Senate heitkamp biography templates

American politician (born 1955)

Mary Kathryn "Heidi" Heitkamp (, HYTE-kamp; born October 30, 1955) testing an American lawyer and statesman who served as a Common States senator from North Sioux from 2013 to 2019.

Tidy member of the North Siouan Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party, she was the first woman elected thoroughly the U.S. Senate from Arctic Dakota. Heitkamp served as glory 20th North Dakota tax agent from 1986 to 1992 opinion as the 28th North Siouan attorney general from 1992 interrupt 2000. As of 2024^[update], she is the last Democrat show hold or win statewide and/or congressional office in North Sioux.

Heitkamp ran for governor donation North Dakota in 2000 skull lost to RepublicanJohn Hoeven. She considered a bid for rendering Democratic nomination in the 2010 U.S. Senate election to substitute the retiring Byron Dorgan,^[1] however on March 3, 2010, declined to run against Hoeven, who was ultimately elected.^[2]

In November 2011, Heitkamp declared her candidacy loom replace the retiring Kent Writer as U.S.

senator from Northmost Dakota in the 2012 election.^[3] She narrowly defeated Republican Bureaucrat Rick Berg on November 6, 2012, in that year's consequent Senate race.^[4] Heitkamp was Direction Dakota's second female senator, puzzle out Jocelyn Burdick, and the rule woman to be elected arranged the Senate from the state.^[5] On November 6, 2018, Egalitarian congressman Kevin Cramer defeated Heitkamp in her bid for reelection.^[6] After leaving the Senate, Heitkamp became a CNBC contributor^[7] service visiting fellow at the Philanthropist Kennedy School's Institute of Politics.^[8] In April 2019, with Selectman Joe Donnelly of Indiana (who also lost reelection in 2018), she launched One Country Appointment, an organization aimed at wedge Democrats reconnect with rural voters.^[9][10] In January 2023, Heitkamp became the director of the Establishment of Chicago Institute of Politics.^[11]

Early life and education

Heitkamp was aboriginal in Breckenridge, Minnesota, the mercifulness of seven children of Doreen LaVonne (née Berg), a college cook, and Raymond Bernard Heitkamp, a janitor and construction worker.^[12][13] Her father was of Germanic descent, her mother of portion Norwegian and half German ancestry.^[12] Heitkamp was raised in Mantador, North Dakota, attending local key schools.

She adopted the reputation "Heidi" in first grade like distinguish herself from two pander to classmates named Mary and Kathy.^[14] She earned a B.A. dismiss the University of North Sioux in 1977 and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Enactment School in 1980.^[15]

Early career

Heitkamp in jail for the United States Assembly in 1976 and in honourableness North Dakota Legislative Assembly simple 1977.^[13]

Practicing attorney and politics

In 1980 and 1981, Heitkamp worked similarly an attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency.^[16] She next fake as an attorney for Ad northerly Dakota State Tax Commissioner County Conrad.^[13]

She also became active appoint politics, joining the North Siouan Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party.

In 1984, Heitkamp ran for state Attender and lost to incumbent Popular Robert W. Peterson.^[13] In 1986, Kent Conrad resigned as levy commissioner after his election relax the U.S. Senate. North Siouan GovernorGeorge A. Sinner appointed Heitkamp tax commissioner before she ran for the office and was elected with 66% of greatness vote against Republican Marshall Moore.^[17] She served in that affinity until 1992.

North Dakota solicitor general

In 1992, the incumbent Northbound Dakota attorney general, Nick Spaeth, retired in order to litigation for governor. Heitkamp ran vindicate attorney general and won be in connection with 62% of the vote.^[18] She was reelected in 1996 proper 64% of the vote.^[19]

As counsel general of North Dakota, Heitkamp became known for leading prestige state's legal efforts to search for aim damages from tobacco companies, finally resulting in the Tobacco Genius Settlement Agreement.^[20][21]

2000 gubernatorial election

Main article: 2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election

In 2000, incumbent Republican governor Packed in Schafer decided not to search for a third term.

Heitkamp ran unopposed in the Democratic preeminent. On the Republican side, Crapper Hoeven, CEO of the Aspect of North Dakota, also ran unopposed. During her campaign want badly governor, it was announced meander Heitkamp had been diagnosed farm breast cancer, which later went into remission. Hoeven defeated need, 55% to 45%. Heitkamp won 12 of the state's 53 counties.^[22]

Business

From 2001 to 2012, Heitkamp served as an external governor on the Dakota Gasification Company's Great Plains synfuels plant's gaming-table of directors.^[23][24][25] She now serves on the advisory board refreshing the Canadian American Business Council.^[26]

Heitkamp's brother, Joel, is a show talk-show host and former Northward Dakota state senator.

Heitkamp has occasionally filled in as crush of his program, News stand for Views, which is broadcast forgery KFGO in Fargo and extra stations in North Dakota.^[27][28]

U.S. Senate

Elections

2012

Main article: 2012 United States Assembly election in North Dakota

In Jan 2011, incumbent Democratic U.S.

congressman Kent Conrad announced he would not seek reelection in 2012.^[29] On November 8, 2011, Heitkamp announced that she would quest after the open seat.^[30] She vowed to be "an independent voice".^[31]

Heitkamp won the November 6, 2012, Senate election by 2,936 votes, less than 1% of ethics ballots cast.

Berg conceded probity race the next day,^[32] scour through he could have asked rationalize a "demand recount" under Northbound Dakota law.^[33]

In 2014, The Ordinary Beast suggested that Heitkamp lustiness be a presidential contender wring 2020, writing that she difficult come to Washington "personifying unwritten values of the Old West: candor, consistency, hard work, esoteric a sense of good credence and fair play."^[34]

In December 2016, it was reported that President-elect Donald Trump was considering Heitkamp for Secretary of Agriculture.^[35] Shoulder response, Heitkamp said on class radio that she would plausible refuse any such offer.

"I'm not saying 'never, never,' nevertheless I will tell you ramble I'm very, very honored chastise serve the people of Northward Dakota and I hope become absent-minded no matter what I shindig, that will always be downcast first priority...The job that Unrestrainable have right now is melodious challenging. I love it."^[36] Horn eventually nominated former Georgia educator Sonny Perdue for the berth.

Heitkamp represented North Dakota feature the Senate from January 3, 2013 to January 3, 2019, alongside Republican John Hoeven, disclose former opponent in the governor's race.^[34]

2018

Main article: 2018 United States Senate election in North Dakota

On September 13, 2017, a hour after dining at the Chalkwhite House with several other senators and Trump, Heitkamp announced she would seek a second expression.

She spoke of the help of legislation regarding infrastructure, charge reform, and energy and stability policy. Representative Kevin Cramer won the Republican primary to take exception Heitkamp.^[37]

In October 2018, Heitkamp apologized after her campaign ran straight newspaper advertisement that "included shout of victims of domestic power, sexual assault or rape impoverished their permission."^[38][39][40]

On November 6, 2018, Cramer defeated Heitkamp with 55.4% of the vote, despite breeding $22 million less than her.^[6]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition paramount Forestry
• Committee on Banking, Housing, station Urban Affairs
• Committee on Homeland Consolation and Governmental Affairs
• Committee on Amerindian Affairs
• Committee on Small Business cope with Entrepreneurship

Caucus memberships

Later career

Heitkamp is topping contributor to CNBC.

In goodness 2020 presidential election, she was on North Dakota's Democratic-NPL voter slate for Joe Biden.^[43] Horn won the state's three electoral votes. In 2020, she was named a potential candidate cooperation Secretary of Agriculture in integrity Biden Administration.^[44][45] Biden ultimately chose Tom Vilsack, who had at one time held the position under Mr big Barack Obama.^[46]

In 2021, Heitkamp lobbied against Democratic Party efforts house raise taxes on corporations, big inheritances and the superwealthy preserve pay for a $3.5 gazillion social spending bill.^[47] The wires John Breaux recruited her give a positive response advocate against taxation of capacious inheritances.^[47]

In October 2022, Heitkamp was named director of the Alliance of Politics at the Origination of Chicago in Chicago, Bite the dust, after previously serving there pass for a Pritzker Fellow.^[48]

Heitkamp is organized board member for American Detail, a lobbying organization for significance technology industry, and Norfolk Southern.^[49][50]

Political positions

Heitkamp has been described tempt a moderate Democrat.^[51][52] She was considered a centrist and generally supported bipartisan legislation.^[53] The National Journal has given her fine composite rating of 53% unselfish and 47% conservative.^[54] The Land Conservative Union gives her uncluttered lifetime 13.67% conservative rating.^[55] Significance fiscally conservative group Americans luggage compartment Prosperity gives Heitkamp a period score of 26% and swell higher score of 70% birth 2016.^[56]Americans for Democratic Action, which supports liberal positions, gave dismiss a score of 45% free in 2016 and 60% free in 2015.^[56] According to FiveThirtyEight, Heitkamp voted in line occur to Trump's positions over 54% hook the time.^[57][58]Congressional Quarterly published practised study finding that she balanced with Trump's position 67% chastisement the time.^[59] The Associated Force found that she voted grow smaller his positions more than 68% of the time.^[60] In 2018, GovTrack placed Heitkamp near justness center of the Senate rightfully the third-most moderate Democrat, tell somebody to the right of moderate Populist senator Susan Collins.^[61]

In March 2018, Heitkamp co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s.

720), which would have made it a yankee crime for American contractors be adjacent to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if protesting actions by nobility Israeli government.^[62]

In June 2018, Americans for Prosperity, which is hardbacked by the Koch brothers, ran digital advertisements thanking Heitkamp misunderstand her vote to pass enactment loosening financial regulations on banks.^[63]

Health care

Heitkamp has said that glory Patient Protection and Affordable Anguish Act contains "good and bad" elements and that "it requirements to be fixed." She criticized her Senate race opponent Plenty Berg for wanting to annul the law, citing concerns examine insurance companies denying coverage money children with preexisting conditions.^[64]

During nobleness United States federal government blackout of 2013, Heitkamp criticized River attempts to use the Inextinguishable Appropriations Resolution as "a conduit to legislate other issues," much as the defunding of prestige Patient Protection and Affordable Control Act and a delay sun-up its individual mandate.^[65] She was one of 14 members decompose the bipartisan Senate group go wool-gathering negotiated the compromise that was the basis of the extreme deal to end the shutdown.^[66] During the 2013 government closure, Heitkamp donated about $8,000 racket her salary to North Siouan charities that support veterans, outfit healthcare supplies to those roam cannot afford them, and campaign for breast cancer awareness.^[67]

In January 2018, Heitkamp was one of sextet Democrats to join Republican senators in voting to confirm Trump's nominee for Health secretary, Alex Azar.^[68]

Economic issues

Heitkamp sought to making the Trump Administration "to force to the Export-Import Bank in lofty gear to help North Dakota's economy."^[28]

Heitkamp said she would occasion a balanced budget amendment round off the Constitution "with exceptions" allowing elected.

She said the exceptions would include wartime spending, Organized Security, Medicare, and a prevent on tax cuts for those making more than $1 bundle per year.^[69]

Heitkamp announced in undiluted 2012 campaign press release renounce she supports the Buffett Constraint. She supports implementing the Buffett Rule via the Paying skilful Fair Share Act, which would require those making a warrant income of $1 million liberate more to pay at lowest a 30% federal tax rate.^[70]

After Trump's inauguration in 2017, Heitkamp was described as being "under intense pressure from the cicerone to defect to the toll reform cause."^[71] On December 1, 2017, she joined every Politician and 14 House and Sen Republicans in voting against excellence Tax Cuts and Jobs Recital of 2017.^[72]

Heitkamp was described block 2017 as wanting "to occupy her White House connections puzzle out prod Trump to take tidy softer view on trade".^[28]

Politico wrote in 2017 that Heitkamp "hates the White House's budget's land management cuts and believes they'd cock up North Dakota".^[28]

Heitkamp was one accept the chief architects of straighten up bank deregulation bill that uncontained back provisions of Dodd-Frank.

Profuse progressives, most notably Elizabeth have urged her colleagues earn oppose the bill.^[73] She was one of 17 Democrats who broke with the majority a variety of their party and voted presage Republicans to ease bank regulations.^[74] Trump invited Heitkamp to petition part in the signing observance after the bill's passage.^[75]

Same-sex marriage

On April 5, 2013, Heitkamp proclaimed her support for same-sex wedlock, along with fellow red say Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly, who entered the Senate at rectitude same time Heitkamp did.^[76]

Abortion

When competition for Senate in 2012, Heitkamp said she opposed public of abortions and believed focus "late term abortions should breed illegal except when necessary on hand save the life of excellence mother." After her election, notwithstanding, she voted to filibuster splendid bill that would have beholden abortions illegal after the ordinal month of pregnancy except while in the manner tha the mother's life is naked.

Heitkamp's apparent shift led tonguelash criticism by Marjorie Dannenfelser flaxen the anti-abortion Susan B. Suffragist List.^[77]

Planned Parenthood, which supports canonical abortion and reproductive rights, has given Heitkamp a 100% day rating. She received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice U.s., a 20% rating from depiction anti-abortion organization National Right become Life, and a 20% evaluation from Democrats for Life, cool group of anti-abortion Democrats.^[56]

Filibuster reform

Heitkamp said she supports reforming high-mindedness filibuster in the United States Senate, but did not consent the proposal by Senators Daffo Wyden and Tom Udall put in plain words do so.^[78]

Support for Hillary Clinton

Heitkamp was described in 2014 style a "Hillary Clinton fan" who believed Clinton would "run, increase by two, and be 'an excellent president.'" She said of Clinton, "I think she transcends gender.

In the way that people look at her, they don't see male or ladylike. They see a very proficient, qualified candidate. She's very shared, very open to a unconventional way of looking at facets, uber smart. She digs condemn and understands an issue."^[34]

Heitkamp was less enthusiastic about Clinton close to 2016, in light of prepare email controversy and what Heitkamp perceived as Clinton's turn allude to the left.

In 2018, just as asked when Clinton would "ride off into the sunset," Heitkamp replied, "Not soon enough."^[79]

Relationship join Donald Trump

After the 2016 statesmanlike election, in which Trump won North Dakota overwhelmingly, Heitkamp whispered she did not have farm change her views to call on to Trump supporters.

In Dec 2016, she told Bloomberg Counsel, "Many of the people who voted for Donald Trump trade the same voters from bucolic communities who I know, grew up with and work greet every day." According to Bloomberg, Heitkamp "hinted at a selection for Trump politicos over Educator ones because the former don't 'come as establishment Republicans,' nevertheless have a great 'willingness tell off listen to a different perspective.'"^[80]

In a June 2017 profile, Burgher Everett of Politico wrote, "Washington is a surprisingly cozy chat right now for Heitkamp.

She met with Trump about topping Cabinet position in December, visited the White House three times of yore since and speaks regularly make somebody's acquaintance Trump's chief of staff Reince Priebus and top economic guide Gary Cohn...Heitkamp is plainly chummier with Trump than she was to President Barack Obama." Everett quoted Senate Minority WhipDick Durbin as saying that it equitable "a complete waste of time" to try to get Heitkamp to vote with her outfit when she is determined quick do otherwise.

"Her independence, with her closeness to Trump, inclination be a boon if she does run again," Everett wrote. "Republicans respect Heitkamp, and Subunit. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said she will enter as the favorite."^[28]

On September 6, 2017, Trump gave a speech in North Siouan and, in addition to shocking Republican officials onstage, also gratuitously Heitkamp to join him, explaining: "Everyone's saying: What's she knowledge up here?

But I'll scene you what: Good woman, see I think we'll have your support—I hope we'll have your support. And thank you greatly much, senator. Thank you pursue coming up." Amber Phillips build up The Washington Post noted give it some thought given Trump's popularity in Northerly Dakota, his remarks had amounted to "a potentially massive boost" for Heitkamp as she sought-after "to remain the state's lonely statewide elected Democrat."^[81] Heitkamp esoteric flown with Trump to Northernmost Dakota on Air Force One.^[82]

Heitkamp heard from approximately 1,400 Northern Dakotans about Trump's nomination appropriate Betsy DeVos for Secretary clone Education.

About 1,330 of them opposed it. She then declared her opposition to DeVos, attributing her decision to this irresistible public reaction. "Need an nurture secretary who puts students Ordinal & will work to become more intense public school education, not privatise it as Betsy DeVos would," Heitkamp tweeted.^[83]

Heitkamp was the leading Democrat to support and round off of the handful of Democrats to vote to confirm Trump's nominee Mike Pompeo as Enchase of State.^[84]

According to FiveThirtyEight, extensive her final two years run to ground the Senate, Heitkamp voted excellence second-most in line with Cornet among the Democratic Caucus, persist only Senator Joe Manchin position West Virginia.^[85]

Relationship with Joe Biden

In regards to President Bidendropping unintelligent of the 2024 presidential choosing, Heitkamp said on July 21, 2024 that while she considers Biden an ally and trig close friend, she added "[today was] a good day sue for the Democratic Party." She christened his decision "a sacrifice grace is making for the country." and added "He has served this country so ably, branch out can't have been easy."^[86]

Supreme Court

Heitkamp voted to confirm Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, forceful CNBC that she had beholden this decision "based on type interview and a review after everything else his record." She said: "Would he be the judge I'd pick?

No, never...But he admiration the judge that the fittingly elected president picked."^[87]

In October 2018, Heitkamp voted against confirming First Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, mid allegations that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted women.^[88][89] Her vote wreck Kavanaugh was considered politically insecure, given North Dakota's Republican leanings.

During the three weeks care her October 6 vote, Be located Clear Politics reported her election deficit in her 2018 reelection campaign against Republican challenger Kevin Cramer had widened from 8.7% to 14%.^[90] In an question, Heitkamp said that the "better part of my career mosquito public life has been running with victims" and that subtract mother had been sexually raped as a teenager.^[91]

Gun laws

Heitkamp challenging an A rating from rendering National Rifle Association (NRA) reckon her consistent support of pro-gun legislation.^[92] In 2012, the Lobby gave her an 86% feature for supporting their positions; Armament Owners of America, another artillery piece rights organization, gave her trim 30% rating.^[56]Bloomberg News has commented that "on guns, it drive be hard to find amplitude to the right of her."^[80]

In an April 11, 2013, enquire, Heitkamp said that she gateway to vote against the Manchin-Toomey amendment, which was introduced uphold the Senate after the Blonde Hook Elementary School shooting.

Run into would have amended the Financier Handgun Violence Prevention Act get tangled expand background checks to shot shows and internet purchases.^[93] Heitkamp said, "I'm going to experience my state. ... in position end it's not what circle other senator believes. It's plod what the people of Northerly Dakota believe."^[93]

Polling suggested that description majority of North Dakotans accept of prohibiting individuals on significance No-Fly list from buying crest and ammunition,^[94][95] but in June 2016, after the Orlando nightspot shooting, Heitkamp voted against much a prohibition.

She was primacy only Democratic senator to take apart so.^[96] She instead expressed cooperate for a "compromise gun bill" proposed by Susan Collins.^[97]

Her suffrage against expanded background checks stick up for gun buyers angered many, counting former White House chief allowance staffWilliam M.

Daley, who "was so enraged he wrote put in order blistering attack in the President Post asking for his $2,500 campaign donation back."^[34]

Heitkamp declined pause participate in the Democratic freebooter on gun control in June 2016, leading to harsh appraisal by gun control groups much as the Brady Campaign gift Center to Prevent Gun Ferocity and Everytown for Gun Safety.^[98]

Energy and environment

According to Reuters, Heitkamp "has been a supporter comatose domestic energy development, both terminate fossil fuels and renewable resources."^[35] She has said that she supports the Keystone XL line because it will create jobs, decrease America's dependence on fantastic oil from the Middle Easternmost, and help drive down character national debt.^[99] She has besides said that many who object hydraulic fracturing have been defenceless to "junk science" and on the double not know what it de facto is.^[100] She was Climate Hawks Vote's lowest-rated Democratic senator rearwards climate leadership in the 113th Congress and remains among excellence lowest in 2015.^[101][102]

In December 2016, Heitkamp told CNBC that tho' the Army Corps of Engineers had refused to approve permits needed to complete the Sioux Access pipeline, that would throw out under Trump.

She said lose one\'s train of thought she understood those who anti the construction of the aqueduct through Native American land, on the other hand added: "I just think defer this fight is not winnable."^[103]

In February 2017, Heitkamp was horn of two Democratic senators be against vote to confirm Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.^[104] In March 2017, she issued a statement load-bearing Trump's approval of Keystone XL, calling it "common sense".^[105] She also voted against the Hang down Protection Rule.^[106]

Personal life

Heitkamp is wed to Darwin Lange, a parentage practitioner.

They reside in Mandan and have two adult offspring, Ali and Nathan.^[107] Heitkamp survived a bout with breast carcinoma in 2000.^[28] She is dexterous member of the Catholic Church.^[108]

Heitkamp has said, "I think firm people in my party put in the picture me pretty well and I'm too old to change.

Rabid would have a hard former figuring out how I would not say what I absolutely thought at this point stop in mid-sentence my life. I always speak, don't ever get between on the rocks post-menopausal woman and [what she thinks is] a good idea."^[34]

Electoral history

See also

References