Republican Delegates Support Push to Abolish Partisan Primaries in North Dakota

(Photo by Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

(North Dakota Monitor) – Delegates to the North Dakota Republican state convention overwhelmingly approved a pair of resolutions calling for the abolishment of the primary election system and urging elected officials to adhere to the party platform, among a host of other symbolic motions.

One resolution declares the primary system to be unconstitutional and directs the party chairman, executive committee and all Republican officials to “pursue every available legal, legislative, and political path” to change state law to ensure candidates endorsed by a political party go directly to the general election. It passed 540-60.

Another resolution calls upon all Republican elected officials “to support and adhere to” the party platform. It was approved 577-23.

The votes occurred a day after the delegates narrowly voted to strip the Republican party brand from candidates who did not attend this year’s state convention. All incumbent statewide elected officials running for reelection in 2026 skipped the event.