Three-vote difference

Who says one vote doesn’t matter? With just three votes separating the two candidates, Hettinger County will await the official canvassing of ballots before being certain who will serve the county as sheriff.
The unofficial election results showed incumbent Sheriff Sarah Warner retaining her position over challenger Anthony Awender, with 513 votes for Warner and 510 votes for Awender.
Some 1,024 total votes were cast in the race for sheriff, with one write-in vote. That compares to the 1,042 total ballots cast in the Hettinger County election. The race for sheriff garnered more votes than any of the other races at the county level.
As it stands unofficially, the race does not meet the standards for an automatic recount, but Awender may be able to request a recount within three days of the canvassing board meeting, which will take place on Monday, Nov. 16, when official election results will be available, according to Hettinger County Auditor/Treasurer Cameo Frieze.
The canvass is a post-election process that aggregates and confirms that all valid ballots cast in the election are accurately counted and included in the final election results. Until canvassing is complete and election results are certified, all results are unofficial.
Voters cast their ballots in the Nov. 3 general election to decide statewide races, legislative races and fill county government seats, along with deciding on a county measure. (See related story on the measure.)
The only contested Hettinger County race was to serve as sheriff, with the two candidates on the ballot. Warner, who has served as sheriff for 16 years, was being challenged by Awender, who has served as a deputy with the Stark County Sheriff’s Office since 2020.
“I’m not drawing any conclusions until the results are official on Nov. 16,” Warner told the Hettinger County Herald. “I’m committed to the citizens of Hettinger County to continue my duties of sheriff every day.”
“As we await the official results on November 16, 2026, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me throughout this election. Your trust, encouragement and kind words have meant so much to me. With just three votes currently separating the candidates, this election reminds us that every single vote counts. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and make your voice heard,” Warner posted on her candidate Facebook page.
“I am glad I took this opportunity as I was able to meet and talk with so many people I didn’t know before. To everyone that voted whether for me or Sarah, thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to vote,” Awender posted on his candidate Facebook page.
With a 52.55% voter turnout, Hettinger County tallied 1,042 votes out of the 1,983 eligible voters.
Among the other candidates on the county ballot:
• Incumbent Devan Laufer was reelected to the District 2 county commission seat with 900 votes.
• Frieze was elected to the county auditor/treasurer position with 939 votes. She had been appointed auditor/treasurer as of May 1 in preparation for the retirement of Jeri Schmidt in August.
• David Crane was reelected as state’s attorney with 889 votes.
• Robin Ulrich was reelected as county recorder/clerk of court with 913 votes.
• The Hettinger County Herald was named the official county newspaper with 937 votes.
• Keith Witte received 945 votes as supervisor to the Slope Hettinger Soil Conservation District board.
In the District 31 legislative races, voters returned Republican incumbent Don Schaible to the N.D. Senate with 4,892 votes across the district. Incumbents Dawson Holle, with 3,138 votes, and Karen Rohr, with 3,016 votes, were returned as state representatives in District 31.
In District 39, Republican Greg Kessel received 4,973 votes. For state representative in District 39, Republicans Mike Schatz, with 4,193 votes, and Keith Kempenich, with 3,818 votes, were seated.
In Congressional, statewide and justice races, Hettinger County voters followed the statewide vote.
Hettinger County voters cast 528 “yes” votes on statewide Measure No. 1, compared to 482 “no” votes. That measure failed statewide.
On Measure No. 2, Hettinger County voters followed the statewide vote, with 676 “no” votes and 345 “yes” votes.