1996 North Dakota gubernatorial election

{{Short description|none}}

{{for|related races|1996 United States gubernatorial elections}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 1996 North Dakota gubernatorial election

| country = North Dakota

| type = presidential

| election_date = {{Start date|1996|11|5}}

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 1992 North Dakota gubernatorial election

| previous_year = 1992

| next_election = 2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election

| next_year = 2000

| image1 = File:SchaferEd cropped.jpg

| image_size = 150x150px

| nominee1 = Ed Schafer

| running_mate1 = Rosemarie Myrdal

| party1 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 174,937

| percentage1 = 66.2%

| image2 = 3x4.svg

| party2 = North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

| nominee2 = Lee Kaldor

| running_mate2 = Barbara Pyle

| popular_vote2 = 89,349

| percentage2 = 33.8%

| map_image = File:1996 North Dakota gubernatorial election results map by county.svg

| map_size = 250px

| map_caption = County results

Schafer: {{legend0|#e27f7f|50-60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60-70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70-80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80-90%}}

Kaldor: {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}}

| title = Governor

| before_election = Ed Schafer

| before_party = Republican Party (United States)

| after_election = Ed Schafer

| after_party = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{ElectionsND}}

The 1996 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 1996. Incumbent Republican Ed Schafer won re-election to a second term as Governor of North Dakota, defeating Democratic-NPL nominee Lee Kaldor.

Schafer became the first Republican to win reelection as governor in the state since John E. Davis in 1958, and the first Republican to ever win more than four years in the office.