Secretary of State of North Dakota · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the North Dakota secretary of state race?
Ryan Braunberger has the strongest record in the North Dakota secretary of state race. Ryan Braunberger scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Howe at 59, as of October 6, 2026. Ryan Braunberger's highest marks are accountability and relevant experience. Michael Howe's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic-NPL
Strongest record
Ryan Braunberger
61 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 58
- Qualifications
- 69
- Performance
- 50
Republican · incumbent
Michael Howe
59 / 100
Public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 50
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Ryan Braunberger
- On the record2026-05-15
Took part in a May 2026 candidate forum in Lincoln hosted by the conservative group Sons of Liberty, which no incumbent statewide officeholder attended.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 2026
- On the record2026-06-17
Took voter questions at an open Dem-NPL town hall in West Fargo in June 2026 as part of a statewide series.
Source: Valley News Live, June 17, 2026
- Credit2025
Sponsored SB 2238, allowing eviction records to be sealed, and SB 2262 on K-12 coordination council contracts; both were enacted in the 2025 session.
Source: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Braunberger sponsored bills, 2025
Michael Howe
- On the record2026-09-14
Signed an amicus brief with 37 election officials asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block Postal Service ballot rules tied to President Trump's mail voting order; the Court rejected the administration's emergency request.
Source: KFYR-TV, Sept. 14, 2026
- On the record2026-07
Said in interviews after a presidential speech alleging election hacking that North Dakota's elections are secure, citing paper ballots and proof of citizenship for state IDs.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 2026
- On the record2025-12
Asked the attorney general to review an Ethics Commission advisory opinion on using campaign funds for child care and security; Attorney General Wrigley declared the opinion void.
Source: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Dec. 2025
- Credit2021-04
As a state representative, sponsored HB 1175, granting businesses immunity from certain COVID-19 liability claims, which was enacted in 2021.
Source: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Howe sponsored bills, 2021
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Ryan Braunberger. No public record found.
Michael Howe. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Ryan Braunberger. No public record found.
Michael Howe. Signed an amicus brief in September 2026 with 37 election officials asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block Postal Service ballot rules tied to President Trump's mail-in voting order.
Source: KFYR-TV, Sept. 14, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Ryan Braunberger. Took voter questions at open in-person Dem-NPL town halls, including West Fargo in June 2026, and at a May 2026 candidate forum in Lincoln hosted by a conservative group.
Sources: Valley News Live, June 17, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 2026
Michael Howe. Appeared at public campaign rallies on a statewide Republican tour and gave press interviews on election security. No 2026 general election debate or forum for this race was found; no incumbent accepted a May primary forum invitation.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 29, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Ryan Braunberger. In the North Dakota Senate since 2023 and its minority caucus leader. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Michael Howe. Served six years in the state House and has been secretary of state since January 2023. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Michael Howe, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Feb. 16, 2026
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Ryan Braunberger. Took the oath as a state senator in 2023. No misuse-of-office finding and no recorded action to reject certified results found.
Michael Howe. Took the oath as a state representative and, in 2023, as secretary of state. No recorded action to reject certified results and no misuse-of-office finding found.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Michael Howe, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Feb. 16, 2026
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Ryan Braunberger. State senator for District 10 in Fargo since 2023, serving as Senate minority caucus leader in the 2023 and 2025 sessions. Previously an independent contractor and transportation specialist.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Ryan Braunberger, Ballotpedia, Ryan Braunberger
Michael Howe. Secretary of state since January 2023 and a member of the North Dakota House from 2017 to 2022, three terms.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Michael Howe, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Feb. 16, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Ryan Braunberger. Senate minority caucus leader and a member of the Senate Judiciary and State and Local Government committees. Discussed voter rolls, mail ballots and election security in detail in press interviews.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Ryan Braunberger, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, July 2026
Michael Howe. Chaired the interim Government Finance Committee as a legislator. His campaign lists specific election administration practices and business filing priorities within the office's powers.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Michael Howe, Campaign site, Issues
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Ryan Braunberger. Answers voters at town halls and candidate forums and gives press interviews. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, and no campaign issue page was found.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, May 2026, Ballotpedia, Ryan Braunberger
Michael Howe. Publishes a campaign issues page and explains election procedures in press interviews. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Ryan Braunberger. Born in Fargo and represents Fargo's District 10 in the state Senate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Ryan Braunberger, North Dakota Legislative Branch, Ryan Braunberger
Michael Howe. Lives in West Fargo and represented the Casselton-area District 22 in the state House for six years.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Michael Howe, North Dakota Legislative Branch, Michael Howe
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Ryan Braunberger. No public record found.
Michael Howe. Has run the Secretary of State's office since January 2023, which oversees elections, business filings and campaign finance; he cites a new website and filing portals. No independent performance review was found.
Sources: North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Feb. 16, 2026, North Dakota Monitor via News From The States, Dec. 2025
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Ryan Braunberger. Primary sponsor of two bills enacted in 2025: SB 2238 on sealing eviction records and SB 2262 on contracting authority for the K-12 education coordination council. His other seven 2025 bills failed.
Source: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Braunberger sponsored bills, 2025
Michael Howe. As a legislator, primary sponsor of two bills enacted: HB 1156 (2019) on insurance policy timing and HB 1175 (2021) on COVID-19 liability immunity for businesses.
Sources: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Howe sponsored bills, 2019, North Dakota Legislative Branch, Howe sponsored bills, 2021
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Ryan Braunberger. No public record found.
Michael Howe. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Ryan Braunberger. No public record found.
Michael Howe. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Ryan Braunberger. As a Democrat in a Republican-majority Legislature, passed two bills he sponsored in 2025.
Source: North Dakota Legislative Branch, Braunberger sponsored bills, 2025
Michael Howe. Joined a coalition of state and local election officials described as bipartisan in a Supreme Court filing that the Court sided with in September 2026.
Source: KFYR-TV, Sept. 14, 2026
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Ryan Braunberger. No public record found.
Michael Howe. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the North Dakota secretary of state race?
Ryan Braunberger has the strongest record in the North Dakota secretary of state race. Ryan Braunberger scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Michael Howe at 59, as of October 6, 2026. Ryan Braunberger's highest marks are accountability and relevant experience. Michael Howe's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the North Dakota secretary of state race in 2026?
Ryan Braunberger (Democratic-NPL), Michael Howe (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Ryan Braunberger a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Ryan Braunberger scores 61 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 58 of 100, qualifications 69 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Michael Howe a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Michael Howe scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 11 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every North Dakota race scored, and the North Dakota 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.