Senator Kevin Cramer

Kevin Cramer is the junior United States senator from North Dakota, serving since 2019. Before his election to the Senate, he represented North Dakota’s at large congressional district in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2019, after building a long resume in state level economic and regulatory roles.

A North Dakota native, Cramer was born in Rolla and raised in Kindred. He earned a BA from Concordia College in 1983 and later completed a master’s degree in management at the University of Mary in 2003. Early in his career, he worked in party politics, served as chair of the North Dakota Republican Party, and held executive posts in state tourism and economic development before moving into elected office.

Cramer’s governing identity is closely tied to energy production, pipeline politics, and a broad pro industry approach to regulation. In Congress he has consistently argued for expanding domestic oil and gas output, pushing back on EPA rules, and framing national climate debates through the lens of jobs, affordability, and North Dakota’s resource economy, while also leaning into agriculture and rural infrastructure priorities.

Politically, he is a strong Trump aligned Republican and a dependable party line vote on taxes, health care, and judicial confirmations. Supporters see him as a direct advocate for energy workers and farm country. Critics argue his record is too partisan and too closely aligned with fossil fuel and national conservative interests, particularly on climate, health policy, and cultural issues.

Right Wing Populist