Bismarck, N.D. (AP) The Libertarian party is eligible to place candidates on the 2016 statewide ballot after one of its candidates got more than 5 percent of the vote in the race for secretary of state.
Roland Riemers got 5.3 percent of the vote Tuesday in the race that was won by incumbent Al Jaeger.
State law says a political party must get at least 5 percent of the total votes cast to be placed on the next election's ballot.
Jaeger says it's the first time in at least 20 years that a third party could automatically be placed on the ballot for exceeding the 5 percent requirement.
Riemers is a Grand Forks resident and longtime political candidate. He's also run for the U.S. Senate and the North Dakota legislature.