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SB 2252

A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 16.1-03 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to a district endorsing caucus or convention; and to amend and reenact sections 16.1-03-11, 16.1-03-14, 16.1-11-01, 16.1-12-10, and 16.1-13-04 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to state party conventions and endorsing caucuses or conventions for primary and general elections.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Donna Henderson and 3 co-sponsors

SB 2252 lets district party committees choose endorsing caucuses/conventions over primaries to nominate legislative/statewide candidates, with rules, timing, and ballot placement.

Second reading, failed to pass, yeas 6 nays 41
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2252

Summary — SB 2252 (North Dakota)

Note: The source materials provided mix documents from multiple states. This summary focuses on the North Dakota bill text and metadata included in the packet (creating district endorsing caucus/convention procedures and amending related Century Code sections). If you intended the Illinois appropriation language also present in the packet, tell me and I will summarize that separately.

Purpose

SB 2252 permits state and district party committees to choose whether their nominees for legislative and statewide partisan offices are selected through party endorsing caucuses/conventions instead of partisan primary elections. It creates a new statutory framework for district-level endorsing caucuses/conventions and revises state-level convention procedures and related statutory sections.

Key provisions

  • Creates a new section in chapter 16.1-03 establishing district endorsing caucus/convention rules.
    • Between July 1 and December 1 of each odd-numbered year, each legislative district’s district party committee must vote to either (a) hold an endorsing caucus/convention or (b) participate in the primary election process (chapter 16.1-11).
    • If the committee chooses a caucus/convention, the district must hold the caucus/convention by May 1 of the following even-numbered year to endorse legislative candidates for the general election.
    • The committee must notify the Secretary of State of its decision within 10 days. The decision is final; failure to decide or to notify timely triggers use of the primary election.
    • If redistricting occurs in the same year, the Secretary of State sets the caucus/convention date.
  • Participation and challenge rules at caucuses/conventions:
    • Any qualified elector may vote or be nominated.
    • Challenges to participation are decided by a vote of the whole body; the challenged person cannot vote on the challenge; a two-thirds vote is required to exclude someone.
  • Endorsement and ballot placement:
    • The candidate receiving the most votes at an endorsing caucus/convention is the endorsed nominee.
    • The chairman issues a certificate of endorsement (per section 16.1-11-06). After filing an affidavit of candidacy and statement of interest by 4:00 p.m. on the 40th day before the general election, the Secretary of State places endorsed nominees on the general election ballot.
    • A candidate not endorsed may still appear on the general election ballot as an independent under existing law (section 16.1-12-02).
  • Amends sections 16.1-03-11 and 16.1-03-14 (and references amendments to 16.1-11-01, 16.1-12-10, 16.1-13-04) to align state convention/endorsing procedures with the district-level process and to require similar notice and timing (state committee decision window: July 1–Dec 1 of odd-numbered years; convention/caucus by May 1 of even-numbered years).

Who is affected

  • Political party state committees and district (legislative district) party committees.
  • Candidates for legislative and partisan statewide offices in North Dakota.
  • County and state election administrators, and the Secretary of State (responsible for administrative scheduling and ballot placement).
  • Voters whose party committees opt for caucus/convention selection rather than primary elections.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Committees choose selection method between July 1 and December 1 of odd-numbered years; endorsing caucuses/conventions must occur by May 1 of even-numbered years.
  • Committees must notify the Secretary of State within 10 days of their decision; failure to decide or notify defaults to a primary election.
  • The bill was introduced March 11, 2025. Per the supplied status line, it was read a second time and failed to pass (recorded as yeas 6, nays 41). If you want the complete enacted text or legislative history verification, I can check official state legislative records.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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