FARGO - Wayne Sanstead, North Dakota's school superintendent for almost two decades, was rebuffed Saturday in a bid for Democratic support for his sixth term. He said he was likely to run for re-election anyway.

Max Laird, a Grand Forks teacher and former president of the North Dakota Education Association, defeated Sanstead 455-387 at the state Democratic convention here.

Separately, delegates at the state Democratic convention here endorsed Terry Barnes, a Mandan auto glass shop owner, to run for insurance commissioner. He had no opposition.

Barnes said he had turned over his business to his wife and daughter to campaign full-time for the insurance regulator's position. An avid auto racer, Barnes sprinkled his acceptance speech with racing metaphors.

"When I get into my car and I turn that switch on, I go out to win. And I'm going to win this," Barnes said. "I'll be having a great time this summer, getting everything ready to clean up the mess up there."

Dean Meyer, a rural Dickinson rancher and former state senator, defeated Mark Haugen, a Bismarck paramedic instructor, for the endorsement for state treasurer. Democrats want to keep the office in their party's hands when the incumbent, Kathi Gilmore, leaves office after 12 years.

Meyer promised to fight any efforts to eliminate the treasurer's office, which has survived recent attempts to abolish it at the polls.

"The Republicans want to get rid of the treasurer's office. I don't think that's right, but I'll tell you what we need to get rid of," Meyer said. "We need to get rid of a president that talks about No Child Left Behind, when he can barely speak English."

No Child Left Behind is a new federal education law, championed by President George W. Bush that includes new academic standards for teachers and testing regimens for students.

During a day when Democrats were concentrating on picking the party's candidate for governor, the Laird-Sanstead vote was startling.

Laird has been critical of the requirements of No Child Left Behind - saying states do not have sufficient discretion in implementing its goals - and of the state Department of Public Instruction's efforts to implement it.

"I think we're at a point in history where we really need to be more aggressive than the state has been in the past about issues of education," Laird said. "I'm just offering a different look."

Sanstead said he was likely to seek another term in any case. Laird said he expected Sanstead to enter the race.

"I still enjoy the work, enjoy the office and believe the public is on my side," Sanstead said. "That makes it pretty evident that I feel I probably have an obligation."

Both Democrats and Republicans bestow letters of support on candidates for superintendent of public instruction, which is officially a nonpartisan race.

All candidates for the job appear on the same column on the statewide ballot. The top two finishers in June's primary election will advance to the November general election.

Unlike convention endorsements, letters of support do not guarantee a candidate a spot on North Dakota's ballot. Candidates for superintendent of public instruction still must gather petition signatures to qualify.

Laird had planned to ask for the GOP letter of support as well but said Saturday he has reconsidered. North Dakota Republicans, who also are having their convention this weekend, will choose their favored candidate for superintendent of public instruction today in Bismarck.

Afterward, Laird described himself as "still a bit stunned," and Sanstead conceded that Saturday's results surprised him.

"I worked hard and was out there night and day. I've done my level best. I kind of thought that folks would understand that," Sanstead said. "I would not have expected in my wildest imagination that I could have lost."

He attributed his loss to discontent over the new federal education law.

"You can't be a leader that long and not have built some opposition, and certainly the federal legislation - not my doing, I hasten to add - but the federal legislation has clearly made a major difference in people's thinking," Sanstead said.

Laird said the Democratic letter of support established his credibility as a statewide candidate.

"It's very difficult to step over incumbency in any election," Laird said. "When we came into this, all we knew was, we would work hard. We intended to work very hard and find support in every delegation that we could, and hoped they would spread the word."