Kevin Cramer

Kevin Cramer
Born	Kevin John Cramer 21 1, 1961
Birthplace	Rolla, North Dakota, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Known for	U.S. Senator from North Dakota (2019–present), U.S. Representative from North Dakota (2013–2019)
Education	Concordia College (BA) University of Mary (MA)
Children	5
Website	[https://www.cramer.senate.gov/ Official site]

Kevin John Cramer (born January 21, 1961) is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from North Dakota since January 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Cramer previously represented North Dakota's at-large congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019. Before entering federal office, Cramer built a lengthy career in North Dakota state politics and government, serving as chair of the North Dakota Republican Party from 1991 to 1993, as state Tourism Director from 1993 to 1997, as state Economic Development Director from 1997 to 2000, and as a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission from 2003 to 2012. In 2018, he defeated incumbent Democratic senator Heidi Heitkamp to win his Senate seat, becoming the first Republican elected to North Dakota's Class I Senate seat since 1958. He was reelected in 2024 against Democratic nominee Katrina Christiansen. In the Senate, Cramer has focused on energy policy, agriculture, and issues of importance to North Dakota's economy, including advocacy for the state's coal and oil industries.

Early Life

Kevin John Cramer was born on January 21, 1961, in Rolla, a small city in Rolette County in the north-central part of North Dakota. He was raised in North Dakota, where he developed an early connection to the rural communities and agricultural landscape that would later define much of his political career. His father, Richard Cramer, was a figure in the local community.

Cramer grew up in an environment shaped by the values and economic realities of rural North Dakota. The state's dependence on agriculture, energy production, and small-town community life would become central themes throughout his political career. His upbringing in Rolla, situated near the Turtle Mountain area, exposed him to the diverse demographics of northern North Dakota, including a significant Native American population.

Education

Cramer attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later pursued graduate studies at the University of Mary in Bismarck, where he earned a Master of Arts degree. His educational background provided a foundation for his subsequent career in public service and politics in North Dakota.

Career

Early Political Career and State Party Leadership

Cramer's political career began in earnest when he became involved in Republican Party politics in North Dakota. In July 1991, he was elected chair of the North Dakota Republican Party, a position he held until May 1993. As state party chairman, Cramer succeeded Layton Freborg and was in turn succeeded by John Korsmo. The chairmanship gave Cramer a prominent role in organizing and directing Republican political activity across North Dakota during the early 1990s, a period when the party was working to strengthen its competitiveness in a state that had historically elected both Democrats and Republicans to statewide office.

State Government Service

Following his tenure as party chair, Cramer transitioned into state government service. From 1993 to 1997, he served as North Dakota's Tourism Director, a role in which he was responsible for promoting the state's tourism industry and attractions. In 1997, he was appointed as the state's Economic Development Director, a position he held until 2000. In this capacity, Cramer worked on initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth and business development in North Dakota, a state that faced persistent challenges related to population decline and economic diversification.

North Dakota Public Service Commission

In 2003, Cramer began serving on the North Dakota Public Service Commission, a regulatory body responsible for overseeing public utilities, pipelines, and other regulated industries in the state. He succeeded Leo Reinbold on the commission and served for nearly a decade, until December 31, 2012. His tenure on the Public Service Commission gave him significant experience in energy regulation and utility policy, areas that would become central to his later work in Congress. During his time on the commission, Cramer was involved in decisions affecting the state's burgeoning energy sector, including the rapid expansion of oil production in the Bakken formation region of western North Dakota. He was succeeded on the commission by Julie Fedorchak.

U.S. House of Representatives (2013–2019)

In 2012, Cramer ran for North Dakota's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives. He won the election and succeeded Rick Berg, who had vacated the seat to run for the U.S. Senate. Cramer took office on January 3, 2013, and served three terms in the House.

During his time in the House, Cramer established himself as a consistent supporter of the energy industry, particularly the oil and coal sectors that are significant to North Dakota's economy. He was a vocal advocate for reducing federal regulations on energy production and was among the House members who voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

As North Dakota's sole representative in the House, Cramer was responsible for representing the entire state's interests in the lower chamber of Congress. His work focused on energy policy, agriculture, and issues affecting rural communities. He served in the House until January 3, 2019, when he was succeeded by Kelly Armstrong.

U.S. Senate Campaign (2018)

In 2018, Cramer entered the race for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Democratic senator Heidi Heitkamp, who had won the seat in a narrow 2012 election. The race was considered one of the most competitive Senate contests of the 2018 midterm election cycle, as North Dakota had shifted increasingly toward the Republican Party at the federal level.

Cramer defeated Heitkamp in the November 2018 general election, winning by a substantial margin. His victory was historic: he became the first Republican to be elected to North Dakota's Class I Senate seat since 1958, breaking a long period of Democratic control of the seat.

U.S. Senate (2019–present)

Cramer was sworn in as the junior United States senator from North Dakota on January 3, 2019, succeeding Heidi Heitkamp. He serves alongside senior senator John Hoeven, also a Republican, making North Dakota's Senate delegation entirely Republican.

Energy and Environmental Policy

In the Senate, Cramer has been a prominent advocate for North Dakota's energy sector, which includes significant oil production from the Bakken formation, lignite coal mining, and a growing renewable energy industry. He has consistently pushed for policies that support fossil fuel production while opposing what he characterizes as overly burdensome environmental regulations.

In a notable example of his energy advocacy, Cramer applauded the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to repeal amendments to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) and reinstate the lignite subcategory, which provides distinct regulatory treatment for lignite coal—a resource of particular importance to North Dakota's energy economy. Cramer described the action as following through on a commitment made during President Donald Trump's second term.

However, Cramer has also demonstrated a willingness to work across party lines on certain environmental issues. In November 2025, he joined with Democratic senator Sheldon Whitehouse in urging the EPA to withdraw a proposed cancellation of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, warning that terminating the program would "undermine American competitiveness and energy leadership internationally" and drive up costs. This bipartisan effort illustrated Cramer's approach of supporting the energy industry broadly while opposing specific actions he views as harmful to American energy competitiveness.

Agriculture and Trade

As a senator from an agricultural state, Cramer has been active on trade and agricultural policy issues. In early 2025, he joined with Senator Steve Daines of Montana to urge President Trump to secure a favorable trade deal with India regarding pulse crops, which are a significant agricultural export for North Dakota farmers. Pulse crops—including lentils, peas, and chickpeas—represent an important part of North Dakota's agricultural economy, and access to the Indian market is a key concern for producers.

Financial Policy and Bipartisan Legislation

Cramer has also engaged in bipartisan legislative efforts on financial and consumer issues. In July 2025, he partnered with Democratic senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania to introduce the Payment Choice Act, a bill aimed at preserving consumer payment options. The legislation sought to ensure that consumers could continue to use cash and other forms of payment rather than being forced into exclusively digital payment systems.

2020 Presidential Transition

Following the 2020 presidential election, Cramer attracted national attention when he stated that it was "past time" to begin the presidential transition process, indicating his acceptance of the election results at a time when many Republican officials had not yet acknowledged Joe Biden's victory. The statement distinguished him from some of his Republican colleagues who were more hesitant to acknowledge the outcome of the election.

2024 Reelection

In 2024, Cramer ran for reelection to a second Senate term. He faced Democratic nominee Katrina Christiansen in the general election. Cramer won reelection, continuing to represent North Dakota in the Senate. The victory confirmed the strong Republican hold on North Dakota's federal offices.

Recent Senate Activity

Cramer has continued to be active in Senate affairs into his second term. In February 2026, he announced that North Dakota radio talk show host Scott Hennen would attend the State of the Union address as his guest, highlighting his connection to conservative media figures in the state.

Cramer has also commented on immigration enforcement issues, speaking to media about ICE operations in Minnesota and related political controversies.

Personal Life

Kevin Cramer has five children. He has resided in North Dakota throughout his career, maintaining close ties to the state he represents. His family life has been documented in various local media profiles over the years.

Cramer's personal connection to North Dakota and its communities has been a consistent theme in his political career, from his early involvement in state party politics through his tenure in the U.S. Senate. He has emphasized his roots in the state's small-town and rural culture as informing his approach to public policy.

Political Positions and Public Discourse

Cramer's political positions have generally aligned with the Republican Party's platform, particularly on issues of energy production, deregulation, and fiscal conservatism. He has been a consistent supporter of the fossil fuel industry and has opposed regulatory measures he views as detrimental to North Dakota's energy economy.

His approach to political discourse has occasionally drawn commentary. In October 2025, columnist Rob Port of The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead noted a contrast between Cramer's past objections to politicians belittling constituents and his characterization of certain protesters as "left-wing nut jobs," suggesting an evolution in the senator's rhetorical approach.

On bipartisan matters, Cramer has shown a willingness to collaborate with Democratic colleagues on specific policy areas, including the Payment Choice Act with Senator Fetterman and the greenhouse gas reporting program advocacy with Senator Whitehouse, while maintaining a generally conservative voting record.

Legacy

Kevin Cramer's career in North Dakota politics spans more than three decades, from his election as state Republican Party chairman in 1991 to his ongoing service in the United States Senate. His 2018 Senate victory was historically significant as the first Republican win for North Dakota's Class I Senate seat in sixty years, reflecting the broader political realignment of the state toward the Republican Party at the federal level.

Cramer's sustained focus on energy policy, particularly as it relates to North Dakota's oil and coal industries, has made him a notable voice in national debates over energy regulation and production. His advocacy for the lignite coal industry and the Bakken oil region has positioned him as a key figure in discussions about the future of American energy policy.

His career trajectory—from state party chairman to state government official to public service commissioner to U.S. representative to U.S. senator—illustrates a progression through multiple levels of North Dakota's political structure. His ability to win consistently in statewide elections over a period of decades reflects his standing within North Dakota's political landscape.