Burleigh County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026

Kevin Horneman is the Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota Senate District 7. Horneman is a retired licensed journeyman electrician and 40-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Horneman is also a small business owner and farmer who operates a certified organic farm in northern Burleigh County with Horneman's wife, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Horneman's stated priorities include fair compensation for workers, food safety, and expanding rural healthcare through state-funded training programs, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Dale Pittman is the Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota Senate District 35, challenging sitting Sen. Sean Cleary. Pittman is a Bismarck resident of 16 years who retired in 2024 after 44 years in law enforcement, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Pittman served as a patrol officer, detective and supervisor, and as chief of police, before concluding Pittman's career as director of the North Dakota Insurance Fraud Division, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Pittman is now an adjunct instructor in criminal justice at Bismarck State College and owns Bis-Man Sharpening, a small business in the Bismarck-Mandan area, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Mike Dwyer is the Republican incumbent for North Dakota Senate District 47. Dwyer is an attorney and farmer in Bismarck, and a partner at Dwyer Law Office, per the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Dwyer holds a BA from St. Olaf College and a JD from UND, and operates a farming and cattle operation with Dwyer's sons, per the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. Dwyer was first elected to the Senate in 2019. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Bill Patrie is the Democratic-NPL nominee for North Dakota Senate District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the North Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Taylor Johnson is the Democratic-NPL nominee for North Dakota House District 35 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the North Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Karen Karls is retired, with a degree in medical technology from Minot State University, per the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. She has chaired the District 35 Republicans for 28 years, per the same source. Karls, of Bismarck, has represented District 35 in the North Dakota House since 2007. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Lynne Lafer-Halvorson taught for nearly 30 years as a public school classroom teacher across five states, including 18 years on the Standing Rock Reservation, where she also served as a Head Start site director, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. She has also worked as a real estate agent and founded a residential cleaning service, per the same source. Lafer-Halvorson, of Bismarck, holds a degree in history and German from Washington State University and is a Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota House District 35. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Bob Martinson is an independent landman and a retired lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota Army National Guard, per the North Dakota Legislative Assembly. He served as North Dakota House Majority Leader from 1993 to 1995 and as North Dakota Tourism Director from 1997 to 2000, per the same source. Martinson, of Bismarck, has represented District 35 in the North Dakota House from 1973 to 1997 and again since 2001. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Rosann Jacobs-Fode is the Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota House District 47. Jacobs-Fode is in a 21st year of teaching, including 19 years at Bismarck High School, teaching Advanced Placement English, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Jacobs-Fode grew up on a farm on the Standing Rock Reservation before the family moved to Bismarck, and has lived in Bismarck for 32 years, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Jacobs-Fode holds a BS in English education from the University of Mary (2005), a Master of Education from UND (2013) and a Secondary Principal Credential (2014), per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Stated priorities include public education funding, career and technical education, affordable healthcare and mental health access, and transparent government spending, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Jon Lee is the R nominee for North Dakota House District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the North Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Cole Montoya is the Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota House District 47. Montoya is a Bismarck production assistant at KXMC-TV and previously worked as a freelance video producer, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Montoya holds an associate's degree in studio and television production from Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado, and this is Montoya's first run for elected office, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. Montoya's stated priorities include housing affordability, oversight of data center construction, and representing younger constituents, per Bismarck Mandan Leaders. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Andrew Alexis Varvel is an independent candidate for North Dakota House District 47 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the North Dakota Secretary of State's 2026 general-election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.