District 12 has a contested House race
North Dakota House District 12 is set to have a contested race in the 2026 general election. The current field consists of Mitch Ostlie and Bernie Satrom, two Republicans who are both incumbents.
The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026. Because both candidates carry the same party label and currently hold office, the basic candidate list does not present a choice between parties or between an incumbent and a newcomer. Instead, voters will be evaluating two officeholders from the same party in a race classified as contested.
No documented policy positions are attached to either candidate’s campaign. That leaves the issues they emphasize, the differences they draw and the records they ask voters to consider as central questions for the campaign ahead.
Mitch Ostlie
Mitch Ostlie is running as a Republican and is an incumbent in the North Dakota House. He is one of the two candidates currently listed in the District 12 general election race.
Ostlie does not have a documented candidate biography or policy position in the race listing. Campaign fundraising, spending and cash-on-hand figures are also not on file. As the campaign develops, voters can watch for Ostlie to identify his priorities for another term and explain how his record relates to District 12.
With both candidates sharing a party label and incumbent status, any contrast involving Ostlie will have to come from their public records, campaign messages and positions on state or district issues rather than from party affiliation alone.
Bernie Satrom
Bernie Satrom is running as a Republican and is an incumbent in the North Dakota House. He is one of the two candidates currently listed in the District 12 general election race.
Satrom does not have a documented candidate biography or policy position in the race listing. Campaign fundraising, spending and cash-on-hand figures are also not on file. As the campaign develops, voters can watch for Satrom to identify his priorities for another term and explain how his record relates to District 12.
With both candidates sharing a party label and incumbent status, any contrast involving Satrom will have to come from their public records, campaign messages and positions on state or district issues rather than from party affiliation alone.
What is contested
The race is contested, but its current candidate field does not offer a partisan contrast: Ostlie and Satrom are both Republicans and both incumbents. Their shared status makes the substance of the campaign especially important for voters trying to compare them.
Neither candidate currently has a documented policy stance in the race information. As a result, the major unresolved questions include what each candidate would prioritize in office, where their positions differ and how each describes his work as an incumbent.
The campaign may also give voters more information through candidate statements, public appearances and campaign finance reporting. Those developments can help establish whether the candidates differ on legislation, state spending, taxes, education, local concerns or other matters that may emerge during the race. Election Day is Nov. 3, 2026.
