District 36 race at a glance
North Dakota House District 36 will have a contested general election on Nov. 3, 2026. The field consists of Ty Dressler and Dori Hauck. Both candidates are Republicans, and both are incumbents.
That makes this a contest between candidates who share the same party affiliation and current officeholder status. Voters will not be choosing between different party labels or between an incumbent and a challenger. Instead, the ballot will present two sitting Republican lawmakers seeking to represent the same North Dakota House district.
This is the general election rather than a primary. It is the stage of the 2026 election in which District 36 voters cast ballots for the candidates listed in the district’s House race.
Ty Dressler
Ty Dressler is a Republican incumbent running in North Dakota House District 36. His incumbent designation means he currently holds public office and is seeking another term through the 2026 election.
Dressler enters the race with the same two basic ballot identifiers as Hauck: Republican affiliation and incumbent status. Because those labels do not create a contrast between the candidates, voters will need to consider any distinctions the candidates make during the campaign.
Dressler will appear in a contested race rather than an uncontested election. His candidacy gives District 36 voters one of two incumbent Republican options in the Nov. 3 general election.
Dori Hauck
Dori Hauck is a Republican incumbent running in North Dakota House District 36. Her incumbent designation means she currently holds public office and is seeking another term through the 2026 election.
Hauck enters the race with the same two basic ballot identifiers as Dressler: Republican affiliation and incumbent status. Because those labels do not create a contrast between the candidates, voters will need to consider any distinctions the candidates make during the campaign.
Hauck will appear in a contested race rather than an uncontested election. Her candidacy gives District 36 voters one of two incumbent Republican options in the Nov. 3 general election.
What is contested and what comes next
The central choice in District 36 is between Dressler and Hauck. The race is unusual in a straightforward way: neither party affiliation nor incumbency separates the two candidates. Both are Republicans, and both already hold office.
The next points of comparison will come from the campaign itself. Candidate statements, public appearances and other campaign communications may give voters clearer ways to compare the two incumbents before Election Day. Official election information can also confirm the final ballot listing and other voting details.
For first-time voters, the key date is Nov. 3, 2026. Before voting, District 36 residents can review the candidates’ own explanations of their priorities and consult official election instructions about when, where and how to cast a ballot. The outcome should not be assumed from the shared party label or from either candidate’s incumbent status; voters will make the choice in the general election.
