Kevin Cramer

Cramer was born in Rolla, North Dakota, on January 21, 1961, the first of five children of Clarice (Hjelden) and Richard Cramer.{{congbio|id = C001096|inline = yes}}{{cite web|url=http://boulgerfuneralhome.com/obituaries/richard-cramer/|title=Richard Cramer|website=Boulger Funeral Home|date=8 March 2015 |access-date= October 10, 2018}} He was raised in Kindred, North Dakota, in Cass County, and graduated from Kindred High School. He received a B.A. degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1983. He earned a master's degree in management from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://kevincramer.org/meetkevin/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723222633/http://kevincramer.org/meetkevin/ |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |title=Meet Kevin|website=kevincramer.org |access-date=February 9, 2018}}

After college, Cramer campaigned for the Republican-endorsed tax commissioner candidate Scott Hove in 1984.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Alexandra |title=Person Behind The Politico With Kevin Cramer |url=https://www.fargomonthly.com/kevin-cramer/ |access-date=November 9, 2018 |work=Fargo Monthly |date=September 2018 |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020135727/https://www.fargomonthly.com/kevin-cramer/ |url-status=dead }} In 1986, he campaigned for U.S. Senator Mark Andrews in his bid for reelection. Andrews narrowly lost to North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party U.S. Senator Kent Conrad. Cramer went to work for the state Republican Party.{{cite news |last1=Jean |first1=Renée |title=Cramer talks about his campaign for North Dakota's U.S. Senator |url=https://www.willistonherald.com/news/cramer-talks-about-his-campaign-for-north-dakota-s-u/article_c3723e18-d3b0-11e8-b241-e34644e43df4.html |access-date=November 9, 2018 |work=Williston Herald |date=October 19, 2018}}

Cramer served as chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party from 1991 to 1993. At age 30, he was the youngest person to be named state party chairman.

In May 1993, Republican Governor Ed Schafer appointed Cramer state Tourism Director. Cramer was preceded by Jim Fuglie{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/346753513/|title=GOP chairman to head tourism|work=The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com |date=May 29, 1993|access-date=October 10, 2018|url-access=subscription }} and succeeded by Bob Martinson.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/347232853/?terms=Martinson+Cramer |title=New tourism director appointed|work=The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com |date=October 15, 1997|access-date=October 10, 2018|url-access=subscription }} He served in the position until he was appointed Economic Development Director in June 1997. Cramer was preceded by Chuck Stroup{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/347242997/?terms=Kevin+Cramer+Economic+Development+Director+Stroup |title=Cramer, former aide clash|work=The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com |date=July 7, 1997| access-date=October 10, 2018|url-access=subscription }} and succeeded by Lee Peterson in December 2000 as the director.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/346245550/?terms=Cramer+Peterson+Economic |title=Hoeven mixes old faces, new in first round of appointments |work=The Bismarck Tribune at Newspapers.com |date=December 9, 2000|access-date=October 10, 2018|url-access=subscription }}{{cite news |title=Minot Daily News endorses Kevin Cramer |url=http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2018/11/minot-daily-news-endorses-kevin-cramer/ |access-date=November 9, 2018 |work=Minot Daily News |date=November 4, 2018}}

Following his stint as director of economic development, Cramer became director of the Harold Schafer Leadership Foundation in 2000. He served in the position until 2003.

In 2003, Governor John Hoeven appointed Cramer to the Public Service Commission.{{Cite web|url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/election2010/public-service-commission---kevin-cramer/article_5a6b2460-9c0b-11df-b0fc-001cc4c03286.html|title=Public Service Commission - Kevin Cramer|work=The Bismarck Tribune|date=July 30, 2010}} He was elected to a six-year term on the Public Service Commission in 2004, defeating NPL nominee Ron Gumeringer, 65–35%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=179384 |title=ND Public Service Commissioner Race |work=Our Campaigns |date=November 2, 2004 |access-date=January 8, 2017}}

In 2010, Cramer was reelected to a second term on the Public Service Commission, defeating Democratic nominee Brad Crabtree 61–35%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=656954 |title=ND Public Service Commissioner Race - Nov 02, 2010 |work=Our Campaigns |access-date=January 8, 2017}} He served on the commission until 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/north-dakota-senate-race-could-come-down-fossil-fuels|title=North Dakota Senate Race Could Come Down to Fossil Fuels|first1=Jeremy|last1=Dillon|date=September 21, 2018|work=Roll Call|access-date=September 24, 2020|archive-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204015740/https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/north-dakota-senate-race-could-come-down-fossil-fuels|url-status=dead}}

File:Kevin Cramer, official portrait, 113th Congress.jpg]]

In 1996, House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas—a North Dakota native—persuaded Cramer to challenge Democratic U.S. Congressman Earl Pomeroy for North Dakota's at-large congressional seat. Pomeroy defeated him, 55%–43%.{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=29648 |title=ND At-Large Race|date=November 5, 1996 |work=Our Campaigns |access-date=January 8, 2017}}

In 1998, Cramer challenged Pomeroy again. Pomeroy won, 56%–41%.{{cite web |url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=30807 |title=ND At-Large Race|date=November 3, 1998 |work=Our Campaigns |access-date=January 8, 2017}}

On January 14, Cramer announced that he would run for North Dakota's seat in the United States House of Representatives for a third time in the 2010 election.{{Cite web |url=http://www.valleynewslive.tv/artman2/publish/local_regional_news/15885.shtml |title=Archived copy|work=Valley News Live |access-date=2010-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180335/http://www.valleynewslive.tv/artman2/publish/local_regional_news/15885.shtml |archive-date=2018-02-10 |url-status=dead }} In early 2010, he appeared at North Dakota town hall meetings, where he opposed the Affordable Care Act.{{cite web|url=http://bulletin.aarp.org/states/nd/2010/4/articles/town_hall_focuses_health_care.html |title=Daily News - Health, Money, Social Security, Medicare, Politics - Bulletin Today |website=Bulletin.aarp.org |date=January 4, 2017|access-date=January 8, 2017}} Cramer attended numerous Tea Party rallies in North Dakota, speaking about energy, taxes, jobs and the U.S. Constitution.{{cite web|url=http://www.kevincramer.org/news.asp?seq=46 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029192136/http://www.kevincramer.org/news.asp?seq=46 |archive-date=2010-10-29 |title=Kevin Cramer for North Dakota Public Service Commission (ndpsc) Re Election Campaign 2010 NDGOP Republican (kevincramer.org) |access-date=2018-02-09}}{{better source needed|date=December 2019}} At the state Republican Party convention in March 2010, former House Majority Leader Rick Berg won the Republican congressional nomination; Berg was elected to Congress in November.{{cite web |title=Berg lands Republican nomination for the House |url=https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/1756403-berg-lands-republican-nomination-house |work=The Jamestown Sun |publisher=Jamestown Sun and Forum Communications Company |date=March 22, 2010|access-date=February 9, 2020}}

{{Main|2012 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota}}

In 2012, Berg retired in order to run for the U.S. Senate. Cramer decided to run for the seat a fourth time.

Various national conservative groups, include FreedomWorks and the Club for Growth, endorsed Cramer, while Berg endorsed Cramer's rival, fellow Public Service Commissioner Brian Kalk.{{cite web|first=Shira T.|last=Center|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/north-dakota-rick-berg-backs-brian-kalk-for-his-house-seat|title=North Dakota: Rick Berg Backs Brian Kalk for His House Seat|work=Roll Call|date=June 5, 2012|access-date=September 24, 2020}} In the Republican primary election in June 2012, Cramer received 54,405 votes (54%) to Kalk's 45,415 (45%).{{cite web|url=http://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?eid=33&text=Race&type=SW&map=CTY|title=Official Results Primary Election - June 12, 2012|publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State|access-date=September 24, 2020}}

In the November 2012 general election Cramer defeated Democratic-NPL State Representative Pam Gulleson, with 173,585 votes (55%) to Gulleson's 131,870 (42%). Libertarian Party candidate Eric Olson received about 3% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?eid=35&text=Race&type=SW&map=CTY|title=Official Results General Election - November 6, 2012|publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State|access-date=September 24, 2020}} He was sworn in on January 3, 2013.{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Smith|url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/heidi-heitkamp-kevin-cramer-sworn-into-office/article_6a85de4e-55fe-11e2-b386-0019bb2963f4.html|title=Heidi Heitkamp, Kevin Cramer sworn into office|work=The Bismarck Tribune|date=January 3, 2013}}

{{Main|2014 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota}}

In 2014 Cramer ran for reelection and was unopposed in the Republican primary.{{cite web|url=http://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?eid=120&text=Race&type=SW&map=CTY|title=Official Results Primary Election - June 10, 2014|publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State|access-date=September 24, 2020}} He won the general election with 55% of the vote, defeating Democratic-NPL nominee George B. Sinner, who received 38%. Libertarian candidate Jack Seaman received slightly under 6%.{{cite web|url=http://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?eid=126&text=Race&type=SW&map=CTY|title=Official Results General Election - November 4, 2014|publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State|access-date=September 24, 2020}}

{{Main|2016 United States House of Representatives election in North Dakota}}

In 2016 Cramer ran for a third term in Congress. He was unopposed in the primary{{cite web |title=North Dakota Secretary of State |url=https://results.sos.nd.gov/resultsSW.aspx?eid=291&text=Race&type=SW&map=CTY |website=results.sos.nd.gov |access-date=21 April 2022}} and defeated Democratic-NPL nominee Chase Iron Eyes, a Native American activist, in the general election with 69% of the vote.{{cite web|url=https://results.sos.nd.gov/ResultsSW.aspx?text=All&type=SW&map=CTY&eid=291|title=Official Results Primary Election - June 14, 2016|publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State|access-date=September 24, 2020}}{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Trahant|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/04/03/chase-iron-eyes-runs-north-dakota-out-necessity-164009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405005025/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/04/03/chase-iron-eyes-runs-north-dakota-out-necessity-164009|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 5, 2016|title=Chase Iron Eyes Runs In North Dakota Out of 'Necessity'|work=Indian Country Today Media Network|date=April 3, 2016}}

File:Kevin Cramer (8567353784).jpg in National Harbor, Maryland.]]

Cramer opposes abortion. He is a critic of Planned Parenthood and has called for cutting off public funding of the group.[http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/north-dakota-congressman-kevin-cramer-argues-that-his-news-footage/489190312 Kevin Cramer: North Dakota women not profitable for Planned Parenthood] (video of statement on U.S. House of Representatives floor, made available by Getty Images).{{cite web|url=https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-statement-on-planned-parenthood-abortion-practices|title=Cramer Statement on Planned Parenthood Abortion Practices|access-date=2016-07-30|archive-date=2018-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025859/https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-statement-on-planned-parenthood-abortion-practices|url-status=dead}} (press release), Office of U.S. Representative (July 16, 2015). In 2013 Cramer condemned the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and tied an uptick in mass shootings to the legalization of abortion and a decline in religious values.{{cite web|first=Amanda|last=Terkel|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/kevin-cramer-school-shootings_n_3285328.html|title=Kevin Cramer, North Dakota Congressman, Ties School Shootings to Abortion Legalization|work=HuffPost|date=May 16, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2020}} This remark was criticized by the director of the North Dakota Democratic Party and in Cosmopolitan. Cramer said, "I was asked recently by a reporter if I am afraid that some people would attack me if I speak like this. And I said, 'No, I am not afraid they will, I am quite certain they will.'"{{cite web|first=Natasha|last=Burton|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a12918/kevin-cramer/|title=Another Day, Another Crazy Abortion Claim from a Conservative Male Politician|work=Cosmopolitan|date=May 17, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://washington.cbslocal.com/2013/05/21/us-rep-cramer-criticized-for-linking-legalized-abortion-to-school-shootings/|title=US Rep. Cramer Criticized For Linking Legalized Abortion To School Shootings|agency=Associated Press|date=May 21, 2013|work=CBS DC|access-date=September 24, 2020}} In the same speech, Cramer said of U.S. society: "We have normalized perversion and perverted God's natural law."

Cramer has been closely allied with Donald Trump since Trump announced his candidacy for president in 2016, and was "one of a handful of early Trump endorsers" among U.S. House Republicans.{{cite news|first=Mike|last=DeBonis|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/05/11/paul-ryan-faces-intense-pressure-to-reconcile-with-donald-trump/|title=Paul Ryan faces intense pressure to reconcile with Donald Trump|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 11, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2020}}

Cramer supported Trump's 2017 executive order banning entry to the U.S. by citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, saying, "I think what Donald Trump is doing is he's pulling America's head out of the sand and facing the reality that we have not been kept very safe by current immigration and refugee policies."{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/29/heres-where-republicans-stand-on-president-trumps-controversial-travel-ban|title=Whip Count: Here's where Republicans stand on Trump's controversial travel ban|last1=Blake|first1=Aaron|date=January 31, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=September 24, 2020}} He has been described as one of Trump's allies in Congress and pledged to be with Trump "100 percent of the time".{{Cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2018/06/27/Trump-endorses-Kevin-Cramer-and-urges-North-Dakota-to-vote-out-Heidi-Heitkamp/stories/201806270263|title=Trump endorses Kevin Cramer and urges North Dakota to vote out Heidi Heitkamp|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|first=Darlene|last=Superville|date=June 28, 2018|access-date=September 15, 2018|language=en}}

In February 2017, during Trump's first address to a joint session of Congress, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and a number of other female Democratic members of Congress wore white, a color honoring suffragettes. Cramer mocked them, saying Pelosi dressed "poorly" and remarking, "It is a syndrome. There is no question, there is a disease associated with the notion that a bunch of women would wear bad-looking white pantsuits in solidarity with Hillary Clinton to celebrate her loss. You cannot get that weird."{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/03/kevin-cramer-democratic-women-white-pantsuits-235578|title=GOP lawmaker: 'Poorly dressed' Democratic women wore 'bad-looking white pantsuits'|first=Nolan D.|last=McCaskill|date=March 1, 2017|work=Politico|access-date=March 1, 2017}}

In June 2020, Cramer blocked bipartisan legislation to sanction China over its actions to undermine Hong Kong's independence—legislation he had co-sponsored—because the Trump administration requested that he do so.{{Cite web|first=Andrew|last=Desiderio|title=GOP senator blocked China sanctions bill he supports, at request of White House|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/24/kevin-cramer-blocks-china-sanctions-bill-338246|access-date=July 14, 2020|date=June 24, 2020|website=Politico|language=en}}

On May 28, 2021, Cramer voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.{{cite news |first1=Peter W.|last1=Stevenson|first2=Adrian|last2=Blanco|first3=Daniela|last3=Santamariña|newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 28, 2021 |title=Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/interactive/2021/january6-commission-senators-vote/}}

Cramer rejects the scientific consensus on climate change.{{cite web|first=Ben|last=Schreckinger|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/donald-trump-climate-change-golf-course-223436|title=Trump acknowledges climate change — at his golf course|work=Politico|date=May 23, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2020}}{{cite web|first=Erica|last=Goode|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/science/donald-trump-global-warming-energy-policy-kevin-cramer.html|title=New York Times: What Are Donald Trump's Views on Climate Change? Some Clues Emerge|work=The New York Times|date=May 20, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2020}} He has said that he would support a small carbon tax if the revenue went to research and development on clean fuel.{{cite web|first=Evan|last=Lehmann|url=http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/meet-donald-trump-s-new-energy-adviser/|title=Meet Donald Trump's New Energy Adviser|publisher=ClimateWire (republished by Scientific American)|date=May 13, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2020}} Reuters has described Cramer as "one of America's most ardent drilling advocates."{{cite web|first=Valerie|last=Volcovici|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-energy-idUSKCN0Y41ZP|title=Trump taps climate change skeptic, fracking advocate as key energy advisor|work=Reuters|date=May 13, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2020}} He supports an increase in oil and gas drilling on public lands and cutting taxes for energy producers, and opposes what he characterizes as overreach by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.{{cite web|first=Mark|last=Drajem|url=http://about.bgov.com/blog/get-your-energy-po0licy-ideas-to-kevin-cramer-asap/|title=Get your energy policy ideas to Kevin Cramer ASAP|work=Bloomberg Government|date=May 16, 2016}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, In May 2016 Trump asked Cramer to draft his campaign's energy policy. Cramer wrote Trump's energy plan, which heavily promoted fossil fuels, weakened environmental regulation, and vowed to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and repeal U.S. regulations of carbon emissions.{{cite web|first1=Ashley|last1=Parker|first2=Coral|last2=Davenport|author-link1=Ashley Parker|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/us/politics/donald-trump-global-warming-energy-policy.html|title=Donald Trump's Energy Plan: More Fossil Fuels and Fewer Rules|website=The New York Times|date=May 26, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2020}} In June 2023, Cramer was the lead Republican sponsor of the PROVE IT Act, which would direct the United States Department of Energy to collect data on the greenhouse gas intensity of certain goods made in the United States and other countries, data that could enable trade policy addressing international disparities in environmental standards. He was joined by lead Democratic sponsor Chris Coons.{{Cite web |last=Dumain |first=Emma |date=2024-01-19 |title=What's next for the committee-passed carbon tariff bill? |url=https://www.eenews.net/articles/whats-next-for-the-committee-passed-carbon-tariff-bill/ |access-date=2024-06-10 |website=E&E News by POLITICO |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Details for S. 1863: PROVE IT Act of 2024 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/s1863/cosponsors |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=GovTrack.us |language=en}}

Cramer supports cuts in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program), and attracted controversy in 2013 when he cited a biblical quotation several times in support of Republicans' efforts to cut $40 billion from the program over ten years.{{cite web|first=Igor|last=Bobic|url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/gop-rep-on-food-stamp-cuts-if-anyone-is-not-willing-to-work-let-him-not-eat|title=GOP Rep. Quotes Bible On Food Stamps: 'If Anyone Is Not Willing To Work, Let Him Not Eat'|work= Talking Points Memo|date= September 20, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/rep-cramers-opponents-use-bible-verses-debate-food-stamp-cuts-look-toward-2014-election|title=Rep. Cramer's opponents use Bible verses to debate food stamp cuts, look toward 2014 election|work=Grand Forks Herald|date=September 25, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2020}}

Cramer said that gun control would not have prevented the Orlando nightclub shooting.{{cite web|first=Ted|last=Fioraliso|url=http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Cramer-says-increased-gun-control-wouldnt-have-prevented-Orlando-shooting-383038541.html|title=Cramer says increased gun control wouldn't have prevented Orlando shooting|work=KFYR-TV|date=July 14, 2016|access-date=September 24, 2020}} In 2016 he criticized proposed gun control legislation, saying, "The problem isn't the U.S. Constitution. The problem is Islamic terrorism."{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Smith|url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/hoeven-cramer-give-gun-legislation-cool-response/article_fca3294f-e226-5ebd-b7e4-f68a86d76a84.html|title=Hoeven, Cramer give gun legislation cool response|work=The Bismarck Tribune|date=June 21, 2016}}

Cramer opposes the Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare") and voted to repeal it without a replacement five times.{{cite web|first=John|last=Hageman|url=https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/3774113-state-leaders-have-mixed-feelings-affordable-care-act-ruling|title=State leaders have mixed feelings in Affordable Care Act ruling|work=Grand Forks Herald|date=June 25, 2015|access-date=September 24, 2020}}[https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-votes-to-repeal-obamacare U.S. House Votes to Repeal Obamacare] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819064247/https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-votes-to-repeal-obamacare |date=2016-08-19 }} (press release), Office of U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer (February 3, 2015).{{Cite web|url=http://hpr1.com/index.php/feature/news/cramers-office-threatens-constituents/|title=Cramer's office threatens constituents|last=Hagen|first=C.S.|date=August 23, 2018|work=High Plains Reader|language=en|access-date=September 15, 2018}} He has voted against health insurance protections for patients with preexisting conditions and against the expansion of Medicaid. Cramer has said that the American Health Care Act of 2017, the Republican bill he supported to repeal and replace Obamacare, would have prevented "price discrimination" against people with preexisting conditions; The Washington Post fact-checker called this assertion false.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2018/09/19/did-house-gop-plan-prevent-price-discrimination-against-people-with-pre-existing-conditions/|title=Would the House GOP plan have prevented 'price discrimination' against people with preexisting conditions?|last=Kessler|first=Glenn|author-link=Glenn Kessler (journalist)|date=September 19, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|access-date=September 23, 2018}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cramer introduced legislation to ban vaccine and mask mandates.{{Cite news|title=Ted Cruz calls for 'zero' coronavirus mandates, while Rand Paul urges defiance amid delta variant surge|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/08/10/cruz-paul-mandates-mask-vaccine/|access-date=2021-08-11|issn=0190-8286}} He opposed adding unruly passengers to the "no-fly" list, saying that unruly passengers who refuse to comply with mask requirements are not the same as terrorists.{{Cite news|title=Eight Republican senators say they oppose 'no-fly' list for disruptive passengers because it would equate mask opponents to 'terrorists'|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/15/eight-republican-senators-say-they-oppose-no-fly-list-disruptive-passengers-because-it-would-equate-mask-opponents-terrorists/|access-date=2022-02-16|issn=0190-8286}}

Cramer opposes same-sex marriage and condemned the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges.{{cite web|first=Krista|last=Boehm|url=http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/The-first-same-sex-couple-to-grab-their-marriage-license-310218751.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628122850/http://www.valleynewslive.com/home/headlines/The-first-same-sex-couple-to-grab-their-marriage-license-310218751.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2015|title=The first same-sex couple to grab their marriage license|work=KVLY-TV|date=June 26, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-statement-on-supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628232638/http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-statement-on-supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 28, 2015|title=Cramer Statement on Supreme Court Same Sex Marriage Ruling|website=cramer.house.gov|publisher=Office of U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer|date=June 26, 2015}}{{cite web|first=Nick|last=Smith|url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/n-d-delegation-split-on-gay-marriage/article_1bed85ba-dea8-11e2-9e5b-0019bb2963f4.html|title=N.D. delegation split on gay marriage|work=The Bismarck Tribune|date=June 26, 2013}}

In 2018, Cramer called both Anita Hill's sexual harassment allegation against Clarence Thomas and Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault allegation against Brett Kavanaugh "absurd". He called Ford's allegation "even more absurd" than Hill's because the sexual assault that Ford described "never went anywhere" and because both Kavanaugh and Ford were intoxicated teenagers.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/09/21/politics/kfile-cramer/index.html|title=GOP Senate nominee: Kavanaugh accusation 'absurd' because they were drunk and assault attempt 'never went anywhere'|first1=Andrew|last1=Kaczynski |first2=Christopher|last2=Massie|work=CNN|access-date=September 21, 2018}} Cramer questioned whether Ford's allegation would disqualify Kavanaugh from the Supreme Court even if true, but said that if Kavanaugh were found to have lied in denying the allegation, that would be disqualifying.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/gop-rep-cramer-questions-whether-accusation-against-kavanaugh-should-disqualify-him-even-if-true/2018/09/25/c9aa7890-c069-11e8-9005-5104e9616c21_story.html|title=GOP Rep. Cramer questions whether accusation against Kavanaugh should disqualify him, even if true|first=Sean|last=Sullivan|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|date=September 25, 2018|access-date=September 25, 2018}}

Cramer has voted to repeal the estate tax, which imposes a tax after the first several million dollars on a dead person's estate.{{cite web|url=https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-passes-death-tax-repeal-act-of-2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921223116/https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cramer-house-passes-death-tax-repeal-act-of-2015|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 21, 2015|title=Cramer - House Passes Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015|publisher=Office of U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer|website=cramer.house.gov|date= April 16, 2015}} He supports Trump's 25% tax on many types of imports, which may have decreased sales for North Dakota's soybean industry in 2018, but has said he believes the long-term benefits of a trade war are worth it.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/business/national-business/article218388335.html|title=North Dakota's Heitkamp attacks Cramer in new ad on tariffs|first=James|last=MacPherson|agency=Associated Press|date=September 14, 2018|work=The State|access-date=September 15, 2018|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915121843/https://www.thestate.com/news/business/national-business/article218388335.html|archive-date=September 15, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/kevin-cramer-has-home-field-advantage-in-north-dakota-senate-race-can-he-capitalize|title=Kevin Cramer has home field advantage in North Dakota Senate race. Can he capitalize?|work=Washington Examiner|first=David M.|last=Drucker|date=August 24, 2018|access-date=September 15, 2018|language=en}}

In 2013, at a forum on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Cramer engaged in "a testy exchange with Native American victim assistance leaders."{{cite web|first=Luke|last=Johnson|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/28/kevin-cramer-north-dakota-native-american_n_2974676.html|title=Kevin Cramer, North Dakota Congressman, Regrets Berating Native American Counselors|work=HuffPost|date=March 28, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2020}}{{cite web|first=Vincent|last=Schilling|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/04/01/north-dakota-congressman-kevin-cramer-allegedly-verbally-attacks-abused-native-womens|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401161553/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/04/01/north-dakota-congressman-kevin-cramer-allegedly-verbally-attacks-abused-native-womens|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 1, 2013|title=North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer Allegedly Verbally Attacks Abused Native Women's Advocate|work=Indian Country Today Media Network|date=April 1, 2013}} He later issued a statement apologizing for his "tone and rhetoric" during the exchange. Cramer voted to reauthorize VAWA,{{cite web|url=https://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-kevin-cramer-r-nd-votes-to-eliminate-constitutional|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912185247/http://cramer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-kevin-cramer-r-nd-votes-to-eliminate-constitutional|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 12, 2014|title=Congressman Kevin Cramer (R-ND) Votes to Eliminate Constitutional Challenges to the Violence Against Women Act|publisher=Office of U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer|date=February 28, 2013|website=cramer.house.gov}} but opposed language in the act that would allow tribal courts to prosecute non-Natives "for abusing or assaulting Native American women on Indian land."{{cite web|first=Sierra|last=Crane-Murdoch|url=https://www.hcn.org/issues/45.10/is-the-violence-against-women-act-a-chance-for-tribes-to-reinforce-their-sovereignty|title=Is the Violence Against Women Act a chance for tribes to reinforce their sovereignty?|work=High Country News|date=June 12, 2013|access-date=September 24, 2020}} Cramer asked, "How could a non-Native man get a fair trial on a reservation?" and questioned the provision's constitutionality. He voted for an amendment to repeal it.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce{{cite web|url=http://cramer.house.gov/legislation/committees-and-caucuses|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130202015640/http://cramer.house.gov/legislation/committees-and-caucuses|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 2, 2013|title=Committees and Caucuses|date=December 13, 2012|website=cramer.house.gov|publisher=Office of U.S. Representative Kevin Cramer|access-date=June 1, 2016}}
• Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
• Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Caucus memberships

• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus{{cite web|url=http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|title=Members|publisher=Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus|access-date=June 11, 2018|archive-date=June 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142643/http://www.ng911institute.org/about-the-congressional-nextgen-9-1-1-caucus|url-status=dead}}
• Congressional Western Caucus{{cite web|title=Members|url=https://westerncaucus.house.gov/about/membership.htm|publisher=Congressional Western Caucus|access-date=June 25, 2018}}
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption (co-chair){{Cite web|title=Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute|url=https://www.ccainstitute.org|language=en}}

File:Kevin Cramer, official portrait, 116th congress (cropped).jpg]]

{{Main|2018 United States Senate election in North Dakota}}

On January 11, 2018, after months of speculation, Cramer announced{{cite web|last=Miyoshi |first=Sheila |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/11/kevin-cramer-no-senate-in-north-dakota-336495 |title=Cramer won't run for Senate in North Dakota |work=Politico |date=January 11, 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2018}} that he would not seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to run against Democratic-NPL incumbent Heidi Heitkamp and would instead run for reelection to the U.S. House.{{cite web|last=Hageman |first=John |url=http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/4388374-cramer-names-campaign-manager-re-election-bid |title=Cramer names campaign manager for re-election bid |work=Grand Forks Herald |date=January 15, 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2018}} On February 15, he announced that he had changed his mind and would run for the Senate.{{cite news|last1=Taylor|first1=Jessica|title=GOP Gets Top Recruit To Run In Key North Dakota Senate Race|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/02/15/586110338/gop-gets-top-recruit-to-run-in-key-north-dakota-senate-race|access-date=February 15, 2018|work=NPR|date=February 15, 2018}} Odney advertising firm president Pat Finken served as Cramer's campaign manager.{{cite web|last=Dura|first=Jack|work=The Bismarck Tribune |url=http://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/finken-leading-cramer-campaign/article_edd0170c-2015-53ab-bac5-3fcf9571bc77.html |title=Finken leading Cramer campaign|date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=June 21, 2018}} On April 7,{{cite web|url=http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Rep-Kevin-Cramer-accepts-GOP-endorsement-479061623.html |title=Rep. Kevin Cramer accepts GOP endorsement |first=Marcie|last=Bollinger|work=KFYR-TV |date=April 8, 2018 |access-date=June 21, 2018}} Cramer won the North Dakota Republican Party's endorsement. Three days later, his campaign announced it had raised $1.35 million in the first quarter of 2018, most of it in late February and March.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/10/kevin-cramer-senate-campaign-raises-135m-1st-qtr/|title=Kevin Cramer's Senate campaign raises $1.135 million in first quarter|work=The Washington Times|first=Alex|last=Swoyer|date=April 18, 2018|access-date=October 10, 2018}}

In June 2018, The Washington Post reported that Cramer had contacted the White House to seek political help in his Senate campaign and was upset that Trump had not publicly criticized Heitkamp in the same way that he had criticized other Democrats.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/its-obscene-gop-candidate-seethes-as-trump-embraces-democratic-senatorsenator/2018/06/11/b8fa1f86-6b24-11e8-bf8c-f9ed2e672adf_story.html|title='It's obscene': GOP candidate seethes as Trump embraces Democratic senator|last=Sullivan|first=Sean|date=June 11, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=June 12, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}} Cramer later publicly criticized White House staff and argued that Trump was refraining because Heitkamp was a woman. Trump scheduled a trip to North Dakota that month to campaign for Cramer, a trip that Politico reported "could go a long way toward extinguishing tensions between the White House and the Senate hopeful."{{cite news |last1=Isenstadt |first1=Alex |title=Trump to campaign in N. Dakota for Rep. Kevin Cramer |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/15/trump-cramer-north-dakota-senate-650384 |access-date=June 21, 2018 |work=Politico |date=June 15, 2018}}

During his 2018 campaign, Cramer sought and received the support of the Public Advocate of the United States, an anti-LGBT group that advocates conversion therapy and ties homosexuality to pedophilia.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/14/politics/kfile-corey-stewart-kevin-cramer-anti-lgbt-survey/index.html|title=GOP Senate nominees Kevin Cramer, Corey Stewart sought support of extreme anti-gay group|first=Andrew |last=Kaczynski|author-link=Andrew Kaczynski|work=CNN|date=June 14, 2018|access-date=June 14, 2018}} In an eight-question survey for the group, Cramer said he would oppose "'Transgender Bathrooms' legislation and regulations—which have the effect of encouraging and protecting pedophiles". He also agreed with the organization that "public schools should be 'prevented from brainwashing elementary school children with the Homosexual Agenda.'" Cramer supported requiring schools to teach that there are only two genders and granting Christian businesses the right to not service same-sex weddings. A spokesman for him said: "Let's be clear. Congressman Cramer doesn't support the teaching of history with any special emphasis on any particular group. History is history and should be taught as such. Additionally, Kevin does not think transgender people are at all comparable to pedophiles—this a gross misinterpretation of the survey question."

Cramer won the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate on June 12, 2018.{{cite web|agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/republican-u-s-rep-kevin-cramer-wins-north-dakota-senate-primary-moves-on-to-face-incumbent-sen-heidi-heitkamp/ |title=Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer wins North Dakota Senate primary, moves on to face incumbent Sen. Heidi Heitkamp |work=The Seattle Times |date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=September 25, 2020}} The next month, a spokesperson for the political network organized by the Koch brothers announced that they would not financially support Cramer's campaign because the brothers viewed him as insufficiently supportive of free trade and fiscal conservatism, and because they felt he held other views inconsistent with theirs.{{cite news |last1=Severns |first1=Maggie |title=Koch network snubs key GOP Senate candidate |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/30/koch-network-kevin-cramer-senate-749833 |access-date=July 31, 2018 |work=Politico |date=July 30, 2018}}

In the November 6 general election, Cramer defeated Heitkamp{{cite news|title=Incumbent Sen. Heidi Heitkamp concedes to Kevin Cramer in North Dakota Senate Race|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/kevin-cramer-defeat-incumbent-sen-heidi-heitkamp-senate/story?id=58853937|first1=Mariam|last1=Khan|first2=Sonnet|last2=Swire|first3=Meghan|last3=Keneally|first4=Julia|last4=Jacobo|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=November 7, 2018|work=ABC News|language=en}} with 55% of the vote to Heitkamp's 44%.{{cite news |title=North Dakota Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/11/06/us/elections/results-north-dakota-elections.html |work=New York Times |date=6 November 2018 |access-date=November 9, 2018}}

In 2024, Cramer was reelected over Democratic nominee Katrina Christiansen with 66% of the vote to Christiansen's 33%.{{Cite news |date=2024-11-05 |title=North Dakota U.S. Senate Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-north-dakota-us-senate.html |access-date=2025-01-27 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In July 2019, Cramer said he favored lawsuits seeking to overturn Obamacare.{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/14/republicans-obamacare-2020-1415313 |title=Republicans ready to dive off a cliff on Obamacare |last=Everett |first=Burgess |website=politico.com |publisher=Politico |language=en-US |date=July 14, 2019 |access-date=December 3, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212095549/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/14/republicans-obamacare-2020-1415313 |archive-date=December 12, 2020}} The same year, he held up the confirmation of a White House budget official in order to get the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release sensitive documents about border wall construction.{{cite news |last1=Miroff |first1=Nick |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |date=August 28, 2019 |title='Take the land': President Trump wants a border wall. He wants it black. And he wants it by Election Day. |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/28/president-trump-wants-border-wall-painted-black-election-day/ |url-status=live |newspaper=The Washington Post |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112010255/https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/28/president-trump-wants-border-wall-painted-black-election-day/ |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2020}} Cramer had pushed the Army Corps to use a North Dakota firm run by his 2018 campaign donor Tommy Fisher. Fisher donated $10,000 to Cramer's campaign and was also Cramer's guest at the 2018 State of the Union Address, where he shook Trump's hand.{{cite news |date=August 2, 2019 |title=Sen. Kevin Cramer demanding to see border wall contracts after Army Corps panned North Dakota-based construction firm |url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/nation/4052497-Sen.-Kevin-Cramer-demanding-to-see-border-wall-contracts-after-Army-Corps-panned-North-Dakota-based-construction-firm |url-status=live |newspaper=The Washington Post |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803165517/https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/nation/4052497-Sen.-Kevin-Cramer-demanding-to-see-border-wall-contracts-after-Army-Corps-panned-North-Dakota-based-construction-firm |archive-date=August 3, 2019 |access-date=December 23, 2020}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/gop-senator-held-up-trump-nominee-demanding-to-see-border-wall-contracts-after-army-corps-panned-construction-firm-he-prefers/2019/08/02/b185a76a-b566-11e9-8f6c-7828e68cb15f_story.html|title=GOP senator held up Trump nominee, demanding to see border wall contracts after Army Corps panned construction firm he prefers|last1=Miroff|first1=Nick|last2=Paletta|first2=Damian|date=August 3, 2019|newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 25, 2020}} In December 2019, Fisher Industries and the Fisher Sand and Gravel subsidiary, run by a Trump donor, were awarded the $400 million contract.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-border-wall-contract-fox-news-republican-donor-fisher-sand-gravel-arizona-a9230346.html |title=$400 million contract for Trump's border wall handed to Republican donor who promoted firm on Fox News |last=Duncan |first=Conrad |date=December 3, 2019 |website=independent.co.uk |publisher=The Independent |language=en |access-date=December 4, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101082158/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-border-wall-contract-fox-news-republican-donor-fisher-sand-gravel-arizona-a9230346.html |archive-date=November 1, 2020}} Fisher Sand & Gravel had been previously fined $1.16 million for violating tax laws,{{cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/north-dakota-executive-sentenced-prison-tax-fraud |title=North Dakota Executive Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud |author= |date=December 14, 2009 |website=justice.gov |publisher=United States Department of Justice |access-date=December 23, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111202107/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/north-dakota-executive-sentenced-prison-tax-fraud |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |quote=The agreement requires FSG to pay a total of $1.16 million in restitution, penalties and fines, implement measures to prevent future fraud at the company and cooperate with the IRS in audits of its tax returns. }} and racked up 1,300 air-quality violations and over $625,000 in fines.{{cite news |last1=Alvarez |first1=Priscilla |last2=Foran |first2=Clare |last3=Browne |first3=Ryan |date=May 31, 2019 |title=Company touted by Trump to build the wall has history of fines, violations |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/31/politics/fisher-sand-and-gravel-legal-history-border-wall/index.html |url-status=live |work=CNN |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818172714/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/05/31/politics/fisher-sand-and-gravel-legal-history-border-wall/index.html |archive-date=August 18, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2020}}

In October 2019, Cramer defended Trump's decision to host the G7 conference at the Trump National Doral Miami, a resort Trump owns. Cramer said, "I don’t have any concerns about it other than just politically how it appears", and praised Trump for the "tremendous integrity in his boldness and his transparency" in deciding to select his own property for the summit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/18/democratic-senators-call-trumps-doral-miami-g7-pick-outrageous.html|title=Democrats call Trump's Doral G-7 pick 'outrageous' — GOP senator says it shows 'tremendous integrity'|last=Mangan|first=Dan|date=October 18, 2019|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=October 19, 2019}} Lack of support from Trump's Republican allies who were weary of defending him led Trump to quickly abandon his plans, as customary congressional support withered.{{cite news |last1=Olorunnipa |first1=Toluse |last2=Dawsey |first2=Josh |last3=Fahrenthold |first3=David A.|author-link3=David Fahrenthold|title=Trump reversed course on hosting G-7 at his club after learning that impeachment-weary Republicans were tired of defending him |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-reversed-course-on-hosting-g-7-at-his-club-after-learning-that-impeachment-weary-republicans-were-tired-of-defending-him/2019/10/20/edbb3f36-f36b-11e9-829d-87b12c2f85dd_story.html |date=October 21, 2019|access-date=January 14, 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{Cite web |url=https://news.yahoo.com/trump-drops-plan-host-g-021324406.html |title=Trump drops plan to host G-7 at Doral |website=Yahoo News |first1=Zeke |last1=Miller |first2=Jill |last2=Colvin |agency=Associated Press |access-date=January 14, 2020|date=October 19, 2019}}

In December 2019, at Trump's request, Cramer cast the only vote against a Senate motion to recognize the Armenian genocide, passage of which required unanimous consent. Trump opposed the motion because of his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.{{cite news |last=Daly |first=Matthew |date=December 5, 2019 |title=GOP senator bows to White House on Armenian genocide measure |url=https://apnews.com/article/667b2a7a9ed23169f08e657704956398 |url-status=live |work=Associated Press |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224053247/https://apnews.com/article/667b2a7a9ed23169f08e657704956398 |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |access-date=December 23, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://hpr1.com/index.php/feature/news/sen.-cramer-defies-nd-motion-on-armenian-genocide/ |title=Sen. Cramer Defies ND Motion On Armenian Genocide |first1=Sabrina |last1=Hornung |first2=C.S. |last2=Hagen |work=High Plains Reader |date=December 11, 2019 |access-date=January 14, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802205126/https://hpr1.com/index.php/feature/news/sen.-cramer-defies-nd-motion-on-armenian-genocide/ |archive-date=August 2, 2020}} Senator Lindsey Graham had voted against such a motion previously, but refused to do so after Trump withdrew of a contingent of U.S. troops, allowing the Turks to attack the US's Kurdish allies who had rolled back the Islamic State in Syria's forces.{{cite web|url=https://bismarcktribune.com/opinion/editorial/tribune-editorial-cramer-wrong-to-block-vote-on-resolution/article_2f5a87ff-87a5-5e2b-a121-367a3014396f.html|title=Tribune editorial: Cramer wrong to block vote on resolution|work=The Bismarck Tribune|date=December 11, 2019|access-date=January 14, 2020}}

On March 24, 2020, Cramer tweeted that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was “retarded.” He later deleted the tweet and apologized, saying he had intended to write “ridiculous”,{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/us-sen-cramer-apologizes-offensive-term-pelosi-69789191?cid=referral_taboola_feed|title=US Sen. Cramer apologizes for offensive term about Pelosi|agency=Associated Press|work=ABC News|date=March 25, 2020|access-date=September 25, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Sen. Kevin Cramer tweets offensive word aimed at Speaker Pelosi |url=https://www.valleynewslive.com/content/news/Sen-Kevin-Cramer-tweets-offensive-word-aimed-at-Speaker-Pelosi-569080571.html |website=www.valleynewslive.com |date=25 March 2020 |access-date=5 April 2022 |language=en}} blaming autocorrect and his "fat fingers".{{cite web |last1=March 30 |first1=Sean Neumann |title=Senator Blames Autocorrect for 'Offensive' Nancy Pelosi Tweet, but Not Everyone Is Convinced |url=https://people.com/politics/sen-kevin-cramer-blames-autocorrect-nancy-pelosi-tweet/ |website=PEOPLE.com |access-date=5 April 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=US Sen. Cramer apologizes for offensive term about Pelosi |url=https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-e46ee08342c6da9971cd4735eeb179e4 |work=Associated Press |access-date=5 April 2022 |language=en |date=12 August 2021}}

After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election and Trump refused to concede and made numerous baseless claims of fraud, Cramer at first defended Trump{{Cite web|first=Ben|last=Kamisar|title=GOP Sen. Cramer says it's 'past time' to start transition as challenges continue|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/gop-sen-cramer-says-it-s-past-time-start-transition-n1248548|date=November 22, 2020|access-date=November 22, 2020|website=NBC News|language=en}} but later said "the election was not stolen" and that he had "moved on a long time ago".{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/top-gop-senators-stand-by-mike-rounds-after-trump-attack-2022-1|title=Top Republican senators are standing by Mike Rounds after Trump attacked him for saying the 2020 election was fair|access-date=January 12, 2022|date=January 12, 2022|work=Business Insider|first=Sinéad|last=Baker}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/01/11/gop-figures-blast-trumps-rehashing-of-election-fraud-claims-learn-to-lose|title=GOP Figures Blast Trump's Rehashing Of Election Fraud Claims: 'Learn To Lose'|access-date=January 12, 2022|date=January 11, 2022|work=Forbes|first=Nicholas|last=Reimann}} In May 2022, Cramer expressed support for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's potential candidacy in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.{{Cite web |first=Major|last=Garrett|date=May 20, 2022 |title=Sen. Kevin Cramer would 'love' 4 more years of Trump, but maybe Pompeo would offer a 'fresh start'|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kevin-cramer-trump-pompeo-the-takeout/ |access-date=September 8, 2022 |website=CBS News |language=en-US}} In June 2023, Cramer endorsed North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum for president.{{cite web |last1=Holt |first1=Matt |title=North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum Launches Presidential Campaign |url=https://themessenger.com/politics/governor-doug-burgum-launches-presidential-campaign |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607163825/https://themessenger.com/politics/governor-doug-burgum-launches-presidential-campaign |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2023 |publisher=The Messenger |access-date=7 June 2023 |date=June 7, 2023}} After Burgum dropped out of the race on December 4, Cramer endorsed Trump.{{Cite web|url=https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/sen-kevin-cramer-endorses-trump-for-president-hours-after-burgum-drops-out|title=Sen. Kevin Cramer endorses Trump for president hours after Burgum drops out|date=December 5, 2023|website=InForum}}

In 2025, Cramer defended Trump's and DOGE's proposed government cuts, including to the Veterans Administration.{{Cite web |date=2025 |title=Sen. Cramer not concerned about protests against him |url=https://www.wdayradionow.com/news/local-news/sen-cramer-not-concerned-about-protests-against-him/ |website=WDAY Radio - AM 970 and FM 93.1 |language=en-US}}

Committee assignments

For the 119th United States Congress, Cramer was named to four Senate committees.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Committee Assignments of the 119th Congress |url=https://www.senate.gov/general/committee_assignments/assignments.htm#CramerND |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=www.senate.gov}} They are:

• Committee on Armed Services
• Subcommittee on Airland (Chair)
• Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
• Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
• Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
• Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection
• Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development
• Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment
• Committee on Environment and Public Works
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Cramer married Kris Neumann in 1986 and adopted her two sons, Isaac and Ian, from a previous marriage.{{Citation |title=Get to know Kevin Cramer through the eyes of his son, Abel. {{!}} By Kevin Cramer {{!}} Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/votecramer/videos/get-to-know-kevin-cramer-through-the-eyes-of-his-son-abel/10155851862603411/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2018-07-08 |title=Cramer, Heitkamp inspired by the loved ones they lost |url=https://www.inforum.com/news/cramer-heitkamp-inspired-by-the-loved-ones-they-lost |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=InForum |language=en}} As of 2024, the Cramers have five children and six grandchildren.{{cite web|title= About Kevin Biography|url=https://www.cramer.senate.gov/biography|access-date=2024-12-31|website=Senate.gov}} Their son Isaac died in 2018 due to complications of alcoholism. They had earlier adopted the young son of an ex-girlfriend of Isaac's, who had been killed by her abusive husband.{{cite news|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2019/06/15/this-senator-lost-one-son-but-gained-another/|title=This senator lost one son, but gained another|publisher=Roll Call|date=June 15, 2019|access-date=November 19, 2020|first=Kathryn|last=Lyons}}

Cramer co-chairs the Roughrider Honor Flight program. This program gives World War II veterans the chance to visit the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.{{cite news|last1=Herzog|first1=Karen|date=May 5, 2011|title=Fifth and final Honor Flight will take WWII veterans to see their memorial|work=The Bismarck Tribune|url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/fifth-and-final-honor-flight-will-take-wwii-veterans-to/article_0569a3d0-7750-11e0-8cae-001cc4c03286.html|access-date=November 9, 2018}}

In June 2022, Cramer suffered a serious injury to his right hand while doing yard work. The injury required immediate surgery and he remained in North Dakota due to a high risk of infection and the possible need for finger amputation.{{cite news |last1=Turley |first1=Jeremy |title=Sen. Kevin Cramer badly injures hand in yardwork accident |url=https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/north-dakota/sen-cramer-suffers-serious-hand-injury-in-yard-work-accident |access-date=22 June 2022 |work=Jamestown Sun |date=22 June 2022 |language=en}}

On December 6, 2023, Kris Cramer drove her son, Ian Cramer, to an emergency department in Bismarck, as he was experiencing a mental health crisis after using methamphetamines and bath salts earlier that day.{{Cite news |last=Petri |first=Alexandra E. |date=30 December 2024 |title=U.S. Senator's Son Gets 28 Years for Car Chase That Killed Sheriff's Deputy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/30/us/ian-cramer-north-dakota-sentenced.html |access-date=1 January 2024 |work=The New York Times}} When they arrived, Ian stole his mother's car and was pursued by police until he collided with a police vehicle, killing Mercer County deputy Paul Martin.{{cite web|date=December 7, 2023|title=Son of US Sen. Kevin Cramer crashes during police chase, killing North Dakota sheriff's deputy

|url=https://apnews.com/article/senator-kevin-cramer-son-deputy-killed-crash-8bc104624d74428eb196a830f4aafbce|access-date=December 7, 2023|work=Associated Press News}}{{cite news|url = https://apnews.com/article/kevin-cramer-son-deputy-killed-chase-sentence-5f194f28c7df939cfdb666161e26e05c|title = Senator's son sentenced to 28 years for killing a North Dakota deputy during a car chase|last = Dura|first = Jack|date = December 30, 2024|accessdate = December 30, 2024|work = Associated Press News}} On December 14, 2023, prosecutors announced that they would charge Ian Cramer with multiple crimes, including homicide.{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/north-dakota-s-senator-s-son-faces-upgraded-charge-in-crash-that-killed-sheriff-s-deputy/ar-AA1lwrdu | title=MSN | website=MSN }} After the event, Senator Cramer said that Ian "suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations".{{Cite web |title=Senator Cramer Issues Personal Statement |url=https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-cramer-issues-personal-statement |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=www.cramer.senate.gov |language=en}} In December 2024, Ian Cramer pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 28 years in prison.

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results, North Dakota, 2012

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Kevin Cramer

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 54,405

| percentage = 54.4

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Brian Kalk

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 45,415

| percentage = 45.5

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 113

| percentage = 0.1

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 99,933

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = North Dakota's at-large congressional district, 2012

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kevin Cramer

|votes = 173,585

|percentage = 54.89%

|change = +0.15%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

|candidate = Pam Gulleson

|votes = 131,870

|percentage = 41.70%

|change = -3.23%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Eric Olson

|votes = 10,261

|percentage = 3.24%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link

|votes = 508

|percentage = 0.16%

|change = -0.17%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 316,224

|percentage = 100.0%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results, 2014

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Kevin Cramer (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 50,188

| percentage = 99.70

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 151

| percentage = 00.30

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 50,339

| percentage = 100

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = North Dakota's at-large congressional district, 2014

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kevin Cramer (incumbent)

|votes = 138,100

|percentage = 55.54%

|change = +0.67%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

|candidate = George B. Sinner

|votes = 95,678

|percentage = 38.48%

|change = -3.24%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Jack Seaman

|votes = 14,531

|percentage = 5.84%

|change = +2.59%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link

|votes = 361

|percentage = 0.15%

|change = -0.01%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 248,670

|percentage = 100.0%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = Republican primary results, 2016

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| candidate = Kevin Cramer (incumbent)

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| votes = 96,357

| percentage = 99.1

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

| votes = 919

| percentage = 0.9

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 97,276

| percentage = 100.0

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin

| title = North Dakota's at-large congressional district, 2016{{cite web|url=https://results.sos.nd.gov/ResultsSW.aspx?text=All&type=SW&map=CTY&eid=292|title=North Dakota Official Results General Election - November 8, 2016 |publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State |access-date=December 7, 2016}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Kevin Cramer (incumbent)

|votes = 233,980

|percentage = 69.13%

|change = +13.59%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

|candidate = Chase Iron Eyes

|votes = 80,377

|percentage = 23.75%

|change = -14.73%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (United States)

|candidate = Jack Seaman

|votes = 23,528

|percentage = 6.95%

|change = +1.11%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link

|votes = 574

|percentage = 0.17%

|change = +0.02%

}}

{{Election box total

|votes = 338,459

|percentage = 100.0%

|change = N/A

}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

|title=Republican primary results, North Dakota 2018{{cite news |title=North Dakota Primary Election Results |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/06/12/us/elections/results-north-dakota-primary-elections.html |work=The New York Times |date=12 June 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2020|last1=Almukhtar |first1=Sarah |last2=Bloch |first2=Matthew |last3=Lee |first3=Jasmine C. }}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party= Republican Party (United States)

|candidate= Kevin Cramer

|votes= 61,529

|percentage= 87.8%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party= Republican Party (United States)

|candidate= Thomas O'Neill

|votes= 8,509

|percentage= 12.2%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link no change

|votes= 95

|percentage= 0.14%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes= 70,133

|percentage= 100%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=United States Senate election in North Dakota, 2018{{cite web|url=https://results.sos.nd.gov/ResultsSW.aspx?text=All&type=SW&map=CTY&eid=303|title=Official Results General Election - November 6, 2018|publisher=North Dakota Secretary of State|website=results.sos.nd.gov|access-date=September 25, 2020}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Kevin Cramer

| votes = 179,720

| percentage = 55.11%

| change = +5.79%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

| party = North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

| candidate = Heidi Heitkamp (incumbent)

| votes = 144,376

| percentage = 44.27%

| change = -5.97%

}}

{{Election box write-in with party link

| votes = 2,042

| percentage = 0.63%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box total

| votes = 326,138

| percentage = 100%

| change = N/A

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

| winner = Republican Party (United States)

| loser = North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin|title=2024 United States Senate election in North Dakota{{Cite web |title=Official 2024 General Election Results |url=https://results.sos.nd.gov/ResultsSW.aspx?text=All&type=SW&map=CTY |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223120818/https://results.sos.nd.gov/ResultsSW.aspx?text=All&type=SW&map=CTY |archive-date=2024-12-23 |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=results.sos.nd.gov}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Republican Party (United States)|candidate=Kevin Cramer (incumbent)|votes=241,569|percentage=66.31%|change=+11.20%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|party=North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party|candidate=Katrina Christiansen|votes=121,602|percentage=33.38%|change=-10.89%}}

{{Election box write-in with party link

| votes = 1,156

| percentage = 0.32%

| change = -0.31%

}}

{{Election box total|votes=364,327|percentage=100.00%|change=N/A}}

{{Election box hold with party link no swing|winner=Republican Party (United States)}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• [https://www.cramer.senate.gov Senator Kevin Cramer] official U.S. Senate website
• [http://www.kevincramer.org/ Kevin Cramer for Congress]
• {{C-SPAN|7600}}
• {{CongLinks | congbio=C001096 | votesmart=444 | fec=S8ND00120 | congress=kevin-cramer/2144 }}

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Category:1961 births

Category:Concordia College (Moorhead, Minnesota) alumni

Category:Living people

Category:North Dakota public service commissioners

Category:North Dakota Republicans

Category:People from Cass County, North Dakota

Category:People from Rolette County, North Dakota

Category:Politicians from Bismarck, North Dakota

Category:Republican Party United States senators from North Dakota

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Dakota

Category:University of Mary alumni

Category:American gun rights activists

Category:21st-century United States senators

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives

Category:20th-century North Dakota politicians