John Hoeven

On January 5, 2011, John Hoeven was sworn in as North Dakota’s 22nd U.S. Senator, following ten years of service as the state’s governor.

Senator Hoeven is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee; the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.  He serves as the Ranking Member on the Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee.

Senator Hoeven’s priorities in the Senate have focused on working to implement the same kinds of policies on a national level that have helped grow and diversify North Dakota’s economy.  That includes creating a business climate that fosters job growth, developing a national energy policy that encourages development of both traditional and renewable resources, and reducing our budget deficits and national debt.  The Senator believes that a commonsense approach that fosters free enterprise and empowers people will build our national economy and create jobs for our country.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Senator Hoeven served as governor of North Dakota.  Under his leadership, North Dakota expanded and diversified its economy and gained thousands of new jobs.  North Dakota’s wages and personal income today continue to grow faster than the national average, and in recent years the state has led the nation in export growth.  North Dakota has also balanced its budget, set aside more than $1 billion in reserves for the future, cut taxes, and invested in priorities like education, health care, strong law enforcement, and quality infrastructure.

As governor, Hoeven also placed a strong focus on developing North Dakota’s vast energy resources.  Beginning in 2001, he initiated EmPower ND, a comprehensive energy program for the state that included all energy resources, as well as a conservation component.  North Dakota stands as one of the largest energy producing and exporting states in the nation, and in 2012 ranked as the second largest oil-producing state in the country.

Senator Hoeven was born in Bismarck.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in 1979 and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University in 1981.  He served as executive vice president of First Western Bank in Minot from 1986 to 1993 and established a strong position of service in many civic, community, and economic development activities prior to elective office.  From 1993-2000, he served as president and CEO of Bank of North Dakota (BND), which grew from $900 million to $1.6 billion under his leadership.

Hoeven and his wife Mical (Mikey) live in Bismarck. They have two children, Marcela and Jack, and one grandson, Crew.