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Kevin Cramer
Kevin John Cramer (born January 21, 1961) is an American politician who has served as the junior United States senator for North Dakota since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he represented North Dakota's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019.
Cramer chaired the North Dakota Republican Party from 1991 to 1993 and served as state Tourism Director from 1993 to 1997 and state Economic Development Director from 1997 to 2000. He was on the state Public Service Commission from 2003 to 2012. In 2012, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2018, he defeated Senator Heidi Heitkamp to win his first Senate term, becoming the first Republican to be elected to North Dakota's Class I Senate seat since 1958. He was reelected in 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Katrina Christiansen.
Cramer was born in Rolla, North Dakota, on January 21, 1961, the first of five children of Clarice (Hjelden) and Richard Cramer. He grew up in Kindred, North Dakota, and graduated from Kindred High School. He received a B.A. degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1983. He earned a master's degree in management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota in 2003.
After college, Cramer campaigned for Scott Hove, the Republican-endorsed tax commissioner candidate, in 1984. In 1986, he campaigned for U.S. Senator Mark Andrews in his bid for reelection. Andrews narrowly lost to North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party U.S. Senator Kent Conrad. Cramer then worked for the state Republican Party.
Cramer served as chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party from 1991 to 1993. At 30, he was the youngest person to be named state party chairman. In May 1993, Governor Ed Schafer appointed Cramer state tourism director. Cramer was preceded by Jim Fuglie and succeeded by Bob Martinson. He served in the position until he was appointed Economic Development Director in June 1997. Cramer was preceded by Chuck Stroup and succeeded by Lee Peterson in December 2000 as the director. After a stint as director of economic development, Cramer became director of the Harold Schafer Leadership Foundation in 2000. He served in the position until 2003.
In 2003, Governor John Hoeven appointed Cramer to the North Dakota Public Service Commission. He was elected to a six-year term on the commission in 2004, defeating NPL nominee Ron Gumeringer, 65–35%.
In 2010, Cramer was reelected to the Public Service Commission, defeating Democratic nominee Brad Crabtree, 61–35%. He served on the commission until 2012.
In 1996, House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas—a North Dakota native—persuaded Cramer to challenge Democratic U.S. Congressman Earl Pomeroy for North Dakota's at-large congressional seat. Pomeroy defeated him, 55%–43%.
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Kevin Cramer
Kevin John Cramer (born January 21, 1961) is an American politician who has served as the junior United States senator for North Dakota since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he represented North Dakota's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019.
Cramer chaired the North Dakota Republican Party from 1991 to 1993 and served as state Tourism Director from 1993 to 1997 and state Economic Development Director from 1997 to 2000. He was on the state Public Service Commission from 2003 to 2012. In 2012, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2018, he defeated Senator Heidi Heitkamp to win his first Senate term, becoming the first Republican to be elected to North Dakota's Class I Senate seat since 1958. He was reelected in 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Katrina Christiansen.
Cramer was born in Rolla, North Dakota, on January 21, 1961, the first of five children of Clarice (Hjelden) and Richard Cramer. He grew up in Kindred, North Dakota, and graduated from Kindred High School. He received a B.A. degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1983. He earned a master's degree in management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota in 2003.
After college, Cramer campaigned for Scott Hove, the Republican-endorsed tax commissioner candidate, in 1984. In 1986, he campaigned for U.S. Senator Mark Andrews in his bid for reelection. Andrews narrowly lost to North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party U.S. Senator Kent Conrad. Cramer then worked for the state Republican Party.
Cramer served as chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party from 1991 to 1993. At 30, he was the youngest person to be named state party chairman. In May 1993, Governor Ed Schafer appointed Cramer state tourism director. Cramer was preceded by Jim Fuglie and succeeded by Bob Martinson. He served in the position until he was appointed Economic Development Director in June 1997. Cramer was preceded by Chuck Stroup and succeeded by Lee Peterson in December 2000 as the director. After a stint as director of economic development, Cramer became director of the Harold Schafer Leadership Foundation in 2000. He served in the position until 2003.
In 2003, Governor John Hoeven appointed Cramer to the North Dakota Public Service Commission. He was elected to a six-year term on the commission in 2004, defeating NPL nominee Ron Gumeringer, 65–35%.
In 2010, Cramer was reelected to the Public Service Commission, defeating Democratic nominee Brad Crabtree, 61–35%. He served on the commission until 2012.
In 1996, House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas—a North Dakota native—persuaded Cramer to challenge Democratic U.S. Congressman Earl Pomeroy for North Dakota's at-large congressional seat. Pomeroy defeated him, 55%–43%.
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