Secretary of State of North Dakota
Michael Howe
North Dakota Secretary of StateRINCUMBENT
- Race
- Secretary of State of North Dakota
- Election
- 2026-11-03
- Opponent
- Ryan Braunberger (D)
- Research
- Basic
Party linenone
No recorded floor votes — not a current legislator in our records.
Said vs. did0 statements · 0 votes
Michael Howe is the Republican incumbent Secretary of State, a former state legislator first elected in 2022. In a July 2026 interview he said North Dakota's elections are secure, pointing to proof-of-citizenship checks at ID issuance, paper ballots and encrypted result reporting.[1][2]
On the ballotSecretary of State
2026-11-03
| Michael Howe R | incumbent |
| Ryan Braunberger D | challenger |
Advanced from the June 9, 2026 Republican primary with no declared opponent.
Biography
Michael Howe is the Republican incumbent Secretary of State, a former state legislator first elected in 2022. In a July 2026 interview he said North Dakota's elections are secure, pointing to proof-of-citizenship checks at ID issuance, paper ballots and encrypted result reporting.[1][2]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Howe is a fifth-generation farmer who helps run his family's seed farm near Casselton, and he graduated from North Dakota State University in 2010.[3] He worked in Washington, D.C., as agriculture policy director for Rep. Rick Berg.[3]
Howe later served as a state representative for District 22.[3] He has been North Dakota's secretary of state since January 1, 2023, and Ballotpedia lists him as the Republican candidate in the November 3, 2026 general election.[3][4]
In their own words
Priorities
- Maintaining secure, auditable paper-ballot elections; says the voter file is updated daily with deaths and has not been shared with the Department of Homeland Security.[5]
Statements, quoted without a stance
- Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote
“We’ve got proof of citizenship”[5]
Told the North Dakota Monitor that new North Dakota ID applicants must prove citizenship and that a North Dakota ID is needed to vote
Campaign moneyNo FEC filing summary matched — state candidates file with their state, not the FEC.
Profile: /people/michael-howe
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Sources cited in this profile
- 1.North Dakota Democrats endorse several statewide candidates · North Dakota Monitor · 2026-03-07 News report
- 2.Secretary of state candidates say North Dakota elections are secure, fair and free · KFGO / North Dakota Monitor · 2026-07-22 News report
- 3.About the Office | Secretary of State | North Dakota · North Dakota Secretary of State Official record
- 4.Michael Howe - Ballotpedia · Ballotpedia Reference
- 5.Secretary of state candidates say North Dakota elections are secure, fair and free · KFGO / North Dakota Monitor · 2026-07-22 News report