Heidi Heitkamp
Encyclopedia
Heidi Heitkamp is a lawyer and politician from the U.S. state
of North Dakota
. She served as the 28th attorney general
of the state from 1993 to 2001. She ran
on the Democratic-NPL ticket for governor
in 2000, losing to John Hoeven
. She was considering a bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate election to replace retiring Senator Byron Dorgan
. On March 3, 2010, she declined the rematch against John Hoeven, who was ultimately elected to replace Dorgan. In November 2011, Heitkamp declared her run to replace Kent Conrad
as U.S. Senator from North Dakota in the 2012 election
.
to represent them as an attorney.
In 1988, incumbent State Tax Commissioner Kent Conrad
decided to retire in order to run for the U.S. Senate that year
. Heitkamp ran for the position and won the statewide election with 66% of the vote against Republican Marshall Moore. She served that position until 1992.
Nick Spaeth decided to retire in order to run for Governor of North Dakota
that year. Heitkamp ran for the position and won with 62% of the vote. In 1996, she won re-election with 64% of the vote.
While serving as the Attorney General of North Dakota, her biggest achievement was working on the lawsuit filed against big tobacco. She spearheaded the campaign to hold big tobacco companies responsible for their actions and succeeded in obtaining large amounts of money for each state to use in tobacco cessation programs. The lawsuit also placed restrictions on allowable advertising for tobacco companies.
, CEO of Bank of North Dakota
, also ran unopposed. During her campaign for governor it was announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer
, which is now in remission. Hoeven defeated her 55% to 45%. She won only 12 of the state's 53 counties. Hoeven would go on to become an extremely popular Governor and won re-election twice (2004, 2008) with wide margins. He was elected U.S. Senator in 2010.
in 2003.
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.
decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth full term. On November 8, 2011 Heitkamp announced she would seek the open seat. She vows to be "an independent voice."
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
. She served as the 28th attorney general
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
of the state from 1993 to 2001. She ran
North Dakota gubernatorial election, 2000
The 2000 North Dakota gubernatorial election took place on 2 November 2000 for the post of Governor of North Dakota. Incumbent Republican Governor Ed Schafer decided not to run for re-election. Republican nominee John Hoeven won the election. Heitkamp had led in the polls until early October, when...
on the Democratic-NPL ticket for governor
Governor of North Dakota
The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
in 2000, losing to John Hoeven
John Hoeven
John Henry Hoeven III is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Republican Party. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Kent Conrad retires from the Senate in January 2013.Hoeven served as the 31st Governor of North Dakota,...
. She was considering a bid for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate election to replace retiring Senator Byron Dorgan
Byron Dorgan
Byron Leslie Dorgan is a former United States Senator from North Dakota and is now a senior policy advisor for a Washington, DC law firm. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party. In the Senate, he was Chairman of the Democratic...
. On March 3, 2010, she declined the rematch against John Hoeven, who was ultimately elected to replace Dorgan. In November 2011, Heitkamp declared her run to replace Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
as U.S. Senator from North Dakota in the 2012 election
United States Senate election in North Dakota, 2012
The 2012 United States Senate election in North Dakota will take place on November 6, 2012 concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election as well as other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic-NPL U.S...
.
Early life, education, and early career
Heitkamp was born in 1955. She got a B.A. from the University of North Dakota-Grand Forks and got a J.D. from Lewis and Clark Law School. From 1980-1981, she was an attorney for the state's Environmental Protection Agency. After that, she was hired by the Office of the North Dakota State Tax CommissionerNorth Dakota State Tax Commissioner
The North Dakota State Tax Commissioner is a political office in North Dakota. The commissioner's duty is to exercise general supervision over all state-levied taxes, as well as related oversight, including over property assessors...
to represent them as an attorney.
In 1988, incumbent State Tax Commissioner Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
decided to retire in order to run for the U.S. Senate that year
United States Senate election in North Dakota, 1988
The 1988 U.S. Senate election for the state of North Dakota was held November 8, 1988. The incumbent, North Dakota Democratic NPL Party Senator Quentin Burdick, sought and received re-election to his sixth term, defeating Republican candidate Earl Strinden.Only Burdick filed as a Dem-NPLer, and...
. Heitkamp ran for the position and won the statewide election with 66% of the vote against Republican Marshall Moore. She served that position until 1992.
Attorney General
In 1992, incumbent Democrat North Dakota Attorney GeneralNorth Dakota Attorney General
The North Dakota Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the North Dakota state government. The current Attorney General is Wayne Stenehjem...
Nick Spaeth decided to retire in order to run for Governor of North Dakota
Governor of North Dakota
The Governor of North Dakota is the chief executive of North Dakota. The current Governor is Jack Dalrymple. The Governor has the right to sign and laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly, into emergency session. The Governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The...
that year. Heitkamp ran for the position and won with 62% of the vote. In 1996, she won re-election with 64% of the vote.
While serving as the Attorney General of North Dakota, her biggest achievement was working on the lawsuit filed against big tobacco. She spearheaded the campaign to hold big tobacco companies responsible for their actions and succeeded in obtaining large amounts of money for each state to use in tobacco cessation programs. The lawsuit also placed restrictions on allowable advertising for tobacco companies.
2000 gubernatorial election
Incumbent Republican Governor Ed Schafer decided to retire instead of seeking a third term. Heitkamp ran and was unopposed in the primary. On the Republican side, John HoevenJohn Hoeven
John Henry Hoeven III is the junior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Republican Party. He is expected to become the state's senior senator when Kent Conrad retires from the Senate in January 2013.Hoeven served as the 31st Governor of North Dakota,...
, CEO of Bank of North Dakota
Bank of North Dakota
The Bank of North Dakota is a state-owned and -run financial institution based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Under state law the bank is the State of North Dakota doing business as the Bank of North Dakota....
, also ran unopposed. During her campaign for governor it was announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
, which is now in remission. Hoeven defeated her 55% to 45%. She won only 12 of the state's 53 counties. Hoeven would go on to become an extremely popular Governor and won re-election twice (2004, 2008) with wide margins. He was elected U.S. Senator in 2010.
Post-Attorney General career
Heitkamp became director of the Dakota Gasification CompanyDakota Gasification Company
The Dakota Gasification Company started in 1984 in Beulah, North Dakota with the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. The plant uses lignite coal to make synthetic natural gas using coal gasification. 16 thousand tons of coal are processed daily. The synthetic natural gas is piped to the Northern Border...
in 2003.
Her brother, Joel Heitkamp
Joel Heitkamp
Joel C. Heitkamp is a former North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party member of the North Dakota Senate, representing the 26th district from 1994 to 2008.Heitkamp is also a talk show host...
, 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
News and Views
News and Views is a talk radio program produced by KFGO in Fargo, North Dakota and also aired on stations KFYR-AM in Bismarck, ND and KCJB-AM in Minot, ND.News and Views runs weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m...
, which is broadcast on Clear Channel stations in North Dakota.
2012 U.S. Senate election
Incumbent Democrat U.S. Senator Kent ConradKent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
decided to retire instead of seeking a fourth full term. On November 8, 2011 Heitkamp announced she would seek the open seat. She vows to be "an independent voice."
Career timeline
- Attorney, Environmental Protection Agency, 1980–1981
- Attorney, Office of the North Dakota State Tax Commissioner, 1981–1986
- North Dakota Tax Commissioner, 1986–1992
- North Dakota Attorney General, 1993–2000
- Director, Dakota GasDakota Gasification CompanyThe Dakota Gasification Company started in 1984 in Beulah, North Dakota with the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. The plant uses lignite coal to make synthetic natural gas using coal gasification. 16 thousand tons of coal are processed daily. The synthetic natural gas is piped to the Northern Border...
, 2003–present