Kevin Cramer

Kevin Cramer
US Senate Photography Studio · Public domain · source
Name	Kevin Cramer
State	North Dakota
Term start	January 3, 2019
Preceded	Heidi Heitkamp
State1	North Dakota
District1	At-large
Term start1	January 3, 2013
Term end1	January 3, 2019
Preceded1	Rick Berg
Succeeded1	Kelly Armstrong
Office2	North Dakota Public Service Commission
Term start2	2003
Term end2	2012
Governor2	John Hoeven, Jack Dalrymple
Preceded2	Bruce Hagen
Succeeded2	Brian Kalk
Birth date	21 January 1961
Birth place	Rolette, North Dakota, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Kris Cramer, 1984
Education	Concordia College (BA), University of Mary (MA)
Website	cramer.senate.gov

Kevin Cramer is an American politician serving as the junior senator from North Dakota since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the U.S. representative for North Dakota's at-large congressional district from 2013 to 2019. Cramer's political career also includes service on the North Dakota Public Service Commission and as an advisor to Governor John Hoeven.

Early life and education

Kevin Cramer was born in Rolette, North Dakota, and raised in the nearby small town of Kindred. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He later received a Master of Arts in management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. His early professional experience included work in development and marketing for the University of Mary and as the director of the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Early career

Before holding elected office, Cramer held several roles in North Dakota state government and politics. He served as the state director for Congressman John Hoeven and later as executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party. In 1996, he was appointed by Governor Ed Schafer as the state's Tourism Director. Cramer first sought federal office in 1996, running unsuccessfully for the United States House of Representatives against incumbent Democrat Earl Pomeroy.

U.S. House of Representatives

Cramer was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2012, winning the open seat vacated by Republican Rick Berg. He served on several influential committees, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. During his tenure, he was a strong advocate for energy development, particularly supporting the Keystone Pipeline and Bakken region oil production. He also served as a deputy whip for the House Republican Conference.

U.S. Senate

In 2018, Cramer defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp in the Senate election. Upon joining the United States Senate, he was assigned to the Senate Banking Committee, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, and the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He has been a consistent supporter of the legislative agenda of President Donald Trump.

Political positions

Cramer is a staunch conservative with positions strongly aligned with the national Republican platform. He is a proponent of fossil fuel development and has questioned the scientific consensus on climate change. He supports restrictive immigration policies, including funding for a border wall. Cramer is anti-abortion and has a high rating from the National Right to Life Committee. He voted to acquit Donald Trump in both impeachment trials and opposed certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election in some states.

Personal life

Cramer married his wife, Kris, in 1984, and they have five children. The family resides in Bismarck, North Dakota. He is a member of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and has been open about his Christian faith influencing his political views. In 2020, he published a book titled "The Grizzly in the Driveway: The Return of Bears to a Crowded American West," co-authored with Montana writer Robert Chaney.

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota Category:United States senators from North Dakota Category:North Dakota Republicans Category:Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) alumni Category:University of Mary alumni