North Dakota House District 27 will have a contested State House election on Nov. 3, 2026, with two Republican incumbents in the candidate field. T.J. Brown and Greg Stemen are both running to continue representing the district.
The race is unusual in one clear respect: The candidates share both a political party and incumbent status. That means party affiliation and current officeholding do not create a contrast between them. The contest will instead depend on distinctions the candidates make during the campaign and the choices presented to District 27 voters.
T.J. Brown
T.J. Brown is a Republican incumbent running in the 2026 general election for North Dakota House District 27. As an incumbent, Brown already holds a District 27 seat in the State House and is returning to voters as a current officeholder.
Brown enters the election with the same party label and incumbent status as the other candidate, Greg Stemen. There are no documented policy positions for Brown in the race at this stage, so the candidate field does not yet show where he would draw issue-based distinctions. Voters can watch for statements about state policy, the district and Brown’s priorities for another term as the campaign develops.
Greg Stemen
Greg Stemen is a Republican incumbent running in the 2026 general election for North Dakota House District 27. As an incumbent, Stemen already holds a District 27 seat in the State House and is returning to voters as a current officeholder.
Stemen enters the election with the same party label and incumbent status as the other candidate, T.J. Brown. There are no documented policy positions for Stemen in the race at this stage, so the candidate field does not yet show where he would draw issue-based distinctions. Voters can watch for statements about state policy, the district and Stemen’s priorities for another term as the campaign develops.
What is contested
The District 27 election is designated as contested rather than uncontested. The listed candidates are Brown and Stemen, and both are Republicans already serving in the State House. The ballot therefore does not present a choice between political parties or between an incumbent and a newcomer.
For voters, the central unanswered question is how Brown and Stemen will define their candidacies beyond the characteristics they share. Policy positions, campaign appearances and direct statements could clarify their priorities before Election Day. Those developments would give voters more information about how each candidate approaches the work of representing District 27.
Election timeline
The District 27 contest is part of North Dakota’s 2026 general election. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
Between now and then, the main process questions concern how the candidates present their records and priorities to voters. Because Brown and Stemen share a party label and incumbent status, candidate-specific information will be important for distinguishing between them. The election will give District 27 voters their opportunity to choose representation in the North Dakota State House.
