Meet Kevin
“The people of our state have given me a great privilege by allowing me to serve God by serving them.”
-- Kevin Cramer: Feb. 16, 2018 - Speech announcing his candidacy for U.S. Senate
After serving three terms as North Dakota’s only Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Kevin Cramer was elected to the U.S. Senate on November 6, 2018. Cramer defeated incumbent Heidi Heitkamp by a margin of 55% to 44% despite being outspent by $25 million.
In the Senate, Cramer serves on five committees - Armed Services, Environment and Public Works, Veterans Affairs, Banking, Housing and Urban Development, and Budget.
During his time in the House of Representatives, he made constituent outreach a top priority, describing interacting with the public as “the best part of public service.” According to LegiStorm, the Capitol Hill government issues website, Cramer held the most town halls of any member of Congress.
Cramer has a distinguished career in public service. In 1991, he was elected Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party, making him the youngest member of the Republican National Committee. From 1993 to 2000, he served in Governor Ed Schafer’s cabinet, first as State Tourism Director then as State Economic Development & Finance Director. From 2000 to 2003, he was Executive Director of the Harold Schafer Leadership Foundation, which connects emerging leaders from the University of Mary in Bismarck with community business leaders. In 2003, then-Governor John Hoeven appointed Cramer to the Public Service Commission. In 2004, he was elected to the position and then re-elected in 2010.
As North Dakota Public Service Commissioner, Cramer helped oversee the most dynamic economy in the nation. He worked to ensure North Dakotans enjoy some of the lowest utility rates in the country, enhancing their competitive position in the global marketplace. An energy policy expert, Cramer understands America’s energy security is integral to national and economic security.
A strong advocate for the free market system, Cramer has a proven record of cutting and balancing budgets, encouraging the private sector through limited, common sense regulations and limited government.
Cramer has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, a master’s degree in Management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, and was conferred the degree of Doctor of Leadership, honoris causa, by the University of Mary on May 4, 2013.
He is a native of Kindred, North Dakota where he received all of his primary and secondary education. Kevin and his wife, Kris, have two adult sons, Ian and Isaac; two adult daughters, Rachel and Annie; a teenage son, Abel; and five grandchildren, Lyla, Beau, Nico, Chet, and Willa. Isaac passed away in March 2018.