Rod Grams

Rod Grams
United States Senator from Minnesota
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	David Durenberger
Succeeded by	Mark Dayton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 6th district
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Gerry Sikorski
Succeeded by	Bill Luther
Personal details
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Christine Gunhus
Alma mater	Brown College Anoka-Ramsey Community College Carroll University

Rodney Dwight "Rod" Grams (born February 4, 1948) served the state of Minnesota in both the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Early life

Grams was born in Princeton, Minnesota and attended Brown Institute, 1966–8, Anoka-Ramsey Community College, 1970–2, and Carroll College, 1974–5.

Grams spent 23 years in the field of television and radio broadcasting before launching a career in politics. From 1982 to 1991 he was the senior news anchor at KMSP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Before that, he worked as a news anchor/producer for KFBB-TV in Great Falls, Montana; WSAU-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin; and WIFR-TV in Rockford, Illinois. Prior to his years in broadcasting, Grams worked at an engineering consulting firm for seven years.

In 1985, Grams formed Sun Ridge Builders, a Twin Cities construction and residential development company, serving as its president and CEO. He was involved in architectural design and particularly interested in the use of solar energy in residential homes. Grams served in the 103rd, 104th, 105th, and 106th congresses from 1993 to 2001.

Early political career

Grams launched his political career by winning the 1992 Republican nomination in Minnesota's 6th congressional district. He defeated Democratic incumbent Gerry Sikorski in the general election. During the campaign, Grams benefited from high name recognition in the district -- from years as news anchor at KMSP-TV -- and Sikorski's involvement in the House banking scandal.

U.S. Senate

After David Durenberger announced he would not seek reelection, Grams surprised many by announcing, just months into beginning his first term in the US House, that he would run for the US Senate. However, Grams faced opposition for the Republican party endorsement from State Senator Gen Olson, Bert McKasy (former chief of staff to David Durenberger), and Doug McFarland.

During the party endorsement process, the Grams campaign closely aligned itself with supporters of Allen Quist, who was challenging incumbent Governor Arne Carlson for reelection in the 1994 Gubernatorial race. Weeks before the Republican Party's state convention, Doug McFarland dropped out of the US Senate race after endorsing Allen Quist for Governor and joining his ticket to become Quist's Lieutenant Governor running mate. Later, McFarland threw his support behind Bert McKasy in the US Senate Republican Party endorsement campaign. After numerous ballots at the convention in St. Paul, Grams won the state Republican party endorsement against State Senator Gen Olson and Bert McKasy. Grams moved on to win the Republican primary against Arne Carlson's Lieutenant Governor Joanell Dyrstad -- who had been replaced as his running mate with State Senator Joanne Benson. In the general election against DFL candidate Ann Wynia and Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley, Grams won a close election to become Minnesota's next US Senator.

Post senate career

After his 2000 re-election defeat, Grams went back into private business and in 2004 became the owner of three radio stations in Little Falls, Minnesota. Grams divorced his first wife (Lolly) and married Erikstrup-Gunhus [1] (today known as Chris Grams or Christine Gunhus). Rumors had circulated that Grams and Erikstrup-Gunhus were "personally involved" since his 1992 U.S.House campaign.[2] [3] Spouses of Members of Congress cannot draw salaries if they serve on their staff but average for a Chief of Staff to a US Senator in 2000 was $116,573.[4]

Grams attempted a political comeback in the 2006 US Senate campaign. He sought the GOP nomination for his former US Senate seat ... facing Mark Kennedy and Gil Gutknecht. However, after a poor showing early in the endorsement process [5], Grams dropped his candidacy. Grams switched his political plans and ran in the 2006 U.S. House election, challenging the incumbent Jim Oberstar in Minnesota's 8th congressional district. Oberstar defeated Grams handily.

Grams continues to stay active in politics and interested in running for public office. In 2008, Grams shared he considered challenging incumbent Norm Coleman for the Republican US Senate nomination but was too busy in his private life to make a run, stating "And my wife (Chris) would have killed me if I would have, because of some things that we're doing." [6].

However, it became unclear whether Grams would run as a Republican. In an interview, he expressed disappointment over the perceived failings of the Republican Party ... going as far as to ponder whether he can call himself a Republican or vote for party candidates anymore.[7]

Grams considered a 2010 run for Minnesota Governor stating “I’m so damn unhappy with the Republicans right now ... I’m so unhappy with the candidates that we have I could puke. I wanted to get out there and mix it up.” However, Grams has endorsed Republican Tom Emmer [8] in the 2010 party endorsement campaign for governor. [9].

Electoral history

Minnesota 8th Congressional District Election 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jim Oberstar (incumbent)	180,670	63.61
	Republican	Rod Grams	97,683	34.39

Minnesota U.S. Senate Election 2000

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mark Dayton	1,180,335	48.78
	Republican	Rod Grams (incumbent)	1,048,244	43.32
	Independence	Jim Gibson	141,146	5.83

Minnesota U.S. Senate Election 1994

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rod Grams	869,653	49.05
	Democratic	Ann Wynia	781,860	44.10
	Independence	Dean Barkley	95,400	5.38

Minnesota U.S. Senate Election 1994 - Republican Primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rod Grams	269,931	58.17
	Republican	Joanell Dyrstad	163,205	35.17
	Republican	Harold Stassen	22,430	4.83

Minnesota 6th Congressional District Election 1992

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rod Grams	133,564	44.37
	Democratic	Gerry Sikorski (incumbent)	100,016	33.23
	Reform	Dean Barkley	48,329	16.06

Minnesota 6th Congressional District Election 1992 - Republican Primary

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Rod Grams	11,818	68.62
	Republican	Jim Hillegass	5,404	31.38

Additional Resources

• The Senatorial records of Rod Grams are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress