The incumbent, Democratic-NPL Congressman Earl Pomeroy was re-elected to his fifth term, defeating Republican candidate John Dorso.

Only Pomeroy filed as a Dem-NPLer, and the endorsed Republican candidate was John Dorso, who was serving as the North Dakota House Majority Leader.

Pomeroy and Dorso won the primary elections for their respective parties.

[1] While the election was the closest for Pomeroy since 1994, Dorso was unable to defeat the four-term congressman.

[2] Two independent candidates, Jan Shelver and Kenneth R. Loughead, also sought the seat, but had little impact on the result.