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Before Congress, Kevin Cramer had a long career in state public service, most notably serving for nearly a decade as a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner.

As a state regulator, he was a key figure overseeing the Bakken oil boom, making him one of his state’s foremost experts on energy policy.

He served three terms as North Dakota’s sole, at-large Representative in the U.S. House before winning a high-profile Senate race in 2018.

In the Senate, he serves on two committees vital to his state: Armed Services (advocating for Minot and Grand Forks AFBs) and Environment and Public Works (advocating for energy and agriculture).

“From overseeing a state energy boom as a regulator to shaping national policy on the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, Kevin Cramer’s career has been defined by American energy.”

Kevin Cramer: An Energy Expert’s Path to the Senate

Senator Kevin Cramer has been a central figure in North Dakota politics for decades, building a career that took him from state-level regulator to the U.S. House, and ultimately to the Senate. His political identity is deeply rooted in his expertise on energy policy, which he developed during one of the most transformative economic periods in his state’s history.

Cramer’s career in public service is extensive. He served as Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party and in the governor’s cabinet as State Tourism and Economic Development Director. However, his most defining pre-congressional role was his near-decade of service on the North Dakota Public Service Commission (PSC). As a PSC commissioner, he was a key state official overseeing the massive expansion of the Bakken oil shale formation, giving him a front-row seat to the energy boom that reshaped the state’s economy.

In 2012, Cramer was elected to serve as North Dakota’s sole, at-large Representative in the U.S. House. For six years, he built a reputation as a staunch conservative and a vocal champion for the energy and agriculture sectors. In 2018, he entered a high-profile, nationally watched Senate race and successfully unseated the incumbent Democrat, Heidi Heitkamp.

In the Senate, Cramer secured committee assignments that are a perfect match for his state’s priorities. As a member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, he is a leading voice against federal environmental regulations, such as the “Waters of the U.S.” rule, and a proponent of an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy. He also serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, a critical role he uses to advocate for North Dakota’s vital military installations, including the Minot and Grand Forks Air Force Bases.

Sources Used

Ballotpedia Profile: https://ballotpedia.org/Kevin_Cramer

GovTrack.us Legislative Record: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/kevin_cramer/412555

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