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John Hoeven

From Alfawiki
John Hoeven
Born
John Henry Hoeven III

(1957-03-13) March 13, 1957 (age 69)
Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Occupation(s)Banker, politician
Years active1986–present
Known forSenior U.S. senator from North Dakota since 2011; 31st governor of North Dakota (2000–2010)

John Henry Hoeven III ( ; born March 13, 1957) is an American banker and politician currently serving as the senior U.S. senator representing North Dakota since 2011. Affiliated with the Republican Party, Hoeven previously held the position of the 31st governor of North Dakota from 2000 until 2010.

Hoeven secured election to the U.S. Senate in 2010, taking over from Senator Byron Dorgan, who chose not to run for another term. Following the retirement of Kent Conrad in 2013, Hoeven assumed the role of North Dakota’s senior senator, with Heidi Heitkamp, a former rival in gubernatorial elections, succeeding Conrad.

Prior to his tenure as governor, Hoeven occupied leadership roles within the banking sector, most notably serving as president of the Bank of North Dakota, the nation’s sole state-owned bank, from 1993 through 2000. He also holds a seat on the board of directors at First Western Bank & Trust. With an estimated net worth of $45 million, Hoeven ranks among the wealthiest members of the U.S. Senate. Since 2013, he has been recognized as the dean of North Dakota’s congressional delegation.

Early life and education

Born in Bismarck, North Dakota, Hoeven is the son of Patricia "Trish" (née Chapman) and John Henry "Jack" Hoeven, Jr., who was both owner and chairman of a bank located in Minot, North Dakota. His ancestry traces back to Dutch, Swedish, and English origins.

Hoeven graduated with honors from Dartmouth College in 1979, where he participated in the Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity and was a member of the men's golf team. He later earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 1981.

Banking career

Between 1986 and 1993, Hoeven served as executive vice president at First Western Bank & Trust, a financial institution acquired by his father in 1970. At one point, he owned a 39% stake in Westbrand, Inc., the parent company of that bank. From 1993 until 2000, under Governor Ed Schafer, Hoeven was president and CEO of the Bank of North Dakota.

2000

In the 2000 gubernatorial race, Hoeven ran as a Republican candidate and defeated Democratic NPL nominee Heidi Heitkamp, capturing 55% of the vote to become governor.

2004

Hoeven secured reelection against Democratic-NPL candidate Joe Satrom, winning with 71% support.

2008

On November 13, 2007, Hoeven announced his campaign for a third term as governor, actively campaigning across major cities. He won reelection with 74% of votes against Democratic-NPL nominee Tim Mathern, becoming the first governor in North Dakota history to secure three four-year terms. However, William L. Guy remains the longest-serving governor with a total of twelve years in office.

Tenure

During his governorship, Hoeven prioritized broadening and diversifying North Dakota's economy, achieving a real GDP growth of approximately 49.5%. Beginning in 2000, he spearheaded development of a multi-resource energy initiative that provided incentives across various sectors, establishing North Dakota as a leading energy producer and exporter. His administration oversaw job creation totaling nearly 40,000 positions while wages and incomes increased at rates surpassing national averages. For several consecutive years, North Dakota led all states in export growth. By late 2006, state financial reserves exceeded $600 million and later grew beyond $700 million.

In December 2009, Hoeven earned recognition as the most popular governor nationwide with an approval rating of 87%. By January 2007, he had become the longest-serving sitting governor in the United States since his initial inauguration in December 2000 under provisions of the North Dakota Constitution.

2010

On January 11, 2010, Hoeven declared his intention to run for the North Dakota Senate seat that was left open by Byron Dorgan. He won the election against Democratic-NPL candidate Tracy Potter with 76% of the vote, marking the first time a Republican from North Dakota had been elected to the Senate since 1987.

2016

Hoeven successfully won reelection to the Senate in 2016.

2022

In the 2022 election, Hoeven earned a third term in the Senate.

Tenure

Hoeven has held the position of dean of North Dakota’s congressional delegation since 2013. By the year 2018, he was counted among the top seven wealthiest senators in the United States.

While serving as chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee during the 116th Congress, Hoeven was assigned an F rating by the nonpartisan Lugar Center’s Congressional Oversight Hearing Index.

Committee assignments

Political positions

Hoeven initially had a brief association with the Democratic-NPL Party before becoming actively involved with the Republican Party. His political outlook combines conservative views with some moderate approaches, including advocating for enhanced education funding, ethics reforms, improved teacher pay, and greater infrastructure spending. A significant example of his bipartisan cooperation occurred on August 10, 2021, when Hoeven was one of 19 Senate Republicans who joined Democrats to approve the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Crime

Hoeven favors tightening parole eligibility for violent criminals and believes that drug policy enforcement should be primarily handled by individual states.

Economy and employment

He opposed the Employee Free Choice Act, particularly objecting to its card check provisions.

Energy and environment

Hoeven supports expanding oil extraction in the near term while considering alternative energy sources as a future solution. He has been a vocal advocate for the Keystone Pipeline, claiming it has never experienced leaks and minimizing environmental concerns despite documented spills in 2010 and 2016. In 2015, he introduced an amendment affirming the reality of climate change and its human causes but contended that the Keystone Pipeline would not exacerbate these effects. His rating from the League of Conservation Voters in 2018 was 7%.

Gun policy

Consistently endorsing pro-gun measures, Hoeven has received an A+ rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund, which has repeatedly supported his gubernatorial and senatorial campaigns. After the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016, he voted in favor of expanded background checks and funding research on mass shootings but opposed universal background checks and prohibiting gun purchases by individuals on terrorist watchlists, citing concerns about due process and judicial oversight.

Women's Issues

Hoeven identifies as pro-life, opposing abortion except in cases involving rape, incest, or when the mother's life is at risk. He stands against government funding for elective abortions and supports the Hyde Amendment, which limits federal abortion funding to these exceptions. In 2012, he voted to renew the Violence Against Women Act.

Israel Anti-Boycott Act

In April 2017, Hoeven co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.720), which prevents federal contractors from participating in boycotts targeting Israel or Israeli settlements.

Immigration

In 2013, Hoeven endorsed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013.

LGBT rights

Hoeven voted against prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in 2013 and opposes same-sex marriage. In 2022, he voted against extending federal protections to same-sex married couples.

January 6th

On May 28, 2021, Hoeven voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.

Taxes

While initially supporting investment tax credits for agricultural investments through 2025, Hoeven later backed a Republican budget plan that limited farm subsidies.

Further reading


External links


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