Port: The demise of the NDGOP's dominance could come from within The durability of the NDGOP's success in state politics is rooted in competent, moderate leadership. Republicans win in North Dakota because, in the aggregate, Republicans govern well. The Bastiats aren't interested in governing. 3:00 pm, Apr. 5, 2021 × State Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, set up a table and asked citizens to challenge his argument against North Dakota mask mandate. (Jeremy Turley / Forum News Service, via Twitter) MINOT, N.D. — The North Dakota Republican Party dominates state politics. In nearly a decade and a half, no Democrat has won a statewide election here, except Heidi Heitkamp and her flukey 2012 victory in the 2012 U.S. Senate race.