The incumbent, Republican Senator Milton Young, was retiring.

Republican Mark Andrews defeated North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party candidate Kent Johanneson to fill the vacated seat.

[1] Andrews, who had served as a Representative since 1963, easily received the Republican nomination, and the endorsed Democratic-NPL candidate was Kent Johanneson.

Andrews and Johanneson won the primary elections for their respective parties.

Two independent candidates, Harley McLain and Don J. Klingensmith also filed before the deadline under the Chemical Farming Banned and Statesman parties respectively.