A hush fell over Stenehjem supporters at the Bismarck Municipal Country Club as news quickly spread that the Associated Press had called the race for Burgum shortly after 9 p.m.
With 207 of 432 precincts reporting, the millionaire former Microsoft executive held a 59 percent to 39 percent lead over Stenehjem, while Bismarck oilfield consultant Paul Sorum was a distant third at less than 2 percent. Complete results were not available at press time.
Burgum now emerges as the favorite in November in a state where Republicans hold every statewide elected office and voters haven’t picked a Democrat for governor since 1988.