Welfare reform happened with reconciliation; half the Democrats voted for it. The Bush tax cuts happened with reconciliation; twelve Democratic Senators voted for it. You didn't have a real partisan issue on those times that it was used.

) 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.