Dakota Territory was organized on March 2, 1861; on November 2, 1889, it was split into the states of North Dakota and
South Dakota. The
Constitution of North Dakota originally provided for the election of a governor and lieutenant governor every two years, which was changed to four years in 1964. A limit of two terms was added in 2023. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together on a
ticket, and should the office of governor become vacant, the lieutenant governor becomes governor. The term of office begins on the December 15 following the election. ==Electoral history (1950–)==