North Dakota Senate Race Preview

North Dakota’s Democratic Senator Kent Conrad is retiring after serving 4 and 2/3 terms. He is known as a moderate Democrat, who has consistently performed well in a dark red state, and his retirement may end the democrat’s hold on that seat. He won his last election with 69% of the vote; a feat that will be impossible for the victor, whether they are a Democrat or a Republican, to pull off this year. The race pits Democrat Heidi Heitkamp, former North Dakota Attorney General, against Rick Berg, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The most recent polling is from Mason Dixon and it shows Berg (47%) with a two point lead over Heitkamp (45%). This lead is within the margin of error and may be a sign that Heitkamp can win, especially when there is 8% missing as either third party candidates or undecided. The last update of this article was with a poll from July and gave Berg a nine percent edge. Just because Mr. President is not doing so swell does not mean the Senate Candidates are facing the same trouble. This race is no longer a case of fading blue with 6 days left it is now a case of a purple fight.