022. Prior to his current role, his career included working as a managing partner of Howe Seed Farms, holding legislative and communications roles, and serving as an agriculture policy director. He is actively involved in the National Association of Secretaries of State. Howe is seeking re-election for Secretary of State in 2026, advocating for a pro-business environment by cutting red tape, ensuring a legacy of natural resources, and maintaining secure, transparent, and accessible elections. He lives in West Fargo with his wife, Katie.