Kevin Cramer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kevin Cramer
Official portrait, 2019
United States Senator from North Dakota
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2019 Serving with John Hoeven
Preceded by	Heidi Heitkamp
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Dakota's at-large district
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Rick Berg
Succeeded by	Kelly Armstrong
Member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission
In office August 1, 2003 – December 31, 2012
Preceded by	Leo Reinbold
Succeeded by	Julie Fedorchak
Chair of the North Dakota Republican Party
In office July 1991 – May 1993
Preceded by	Layton Freborg
Succeeded by	John Korsmo
Personal details
Born	Kevin John Cramer (1961-01-21) January 21, 1961 (age 64) Rolla, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Kris Neumann ​ (m. 1986)​
Children	5
Education	Concordia College (BA) University of Mary (MA)
Website

Kevin John Cramer (born January 21, 1961) is an American politician. Since 2019, he has served as a United States senator for the state of North Dakota. A senator is a person elected to represent their state in a part of the U.S. government called the Senate.

As a member of the Republican Party, Cramer has held several important jobs. From 2013 to 2019, he represented North Dakota in the United States House of Representatives. Before that, he worked in state government, including as a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission.

Early Life and Schooling

Kevin Cramer was born in Rolla, North Dakota, on January 21, 1961. He was the oldest of five children. He grew up in the town of Kindred, North Dakota, and went to Kindred High School.

After high school, Cramer went to Concordia College in Minnesota, where he earned his first degree in 1983. Later, in 2003, he earned a master's degree from the University of Mary in North Dakota.

Career Before Congress

After college, Cramer became involved in politics. He helped with campaigns for other Republican politicians. From 1991 to 1993, he was the chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. At age 30, he was the youngest person ever to hold that job.

In 1993, North Dakota's governor appointed Cramer as the state's Tourism Director. His job was to encourage people to visit North Dakota. Later, he became the Economic Development Director, where he worked to help businesses grow in the state.

From 2003 to 2012, Cramer served on the North Dakota Public Service Commission. This group makes sure that services like electricity and telephones are safe and fair for people in the state.

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

Cramer's first official portrait as a member of Congress.

In 2012, Cramer was elected to the United States House of Representatives. The House of Representatives is another part of the U.S. government where members, called representatives, are elected to represent people from different areas of the country. Because North Dakota has a smaller population, the whole state is one district, and Cramer represented everyone in North Dakota.

He was reelected to the House in 2014 and 2016, serving a total of three terms.

Political Views as a Representative

Cramer speaking at a conference in 2013.

As a representative, Cramer was known for his conservative views. He was a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and helped write Trump's energy plan. This plan focused on using fossil fuels like oil and gas and reducing rules on energy companies.

Here are some of his key positions during his time in the House:

• Health Care: Cramer opposed the Affordable Care Act (often called "Obamacare") and voted to repeal it.
• Environment: He is known as a strong supporter of drilling for oil and gas. He does not agree with the scientific view that human activity is the main cause of climate change.
• Gun Policy: Cramer believes that new gun control laws are not the solution to preventing violence.
• Taxes: He supported President Trump's taxes on goods imported from other countries. He also voted to end the estate tax, which is a tax on the property of a person who has died.

U.S. Senate (2019–Present)

Cramer during the 116th Congress.

In 2018, Cramer decided to run for the U.S. Senate. He ran against the current senator, Heidi Heitkamp, and won the election. He became the first Republican to win that specific Senate seat for North Dakota since 1958. He was reelected to the Senate in 2024.

As a senator, Cramer serves on several important committees. Committees are small groups of senators who focus on specific topics, like the military, banking, and the environment.

Key Actions as a Senator

Cramer continued to be a strong ally of President Trump. In 2019, he was the only senator to vote against a motion to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. He did this at the request of the White House, which was concerned about the U.S. relationship with Turkey.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cramer introduced laws to stop the government from requiring people to get vaccines or wear masks.

After the 2020 presidential election, Cramer at first defended President Trump's claims that the election was unfair. He later said that the election was not stolen and that he had "moved on."

Personal Life

Cramer married his wife, Kris, in 1986. They have five children and six grandchildren. The family has faced some difficult times. Their son Isaac passed away in 2018.

Cramer is also involved in a program called Honor Flight. This program helps veterans of World War II travel to Washington, D.C., to see the memorial built in their honor.

In 2022, Cramer had a serious accident while doing yard work and injured his hand, which required surgery. In late 2023, his son Ian was involved in a tragic car accident that resulted in the death of a police officer.

Elections History

• 1996 & 1998: Cramer ran for the U.S. House of Representatives twice but lost to the incumbent, Earl Pomeroy.
• 2012: Cramer was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Democrat Pam Gulleson.
• 2014 & 2016: He was reelected to the House with large majorities.
• 2018: Cramer was elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating the incumbent, Heidi Heitkamp.
• 2024: He was reelected to the Senate, defeating Democrat Katrina Christiansen.