Rob Kupec
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Rob Kupec at Child Care Tour (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| termstart = January 4, 2023
| termend =
| state_senate = Minnesota
| party = Democratic (DFL)
| residence = Moorhead, Minnesota
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|11|27}}
| alma_mater = State University of New York-Albany
| profession = Meteorologist
| preceded = Kent Eken
| district = 4th
| spouse = Deb White
| children = 1
}}
Robert J. Kupec ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|uː|p|ɛ|k}} {{Respell|KOO|pek}};{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_pronounce.html |title=Senate Members' Pronunciation|website=Minnesota Legislature|access-date=August 23, 2024}} born November 27, 1968) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), he represents Senate District 4, which includes most of Clay and Becker counties. Prior to seeking elected office, he was for a decade the chief meteorologist at KVRR and previously at WDAY-TV.
Early life, education, and career
Kupec was born in eastern Connecticut.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.kupec4mnsenate.com/about |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Kupec 4 MN Senate |language=en}} Both of his parents were active union organizers. He attended college at the State University of New York-Albany, studying Atmospheric Science, and earned a degree in 1992.{{Cite web |title=Rob Kupec |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Rob_Kupec |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}} He moved to Moorhead, Minnesota in 2000, and began work as a meteorologist, first for WDAY-TV and then served as chief meteorologist for KVRR.
Political career
Prior to moving to Minnesota, Kupec ran as a Green party candidate for the Albany County Legislature in 1999.{{Cite web |title=Robert Kupec Runs for County Legislature, 1999 – GPUS Elections Database |url=https://www.gpelections.org/races/robert-kupec-runs-for-county-legislature-1999/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-05 |title=McFeely: TV meteorologist Rob Kupec makes bid for Minnesota state senate |url=https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/mcfeely-tv-meteorologist-rob-kupec-makes-bid-for-minnesota-state-senate |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=InForum |language=en}}
In 2022, incumbent DFL state senator Kent Eken decided not to seek reelection.{{Cite web |last=Carvell |first=Tasha |title=Sen. Kent Eken retiring from Minnesota legislature |url=https://kfgo.com/2022/04/15/559557/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=The Mighty 790 KFGO {{!}} KFGO |language=en}} Kupec ran, and was unopposed in the DFL primary. He defeated Moorhead City Councilman and Republican Dan Bohmer in the general election, winning 52.5% of the vote compared to Bohmer's 46.8%.{{Cite web |last=Janke |first=Ryan |title=Kupec wins District 4 state senate seat |url=https://kfgo.com/2022/11/09/kupec-wins-district-4-state-senate-seat/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=The Mighty 790 KFGO {{!}} KFGO |language=en}}
Kupec serves on the following committees:{{Cite web |title=MN State Senate |url=https://www.senate.mn/members/member_bio.html?mem_id=1253 |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=www.senate.mn |language=en}}
- Vice Chair: Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
- Health and Human Services
- Higher Education
- Labor
Personal life
He is married to Deb White, a Moorhead City Councilwoman. They have one son, Quinn.{{Cite web |title=About Deb – Deb White for City Council |url=http://debformoorhead.com/about-deb/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |language=en-US}}
References
{{Minnesota State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kupec, Rob}}
Category:Democratic Party Minnesota state senators
Category:University at Albany, SUNY alumni
Category:People from Moorhead, Minnesota