John Hoeven

John Henry Hoeven III (/ˈhoʊvən/ HO-ven; born March 13, 1957) is an American banker and politician serving as the senior U.S. Senator from North Dakota since 2011. A Republican, he served as the 31st governor of North Dakota from 2000 to 2010. In 2010, Hoeven was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding Senator Byron Dorgan, who chose not to seek reelection. Hoeven became North Dakota's senior senator in 2013 after Kent Conrad retired and was succeeded by Heidi Heitkamp, who was once Hoeven's opponent for the governor's office. Hoeven was reelected in 2016.

John Hoeven
United States Senator from North Dakota
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011 Serving with Kevin Cramer
Preceded by	Byron Dorgan
Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee
In office January 3, 2017 – February 3, 2021
Preceded by	John Barrasso
Succeeded by	Brian Schatz
31st Governor of North Dakota
In office December 15, 2000 – December 7, 2010
Lieutenant	Jack Dalrymple
Preceded by	Ed Schafer
Succeeded by	Jack Dalrymple
12th President of the Bank of North Dakota
In office 1993–2000
Preceded by	Joseph Lamb
Succeeded by	Eric Hardmeyer
Personal details
Born	John Henry Hoeven III March 13, 1957 Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Republican (1998–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (before 1996) Democratic (1996–1998)
Spouse(s)	Mikey Laird
Children	2
Education	Dartmouth College (BA) Northwestern University (MBA)
Net worth	$17.9 million (2018)[1]
Signature
Website	Senate website

Before being elected governor, Hoeven was a banker who served in numerous executive roles at various banks, most notably as president of the nation's only state-owned bank, the Bank of North Dakota, from 1993 to 2000.[2] He is on the board of directors at First Western Bank & Trust and has an estimated net worth of $45 million, making him one of the wealthiest U.S. Senators.[3][4][5]

Early life

Hoeven was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, the son of Patricia "Trish" (née Chapman) and John Henry "Jack" Hoeven, Jr. His father owned a bank in Minot, North Dakota, where he worked as the president and chairman.[6] Hoeven's ancestry is Dutch, Swedish, and English.[7]

He studied at Dartmouth College, which his father also attended. Hoeven belonged to the Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity and graduated with honors. After graduating with an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, he managed the trust department at First Western Bank & Trust, an institution his father helped found.[8] From 1993 to 2000, he was the president and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota.

North Dakota governor

2000

In 2000 Hoeven ran for governor of North Dakota as a Republican and won, defeating Democratic NPL nominee Heidi Heitkamp, 55 to 45 percent.

2004

In 2004, when up for reelection, Hoeven faced Democratic-NPL nominee Joe Satrom. He was reelected with 71% of the vote.

2008

On November 13, 2008, Hoeven announced his candidacy for a third term and kicked off his campaign with stops in Fargo, Grand Forks, Bismarck and Minot.[9] On November 4, he was reelected with 74% of the vote over Democratic-NPL nominee Tim Mathern. It was the first time in North Dakota history that a governor won three four-year terms in office, though the record for serving is still maintained by Bill Guy, who served 12 years.

Tenure

Hoeven's governorship included the expansion and diversification of the state's economy, which led to a 49.5% increase in the state's real gross domestic product.[10] Beginning in 2000, he directed the development of a multi-resource energy program for the state with incentives in each energy sector, making North Dakota one of the largest energy-producing and exporting states in the country. The state gained nearly 40,000 new jobs during his tenure. Wages and personal incomes grew faster than the national average. For a few years, the state led the nation in export growth. In late 2006, the state's reserve rose past $600 million, and now is over $700 million.[11]

As of December 2009, Hoeven was the country's most popular governor. His approval rating stood at 87% with only 10% disapproving.[12] In January 2007, Hoeven became the nation's most senior governor, having been inaugurated on December 15, 2000, as established by the North Dakota Constitution.

U.S. Senate

On January 11, 2010, Hoeven announced he would run in the 2010 North Dakota Senate election for the seat being vacated by Byron Dorgan.[13] Hoeven defeated Democratic-NPL nominee Tracy Potter, 76% to 22%, making him the first Republican to represent North Dakota in the Senate since 1987.[14] Since 2013, Hoeven has been the dean—the most senior member—of North Dakota's congressional delegation. As of 2018, he was listed as one of the seven wealthiest U.S. Senators.[15]

For his tenure as the chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee in the 116th Congress, Hoeven earned an "F" grade from the non-partisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.[16]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Commodities, Markets, Trade and Risk Management
  • Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation
  • Subcommittee on Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agricultural Research (Chairman)
• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security (Chairman)
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Subcommittee on Energy
  • Subcommittee on National Parks
  • Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining
• Committee on Indian Affairs (Chairman)

Political positions

Hoeven was briefly a member of the Democratic-NPL Party before becoming active in the Republican Party as a district chair and volunteer.[17] He has walked a conservative line on some issues and a moderate one on others, including increasing education funding, ethics reform, compensation for teachers, as well as increased funding on infrastructure.[18]

Crime

Hoeven supports decreasing access to parole for offenders.[18] He believes that drug control policy should be a state issue, not a federal one.[19]

Economy and employment

Hoeven opposed the Employee Free Choice Act, which included a card check provision.[19]

Energy and environment

Hoeven believes that alternative fuels are a long-term solution but that increased oil drilling is required in the short term.[19] He has been a vocal advocate for the Keystone Pipeline, arguing that it has never leaked and that environmental risks have been exaggerated.[20][21] The Keystone Pipeline has leaked twice, in 2010 and in 2016.[22]

In 2015, Hoeven submitted an amendment asserting that climate change is real and that humans are contributing to it but also that the Keystone Pipeline would not contribute to climate change.[23] His League of Conservation Voters score was 7% for 2018.[24]

Gun policy

Hoeven consistently votes for pro-gun legislation and has earned an "A+" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA).[25] The NRA has endorsed him multiple times, including during his campaigns for governor in 2008 and senator in 2010.[26][27]

In June 2016, Hoeven voted in the Senate on four gun control proposals that were developed as a result of the Orlando nightclub shooting. He voted for Chuck Grassley's expansion of background checks and to provide funding to research the cause of mass shootings, and for John Cornyn's 72-hour wait period for purchases of guns by individuals on the terrorist watch list. He voted against Chris Murphy's proposal to require background checks for every gun sale, including online sales and at gun shows, and against Dianne Feinstein's proposal to ban anyone from the terrorist watchlist from purchasing a gun.[28] Hoeven voted against the latter bill due to its lack of "judicial oversight or due process".[29]

Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In April 2017, Hoeven co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which would bar federal contractors from participating in boycotts against Israel or Israeli settlement.[30][31]

Immigration

In 2013, Hoeven voted to pass Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013.[32]

LGBT rights

In 2013, Hoeven voted against banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.[33] He is against same-sex marriage.[34]

Taxes

Hoeven supports investment tax credits for farm investments.[19]

Women's issues

Hoeven identifies as pro-life, opposing abortion in all cases except for rape, incest, or threat to the mother's life. He opposes government funding for elective abortions and is a supporter of the Hyde Amendment, which permits federal funding for abortion services only under the above stated exceptions.[18] Hoeven voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2012.[18]

Electoral history

North Dakota gubernatorial election, 2000[35]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Hoeven	159,255	55.03%	-11.16%
	Democratic-NPL	Heidi Heitkamp	130,144	44.97%	+11.16%
	Write-ins		13	0.00%
Majority			29,111	10.06%	-22.32%
Turnout			289,412
	Republican hold		Swing

North Dakota gubernatorial election, 2004[36]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Hoeven (Incumbent)	220,803	71.26%	+16.23%
	Democratic-NPL	Joe Satrom	84,877	27.39%	-17.58%
	Libertarian	Roland Riemers	4,193	1.35%
Majority			135,926	43.87%	+33.81%
Turnout			309,873
	Republican hold		Swing

North Dakota gubernatorial election, 2008[37]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Hoeven (Incumbent)	235,009	74.44%	+3.19%
	Democratic-NPL	Tim Mathern	74,279	23.53%	-3.86%
	Independent	DuWayne Hendrickson	6,404	2.03%
Majority			160,730	50.91%	+7.05%
Turnout			315,692
	Republican hold		Swing

United States Senate election in North Dakota, 2010[38]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Hoeven	181,689	76.08%	+44.36%
	Democratic-NPL	Tracy Potter	52,955	22.17%	-46.11%
	Libertarian	Keith Hanson	3,890	1.63%	N/A
Majority			128,734	53.91%
Turnout			238,534	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic-NPL		Swing

2016 North Dakota Senate Republican primary results[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John Hoeven(Incumbent)	103,677	99.57%
	Republican	Write-in	445	0.43%
Total votes			104,122	100.00%

United States Senate election in North Dakota, 2016[40]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	John Hoeven (incumbent)	268,788	78.48%	+2.40%
	Democratic-NPL	Eliot Glassheim	58,116	16.97%	-5.20%
	Libertarian	Robert Marquette	10,556	3.08%	+1.45%
	Independent	James Germalic	4,675	1.36%	N/A
	n/a	Write-ins	366	0.11%	N/A
Total votes			'342,501'	'100.0%'	N/A
	Republican hold

References

1. "Ranking the Net Worth of the 115th". Retrieved August 5, 2019.
2. "Biography | U.S. Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota". www.hoeven.senate.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
3. "Our People". First Western Bank & Trust. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
4. Jr., Warren Cassell (2016-04-15). "Who Are America's Seven Richest Senators?". Investopedia. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
5. "John Hoeven- Net Worth – Personal Finances". OpenSecrets. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
6. News, Jill Schramm Minot Daily. "Jack Hoeven, father of U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, dies". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2018-12-07.
7. "John Henry Hoeven III". RootsWeb. Ancestry.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
8. "First Western | News, Sports, Jobs – Minot Daily News". Retrieved 2018-12-07.
9. http://hoevengovernor.com/allmedia.asp?mediaID=65&sz=63728
10. "Percent change in real GDP of North Dakota between 2001 and 2008". Wolfram Alpha. Wolfram Alpha LLC. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
11. "Governor John Hoeven". Archived from the original on 2010-04-19.
12. Knepper, Alex (January 7, 2010). "Who Is John Hoeven?". Race 4 2008. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
13. Cillizza, Chris (January 11, 2010). "Republicans get Hoeven in North Dakota". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
14. Ogden, Eloise (November 3, 2010). "Hoeven is North Dakota's first Republican senator in 24 years". Minot Daily News. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
15. Cassell, Warren (January 30, 2018). "Who Are America's Seven Richest Senators?". investopedia. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
16. "Congressional Oversight Hearing Index". Welcome to the Congressional Oversight Hearing Index. The Lugar Center.
17. Kleefeld, Eric (January 27, 2010). "Flashback: Republican Senate Candidate Hoeven Rejected GOP And Declared Himself A Democrat In 1996". Talking Points Memo. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
18. Bendery, Jennifer (April 26, 2012). "Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Overwhelmingly Passes Senate". Huffington Post.
19. "John Hoeven on the Issues". On The Issues. OnTheIssues.org & the SpeakOut Foundation. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
20. Kupec, Rob (March 5, 2012). "Senator Hoeven working to revive Keystone Pipeline Project". WDAY. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012.
21. Hoeven, John (February 24, 2012). "Why we need the Keystone oil pipeline". CNN.
22. Neuhauser, Alan (April 8, 2016). "Keystone Leak Worse Than Thought". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
23. KolliparaJan. 21, Puneet; 2015; Pm, 6:30 (2015-01-21). "Wrap-up: U.S. Senate agrees climate change is real—but not necessarily that humans are causing it". Science | AAAS. Retrieved 2019-06-16.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
24. "Check out Senator John Hoeven's Environmental Voting Record". League of Conservation Voters Scorecard. 2019-03-26. Retrieved 2019-06-16.
25. "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
26. "NRA-PVF Endorses North Dakota Governor John Hoeven Earns "A+" rating from NRA-PVF". NRA-PVF. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
27. "NRA-PVF Endorses John Hoeven for U.S. Senate in North Dakota". NRA-PVF. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
28. Abbott, Rick. "How they voted: North Dakota, Minnesota senators on gun bill". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
29. Rupard, Wade. "North Dakota, Minnesota senators take different stances on federal..." Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
30. "Cosponsors - S.720 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Israel Anti-Boycott Act". www.congress.gov. 23 March 2017.
31. Levitz, Eric (2017-07-19). "43 Senators Want to Make It a Federal Crime to Boycott Israeli Settlements". Intelligencer.
32. Roll call vote 168, via Senate.gov
33. "Meet the 32 Senate Republicans Who Voted to Continue LGBT Discrimination in the Workplace".
34. Smith, Nick. "N.D. delegation split on gay marriage". Bismarck Tribune. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
35. "ND Secretary of State Election Management System – Statewide Election Results". web.apps.state.nd.us. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
36. "Election Results Portal". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
37. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2011-05-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
38. "Official Results General Election". North Dakota Secretary of State. November 2, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
39. "North Dakota Secretary of State". ND Secretary of State. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
40. "North Dakota Official Results General Election – November 8, 2016". North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved December 20, 2016.

Further reading

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress

External links

• Senator John Hoeven official U.S. Senate website
• John Hoeven for Senate
• John Hoeven at Curlie
• Appearances on C-SPAN