Kent Conrad
U.S. Senator
Democrat, North Dakota
- Date of Birth: March 12, 1948
- Birthplace: Bismarck, N.D.
- First Elected: 1986
Committee Assignments:
Joint Committee on Taxation, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Senate Committee on Finance, Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senate Committee on the Budget, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
A former tax commissioner and chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Democrat Kent Conrad has been dubbed “the statistician” for his number-crunching and fiscal know-how. Having served in the Senate since 1986, Conrad has made balancing the budget a key priority. He fiercely opposed President George W. Bush’s economic policies and sparred with President Barack Obama over the federal budget. Conrad has championed agriculture, healthcare reform, and sweeping energy legislation.
Conrad earned his seat in 1986 when he defeated long-term Republican incumbent Mark Andrews, who had served for more than 20 years. Earlier, Conrad spent six years as his North Dakota’s tax commissioner and half a decade in the tax office under previous commissioner Byron Dorgan, now a fellow North Dakota senator.
Born in Bismarck, N.D. as a fifth generation resident of his state, Conrad was raised by grandparents after his mother and father were killed in a car accident when he was 5. He is married to Lucy Calautti, a former Dorgan aide, and has one daughter from an earlier marriage. Conrad holds a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from George Washington University.
Campaign Fundraising
2005 - Present| Top 5 Organizations | PACs | Individuals | Total |
| DaVita Inc | $15,000 | $32,900 | $47,900 |
| Amgen Inc | $6,000 | $37,000 | $43,000 |
| Law Offices of Peter G Angelos | $0 | $42,300 | $42,300 |
| Baron & Budd | $0 | $40,330 | $40,330 |
| Robins, Kaplan et al | $0 | $38,800 | $38,800 |
| Top 5 Industries | PACs | Individuals | Total |
| Insurance | $42,000 | $12,700 | $54,700 |
| Securities & Investment | $15,500 | $36,400 | $51,900 |
| Health Professionals | $39,500 | $1,000 | $40,500 |
| Oil & Gas | $13,000 | $25,850 | $38,850 |
| Hospitals & Nursing Homes | $18,500 | $16,450 | $34,950 |
Kent Conrad in the News
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Roff: Harry Reid Put Party First With Debt 'Super Committee' Picks
August 15, 2011
There's a conflict of interest with Majority Leader Reid's pick for chair of the deficit "super committee." -
Can 'Gang of Six' Save the Day on Debt Ceiling?
July 19, 2011
The Gang of Six senators have shown up to save the day, but it may be too late to act on their plan. - Shocker: Liberals At Fargo Forum Cheer Democrat House Candidate For years "Team North Dakota" - the label used by Democrat Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan along with Rep. Earl Pomeroy to describe themselves - dominated North Dakota's political scene to the point where their re-election in cycle after…
- Joint energy conference planned for November The Great Plains and EmPower ND Energy Expo combines two events that had been planned separately by the offices of Gov. Jack Dalrymple and Sen. Kent Conrad. The governor's office announced in August the EmPower ND conference, to be held…
- North Dakota Commerce Department Applying Obamanomics To Ethanol The ethanol industry in North Dakota has been busy ingratiating themselves with the state's congressional delegation, with Rep. Rick Berg, Senator Kent Conrad and Senator John Hoeven all announcing having received "awards" by Growth Energy, a pro-ethanol group. This sort…
