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Heidi Heitkamp

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Heidi Heitkamp
Heitkamp at a West Fargo middle school in 2012
United States Senator-elect
from North Dakota
Assuming office
January 3, 2013
SucceedingKent Conrad
28th Attorney General of North Dakota
In office
December 15, 1992 – December 15, 2000
GovernorEd Schafer
Preceded byNicholas Spaeth
Succeeded byWayne Stenehjem
20th Tax Commissioner of North Dakota
In office
December 2, 1986 – December 15, 1992
GovernorGeorge Sinner
Preceded byKent Conrad
Succeeded byRobert Hanson
Personal details
Born
Mary Kathryn Heitkamp[1]

(1955-10-30) October 30, 1955 (age 68)
Mantador, North Dakota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseDr. Darwin Lange
ChildrenAli, Nathan
Alma materUniversity of North Dakota (B.A.)
Lewis and Clark College (J.D.)
WebsiteCampaign website

Mary Kathryn "Heidi" Heitkamp (born October 30, 1955) is the United States Senator-elect from the U.S. state of North Dakota. She served as the 28th North Dakota Attorney General from 1993 to 2001. Heitkamp ran on the Democratic-NPL ticket for governor in 2000, losing to John Hoeven. She considered a bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate election to replace retiring Senator Byron Dorgan,[2] but on March 3, 2010, declined the rematch against Hoeven, who was ultimately elected.[3] In November 2011, Heitkamp declared her candidacy to replace Kent Conrad as U.S. Senator from North Dakota in the 2012 election.[4] She defeated Republican Congressman Rick Berg on November 6, 2012, with Berg conceding his narrow loss the next day.[5]

Early life, education, and early career

Heitkamp was born in 1955. She earned a B.A. from the University of North Dakota and a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School. In 1980-81, she was an attorney for the United States Environmental Protection Agency.[6] After that, she was hired by the Office of the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner as an attorney.

In 1986, incumbent State Tax Commissioner Kent Conrad decided to retire in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Heitkamp ran for the position and won the statewide election with 66% of the vote against Republican Marshall Moore.[7] She served in that position until 1992.

Attorney General

In 1992, the incumbent North Dakota Attorney General, Democrat Nick Spaeth, decided to retire in order to run for Governor of North Dakota. Heitkamp ran for the position and won with 62% of the vote.[8] In 1996, she won reelection with 64% of the vote.[9]

Heitkamp's best-known achievement as Attorney General of North Dakota was to lead the state's legal efforts against tobacco companies that resulted in the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.[10]

2000 gubernatorial election

Main article: North Dakota gubernatorial election, 2000

In 2000 incumbent Republican Governor Ed Schafer decided not to seek a third term. Heitkamp ran and was unopposed in the primary. On the Republican side, John Hoeven, CEO of Bank of North Dakota, also ran unopposed. During her campaign for governor it was announced that Heitkamp had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which is now in remission. Hoeven defeated her 55% to 45%. Heitkamp won 12 of the state's 53 counties.[11]

Post-Attorney General career

Heitkamp became a member of the board of directors of the Dakota Gasification Company in 2003.[12]

Her brother, Joel Heitkamp, is a radio talk-show host and former North Dakota state senator. Heidi Heitkamp occasionally fills in for her brother as host of his program, News and Views, which is broadcast on Clear Channel stations in North Dakota.[citation needed]

2012 U.S. Senate election

Main article: United States Senate election in North Dakota, 2012

In January 2011, incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Kent Conrad announced his intent to retire instead of seeking a fourth full term in 2012.[13] On November 8, 2011, Heitkamp announced she would seek the open seat.[14] She vows to be "an independent voice."[15]

Heitkamp was attacked in commercials for accepting campaign contributions from a trial lawyer, Jack McConnell, Jr., assigned by her to help North Dakota implement its settlement with tobacco companies when she served as state attorney general. Heitkamp released an ad to respond to these allegations.[16]

Heitkamp won the November 6, 2012, Senate election by 2,994 votes, less than 1% of the ballots cast. Berg conceded the race the next day.[17] If he had not, the race could have been subject to a "demand recount" under North Dakota law, which permits candidates to demand a recount if they lose an election by more than 0.5% but less than 2% of the vote cast for the candidate receiving the most votes for the office sought. NDCC § 16.1-16-01(2)(b)[18]

Political views

Health care

Heitkamp has said the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act contains “good and bad” and “it needs to be fixed.” She criticized Rick Berg for supporting the repeal of the law, citing concerns about insurance companies denying coverage to children with preexisting conditions.[19] Berg and the NRSC argue that Heitkamp has altered her position on the health care law, citing footage of her at a 2010 rally where she called the bill “a legacy vote.”[20]

Spending

Heitkamp said she would support a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution "with exceptions" if elected. Heitkamp said such exceptions would include wartime spending, Social Security, Medicare, and a ban on tax cuts for those making more than $1 million per year.[21]

Taxes

Heitkamp announced in a campaign press release in 2012 that she supports the Buffett Rule. Heitkamp supports implementing the Buffett Rule via the Paying a Fair Share Act, which would require those making a gross income of $1,000,000 or more to pay at least a 30% federal tax rate.[22]

Energy

Heitkamp said she supports the Keystone XL pipeline because it will create jobs, decrease America's dependence on foreign oil from the Middle East, and help drive down the national debt. She also said many who oppose hydraulic fracturing have been exposed to "junk science" and do not know what it really is.[23]

Career timeline

  • Attorney, Environmental Protection Agency, 1980–81
  • Attorney, Office of the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner, 1981–86
  • North Dakota Tax Commissioner, 1986–92
  • North Dakota Attorney General, 1993–2000
  • Director, Dakota Gas, 2003–present

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Miller, Sean J. (January 7, 2010). "Heitkamp 'very interested' in rematch with Hoeven". The Hill.
  3. ^ McPike, Erin (March 3, 2010). "Heitkamp Won't Run In ND". The Hotline. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  4. ^ Daum, Kristen M (November 8, 2011). "SPECULATION NO MORE: Heitkamp announces U.S. Senate run". Flickertales from The Hill. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
  5. ^ Democrat Heidi Heitkamp defeats Republican Rick Berg to win US Senate race in North Dakota Associated Press November 7, 2012
  6. ^ Heidi Heitkamp biography at Dakota Gasification Company
  7. ^ "ND Tax Commissioner Race - Nov 08, 1988". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  8. ^ "ND Attorney General Race - Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  9. ^ "ND Attorney General Race - Nov 05, 1996". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  10. ^ "Attorneys General announce Tobacco Settlement Proposal" (Press release). Washington State Office of the Attorney General. November 16, 2998. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ "ND Governor Race - Nov 07, 2000". Our Campaigns. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  12. ^ "Showing support for breast cancer". Capital Electric Cooperative, Inc. Retrieved January 11, 2010.
  13. ^ Haga, Chuck (January 18, 2011). "Conrad's current Senate term his last". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
  14. ^ "ND Democrat Heidi Heitkamp to run for US Senate". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. November 8, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  15. ^ Camia, Catalina (November 8, 2011). "Democrats promote Heitkamp in N.D. Senate race". USA Today. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  16. ^ James Hohmann (16 August 2012). "Ryan welcomes Medicare fight--Obama defends Biden--Crossroads hits Heitkamp--First DCCC IE of the cycle--Sabato says Wisconsin Senate leans Republican". Politico.
  17. ^ http://www.dl-online.com/event/article/id/71093/
  18. ^ North Dakota Secretary of State Recount Guidelines.
  19. ^ Rachel Weiner (18 June 2012). "Heidi Heitkamp runs with Obamacare". Washington Post.
  20. ^ Toeplitz, Shira (18 June 2012). "North Dakota: New Heidi Heitkamp Spot Tackles Health Care". Roll Call. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  21. ^ [2]
  22. ^ [3]
  23. ^ [4]
Political offices
Preceded by Tax Commissioner of North Dakota
1986–1992 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Attorney General of North Dakota
1992–2000 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of North Dakota
2000 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Senator from North Dakota
(Class 1)
2012 		Most recent

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