Byron Dorgan

Byron L. Dorgan was reelected to the U.S. Senate in November 2004 by an overwhelming majority after serving two terms in the U.S. Senate and six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1998, Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle named Dorgan the Chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee -- the first North Dakotan to serve in the Democratic leadership. Dorgan continues to hold that post under the leadership of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. This position was held by Lyndon B. Johnson before he became Majority Leader. From 1996 - 1998, Dorgan served in the Democratic leadership as Assistant Floor Leader. Throughout his career in both the House and Senate, Dorgan has fought for the interests of rural America. He has worked to create jobs and economic opportunity in North Dakota, to establish strong farm policies for family farmers and to demand fairer trade policies. He has fought to assure that rural areas have access to cutting-edge technology and has promoted computers and Internet access in our nation's schools. Dorgan has also been a leader in the fight for sensible spending reductions and responsible government by cutting government waste and fighting for a balanced budget amendment while protecting our most important priorities: Social Security, Medicare, education and the environment. In 1997, when record flooding devastated North Dakota homes and communities, Dorgan worked tirelessly to ensure a swift federal response. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, he steered over $1 billion in disaster aid for the upper Midwest. He also fought and won relief for farmers and ranchers who lost their livestock herds. Senator Dorgan was raised in the farming community of Regent, North Dakota. His family worked in the farm equipment and petroleum business and raised cattle and horses. He graduated from a high school class of nine students. He is married to Kim Dorgan and has four children: Scott, Shelly (deceased), Brendon and Haley. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of North Dakota in 1965 and went on to earn his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Denver. He later worked for a Denver-based aerospace firm. Dorgan's public service career began at age 26, as the youngest constitutional officer in North Dakota's history when he was appointed State Tax Commissioner by the Governor. He was later elected to that office by large margins in both 1972 and 1976, and was chosen one of "Ten Outstanding State Officials" in the United States by the Washington Monthly magazine.