North Dakota’s Republican Party announced on Tuesday that eight candidates have qualified for the state’s 2024 Presidential Caucus, which is scheduled for March 4.
This year’s ballot will include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who suspended his presidential campaign in December but met qualification requirements. Former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are the most prominent campaigns to make the ballot.
Long-shot candidates Ryan Binkley, a businessman and pastor, and David Stuckenberg, an Air Force Reserve major and businessman, will also appear on the ballot. To qualify, candidates needed to file with the Federal Election Commission, obtain signatures from 10 members of the party’s state committee — the board that governs the state party — and pay $20,000 to the party.
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A primary election is conducted by the government, whereas a caucus, like those held in North Dakota, is conducted by a private entity such as a political party. The state GOP says voters “should be members” of the party. There is no early or absentee voting.
Depending on the outcome of the caucus, North Dakota’s 29 delegates at the Republican National Convention could be allocated proportionally. If any candidate secures at least 60% of the votes, they would win all 29 delegates, and candidates must receive at least 20% of the votes to receive proportional delegate allocation.
Robert Harms, chair of the state party’s Presidential Caucus Committee, said this year’s caucus could impact the outcome of Super Tuesday, the day in either February or March of each primary cycle during which the most states hold their primaries and caucuses. That’s because North Dakota’s caucus is the day before Super Tuesday, he said.
“As citizens, we have a responsibility to one another to vet the candidates running for the highest office in the land — March 4 is our chance to say who that person should be,” Harms said.
American voters will have their first chance to weigh in on the Republican presidential primary next week when the Iowa Caucus takes place on Jan. 15. At this point the race is Trump’s to lose, as he’s held a commanding lead in the polls, though Haley has risen in recent months to threaten DeSantis’ once-solid second-place standing.
The North Dakota GOP has confirmed polling places will be available in Williston, Minot, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, Fargo, Jamestown, Bismarck, and Dickinson. Locations in Districts 9, 15 and 19 are still being finalized. Voting will take place from 5-8 p.m. Central time.