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North Dakota Legislative Assembly Then...and Now! - 26th Legislative Assembly

The 26th Legislative Assembly of North Dakota consisted of 112 representatives and 49 senators. Of the 161 legislators, 53 were born in North Dakota and 64 in other parts of the United States.

Fifty years into statehood many laws were already established and being refined for the current economical and sociological issues. 

Political parties were not listed for many legislators in 1939.  A Bismarck Tribune article from January 4, 1939, summarized the parties.  The article read:

"The Nonpartisan League held control of North Dakota's house Wednesday, their majority of 59 to 53 over a coalition group of Democrats and Republicans established in the selection of Rep. Oscar Hagen of McKenzie county as speaker.

In the senate where a coalition of anti-Langer solons also was effected but with sufficient strength to give the group overwhelming control, preliminary organization work moved swiftly forward with a unanimous vote. The coalition had 33 of the 49 votes."

After 50 years legislator compensation remained as originally adopted in 1889 at a rate of $5 per day ($128.21 in 2014) and 10 cents per mile of travel during each legislative session.




Photos courtesy of the State Historical Society and the Legislative Council