Reconciliation cannot be used to pass comprehensive health care reform. It won't work because it was never designed for that kind of significant legislation; it was designed for deficit reduction.

) 61%
Duane Sand (R) 38%


2006

Kent Conrad (D) (inc. Dorgan won the Democratic primary election. He has voted against Republican proposals to repeal the estate and alternative minimum taxes.

Conrad said in a statement that it was more important that "I spend my time and energy trying to focus on solving the nation's budget woes than be distracted by another campaign. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. On January 18 2011 Conrad announced that he would not run for re-election in 2012 but will instead retire.