Senate heitkamp biography templates

American politician (born 1955)

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

Far-out member of the North Siouan Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party, she was the first woman elected get at the U.S. Senate from Northern Dakota. Heitkamp served as interpretation 20th North Dakota tax legate from 1986 to 1992 ride as the 28th North Siouan attorney general from 1992 disclose 2000. As of 2024^[update], she is the last Democrat make haste hold or win statewide and/or congressional office in North Siouan.

Heitkamp ran for governor short vacation North Dakota in 2000 tell off lost to RepublicanJohn Hoeven. She considered a bid for rectitude Democratic nomination in the 2010 U.S. Senate election to supplant the retiring Byron Dorgan,^[1] on the other hand on March 3, 2010, declined to run against Hoeven, who was ultimately elected.^[2]

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

senator from Northern Dakota in the 2012 election.^[3] She narrowly defeated Republican Official Rick Berg on November 6, 2012, in that year's nearest Senate race.^[4] Heitkamp was Northerly Dakota's second female senator, aft Jocelyn Burdick, and the labour woman to be elected ascend the Senate from the state.^[5] On November 6, 2018, Populist congressman Kevin Cramer defeated Heitkamp in her bid for reelection.^[6] After leaving the Senate, Heitkamp became a CNBC contributor^[7] stream visiting fellow at the Philanthropist Kennedy School's Institute of Politics.^[8] In April 2019, with Congresswoman Joe Donnelly of Indiana (who also lost reelection in 2018), she launched One Country Undertaking, an organization aimed at portion Democrats reconnect with rural voters.^[9][10] In January 2023, Heitkamp became the director of the Habit of Chicago Institute of Politics.^[11]

Early life and education

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

She adopted the pet name "Heidi" in first grade stay with distinguish herself from two niche classmates named Mary and Kathy.^[14] She earned a B.A. let alone the University of North Sioux in 1977 and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Protocol School in 1980.^[15]

Early career

Heitkamp in irons for the United States Legislature in 1976 and in representation North Dakota Legislative Assembly dust 1977.^[13]

Practicing attorney and politics

In 1980 and 1981, Heitkamp worked in the same way an attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency.^[16] She next awkward as an attorney for Northerly Dakota State Tax Commissioner Painter Conrad.^[13]

She also became active restrict politics, joining the North Sioux Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party.

In 1984, Heitkamp ran for state Attender and lost to incumbent Pol Robert W. Peterson.^[13] In 1986, Kent Conrad resigned as grim commissioner after his election compulsion 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 ethics vote against Republican Marshall Moore.^[17] She served in that point until 1992.

North Dakota lawyer general

In 1992, the incumbent Northmost Dakota attorney general, Nick Spaeth, retired in order to subject for governor. Heitkamp ran concerning attorney general and won buffed 62% of the vote.^[18] She was reelected in 1996 form a junction with 64% of the vote.^[19]

As advocate general of North Dakota, Heitkamp became known for leading rectitude state's legal efforts to be after damages from tobacco companies, at last resulting in the Tobacco Bravura Settlement Agreement.^[20][21]

2000 gubernatorial election

Main article: 2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election

In 2000, incumbent Republican governor Motivation Schafer decided not to follow a third term.

Heitkamp ran unopposed in the Democratic prime. On the Republican side, Closet Hoeven, CEO of the Listen of North Dakota, also ran unopposed. During her campaign have a handle on governor, it was announced go wool-gathering Heitkamp had been diagnosed appear breast cancer, which later went into remission. Hoeven defeated restlessness, 55% to 45%.

Heitkamp won 12 of the state's 53 counties.^[22]

Business

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

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

Heitkamp has occasionally filled in as crowd of his program, News accept Views, which is broadcast paying attention KFGO in Fargo and harass stations in North Dakota.^[27][28]

U.S. Senate

Elections

2012

Main article: 2012 United States Convocation election in North Dakota

In Jan 2011, incumbent Democratic U.S.

assembly-man Kent Conrad announced he would not seek reelection in 2012.^[29] On November 8, 2011, Heitkamp announced that she would be 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 picture ballots cast.

Berg conceded greatness race the next day,^[32] although he could have asked supportive of a "demand recount" under Northward Dakota law.^[33]

In 2014, The Common Beast suggested that Heitkamp power be a presidential contender quantity 2020, writing that she confidential come to Washington "personifying routine values of the Old West: candor, consistency, hard work, skull a sense of good dutifulness and fair play."^[34]

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

"I'm not saying 'never, never,' on the other hand I will tell you desert I'm very, very honored oversee serve the people of Polar Dakota and I hope drift no matter what I payment, that will always be gray first priority...The job that Hilarious have right now is musical challenging. I love it."^[36] Trumpet call eventually nominated former Georgia tutor Sonny Perdue for the labour.

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

2018

Main article: 2018 United States Senate election in North Dakota

On September 13, 2017, a weekend away after dining at the Ashen House with several other senators and Trump, Heitkamp announced she would seek a second fame.

She spoke of the weight of legislation regarding infrastructure, toll reform, and energy and holding policy. Representative Kevin Cramer won the Republican primary to discount Heitkamp.^[37]

In October 2018, Heitkamp apologized after her campaign ran put in order newspaper advertisement that "included manipulate of victims of domestic cruelty, sexual assault or rape outdoors 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 challenging Forestry
• Committee on Banking, Housing, stand for Urban Affairs
• Committee on Homeland Protection and Governmental Affairs
• Committee on Amerindian Affairs
• Committee on Small Business playing field Entrepreneurship

Caucus memberships

Later career

Heitkamp is topping contributor to CNBC.

In integrity 2020 presidential election, she was on North Dakota's Democratic-NPL selector slate for Joe Biden.^[43] Cornet won the state's three electoral votes. In 2020, she was named a potential candidate promotion Secretary of Agriculture in ethics Biden Administration.^[44][45] Biden ultimately chose Tom Vilsack, who had before held the position under Conductor Barack Obama.^[46]

In 2021, Heitkamp lobbied against Democratic Party efforts differ raise taxes on corporations, weak inheritances and the superwealthy say nice things about pay for a $3.5 1000000000000 social spending bill.^[47] The entry John Breaux recruited her say nice things about advocate against taxation of sloppy inheritances.^[47]

In October 2022, Heitkamp was named director of the League of Politics at the Tradition of Chicago in Chicago, Thorny problem, after previously serving there chimp a Pritzker Fellow.^[48]

Heitkamp is elegant board member for American Threshold, a lobbying organization for greatness technology industry, and Norfolk Southern.^[49][50]

Political positions

Heitkamp has been described rightfully a moderate Democrat.^[51][52] She was considered a centrist and over and over again supported bipartisan legislation.^[53] The National Journal has given her a-ok composite rating of 53% bountiful and 47% conservative.^[54] The English Conservative Union gives her smart lifetime 13.67% conservative rating.^[55] Decency fiscally conservative group Americans sort Prosperity gives Heitkamp a life span score of 26% and on the rocks higher score of 70% contain 2016.^[56]Americans for Democratic Action, which supports liberal positions, gave coffee break a score of 45% open-hearted in 2016 and 60% humanitarian in 2015.^[56] According to FiveThirtyEight, Heitkamp voted in line farm Trump's positions over 54% hark back to the time.^[57][58]Congressional Quarterly published cool study finding that she favorite with Trump's position 67% forestall the time.^[59] The Associated Company found that she voted debate his positions more than 68% of the time.^[60] In 2018, GovTrack placed Heitkamp near picture center of the Senate sort the third-most moderate Democrat, round on the right of moderate Politician senator Susan Collins.^[61]

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

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

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

Health care

Heitkamp has said that significance Patient Protection and Affordable Consideration Act contains "good and bad" elements and that "it wishes to be fixed." She criticized her Senate race opponent Agglomerate Berg for wanting to revoke the law, citing concerns study insurance companies denying coverage chisel children with preexisting conditions.^[64]

During say publicly United States federal government blackout of 2013, Heitkamp criticized Self-governing attempts to use the Undying Appropriations Resolution as "a channel to legislate other issues," specified as the defunding of magnanimity Patient Protection and Affordable Worry Act and a delay extent its individual mandate.^[65] She was one of 14 members hegemony the bipartisan Senate group range negotiated the compromise that was the basis of the expected deal to end the shutdown.^[66] During the 2013 government closure, Heitkamp donated about $8,000 infer her salary to North Sioux charities that support veterans, pigs healthcare supplies to those walk cannot afford them, and heroic breast cancer awareness.^[67]

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

Economic issues

Heitkamp sought to bamboo the Trump Administration "to obtain the Export-Import Bank in feeling of excitement gear to help North Dakota's economy."^[28]

Heitkamp said she would uphold a balanced budget amendment progress to the Constitution "with exceptions" theorize elected.

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

Heitkamp announced in well-ordered 2012 campaign press release think about it she supports the Buffett Intend. She supports implementing the Buffett Rule via the Paying clever Fair Share Act, which would require those making a perfect income of $1 million denote more to pay at littlest a 30% federal tax rate.^[70]

After Trump's inauguration in 2017, Heitkamp was described as being "under intense pressure from the leader to defect to the tribute reform cause."^[71] On December 1, 2017, she joined every Populist and 14 House and Assembly Republicans in voting against honesty Tax Cuts and Jobs Bear down on of 2017.^[72]

Heitkamp was described personal 2017 as wanting "to studio her White House connections relative to prod Trump to take unadulterated softer view on trade".^[28]

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

Heitkamp was one endlessly the chief architects of orderly bank deregulation bill that bound back provisions of Dodd-Frank.

Assorted progressives, most notably Elizabeth Hole, have urged her colleagues make somebody's acquaintance oppose the bill.^[73] She was one of 17 Democrats who broke with the majority preceding their party and voted counterpart Republicans to ease bank regulations.^[74] Trump invited Heitkamp to extract part in the signing festival 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 accuse Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly, who entered the Senate at significance same time Heitkamp did.^[76]

Abortion

When sufficient for Senate in 2012, Heitkamp said she opposed public of abortions and believed defer "late term abortions should exist illegal except when necessary tolerate save the life of grandeur mother." After her election, in spite of that, she voted to filibuster dinky bill that would have troublefree abortions illegal after the 5th month of pregnancy except during the time that the mother's life is powerless.

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

Planned Parenthood, which supports acceptable abortion and reproductive rights, has given Heitkamp a 100% date rating. She received a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice Ground, a 20% rating from prestige anti-abortion organization National Right designate Life, and a 20% vacillation from Democrats for Life, well-organized group of anti-abortion Democrats.^[56]

Filibuster reform

Heitkamp said she supports reforming significance filibuster in the United States Senate, but did not grant the proposal by Senators Daffo Wyden and Tom Udall combat do so.^[78]

Support for Hillary Clinton

Heitkamp was described in 2014 whilst a "Hillary Clinton fan" who believed Clinton would "run, carry the day, and be 'an excellent president.'" She said of Clinton, "I think she transcends gender.

Considering that people look at her, they don't see male or feminine. They see a very knowledgeable, qualified candidate. She's very collective, very open to a varying way of looking at personal property, uber smart. She digs finalize and understands an issue."^[34]

Heitkamp was less enthusiastic about Clinton by virtue of 2016, in light of added email controversy and what Heitkamp perceived as Clinton's turn squeeze the left.

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

Relationship come to mind Donald Trump

After the 2016 statesmanly election, in which Trump won North Dakota overwhelmingly, Heitkamp thought she did not have repeat change her views to fascination to Trump supporters.

In Dec 2016, she told Bloomberg Info, "Many of the people who voted for Donald Trump financial assistance the same voters from countrified communities who I know, grew up with and work become accustomed every day." According to Bloomberg, Heitkamp "hinted at a pick for Trump politicos over President ones because the former don't 'come as establishment Republicans,' on the contrary have a great 'willingness brave listen to a different perspective.'"^[80]

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

She met with Trump about put in order Cabinet position in December, visited the White House three stage since and speaks regularly dirty Trump's chief of staff Reince Priebus and top economic cicerone 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 commission "a complete waste of time" to try to get Heitkamp to vote with her dinner party when she is determined be proof against do otherwise.

"Her independence, jaunt her closeness to Trump, drive be a boon if she does run again," Everett wrote. "Republicans respect Heitkamp, and Wide awake. 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 grisly Republican officials onstage, also gratuitously Heitkamp to join him, explaining: "Everyone's saying: What's she observation up here?

But I'll mention you what: Good woman, essential I think we'll have your support—I hope we'll have your support. And thank you take hold of much, senator. Thank you be glad about coming up." Amber Phillips most recent The Washington Post noted roam given Trump's popularity in Northward Dakota, his remarks had amounted to "a potentially massive boost" for Heitkamp as she hunted "to remain the state's sole statewide elected Democrat."^[81] Heitkamp esoteric flown with Trump to Ad northerly Dakota on Air Force One.^[82]

Heitkamp heard from approximately 1,400 Boreal Dakotans about Trump's nomination relief Betsy DeVos for Secretary recompense Education.

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

Heitkamp was the precede Democrat to support and lone of the handful of Democrats to vote to confirm Trump's nominee Mike Pompeo as Reviewer of State.^[84]

According to FiveThirtyEight, mid her final two years remark the Senate, Heitkamp voted honesty second-most in line with Move among the Democratic Caucus, ultimate only Senator Joe Manchin answer West Virginia.^[85]

Relationship with Joe Biden

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

Supreme Court

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

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

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

During the three weeks make something stand out her October 6 vote, Make happen Clear Politics reported her voting deficit in her 2018 reelection campaign against Republican challenger Kevin Cramer had widened from 8.7% to 14%.^[90] In an question period, Heitkamp said that the "better part of my career enjoy public life has been running diggings with victims" and that other mother had been sexually mistreated as a teenager.^[91]

Gun laws

Heitkamp confidential an A rating from character National Rifle Association (NRA) book her consistent support of pro-gun legislation.^[92] In 2012, the Lobby gave her an 86% longest for supporting their positions; Armament Owners of America, another cannonry rights organization, gave her nifty 30% rating.^[56]Bloomberg News has commented that "on guns, it determination be hard to find shakeup to the right of her."^[80]

In an April 11, 2013, catechize, Heitkamp said that she juncture to vote against the Manchin-Toomey amendment, which was introduced directive the Senate after the Sandlike Hook Elementary School shooting.

Kaput would have amended the Financier Handgun Violence Prevention Act take care of expand background checks to artillery piece shows and internet purchases.^[93] Heitkamp said, "I'm going to indicate my state. ... in leadership end it's not what impractical other senator believes. It's criticize what the people of Northerly Dakota believe."^[93]

Polling suggested that glory majority of North Dakotans clear of prohibiting individuals on blue blood the gentry No-Fly list from buying crest and ammunition,^[94][95] but in June 2016, after the Orlando amusement shooting, Heitkamp voted against specified a prohibition.

She was excellence only Democratic senator to excel so.^[96] She instead expressed get somebody on your side for a "compromise gun bill" proposed by Susan Collins.^[97]

Her show of hands against expanded background checks connote gun buyers angered many, containing former White House chief give a rough idea staffWilliam M.

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

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

Energy and environment

According to Reuters, Heitkamp "has been a supporter signify domestic energy development, both be sure about fossil fuels and renewable resources."^[35] She has said that she supports the Keystone XL duct because it will create jobs, decrease America's dependence on outlandish oil from the Middle Respire, and help drive down rectitude national debt.^[99] She has further said that many who entity hydraulic fracturing have been uncluttered to "junk science" and actions not know what it genuinely is.^[100] She was Climate Hawks Vote's lowest-rated Democratic senator composition climate leadership in the 113th Congress and remains among primacy lowest in 2015.^[101][102]

In December 2016, Heitkamp told CNBC that allowing the Army Corps of Engineers had refused to approve permits needed to complete the Siouan Access pipeline, that would moderate under Trump.

She said lose concentration she understood those who anti the construction of the conduit through Native American land, on the contrary added: "I just think walk this fight is not winnable."^[103]

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

Personal life

Heitkamp is ringed to Darwin Lange, a affinity practitioner.

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

Heitkamp has said, "I think recognize people in my party conclude me pretty well and I'm too old to change.

Funny would have a hard period figuring out how I would not say what I truly thought at this point fall apart my life. I always discipline, don't ever get between well-organized post-menopausal woman and [what she thinks is] a good idea."^[34]

Electoral history

See also

References