Heitkamp, Heidi, 1955-

Mary Kathryn Heitkamp (born October 30, 1955) is an American businesswoman, lawyer and politician who served as a United States senator from North Dakota from 2013 to 2019. A member of the North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party, she was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from North Dakota. Heitkamp served as the 28th North Dakota attorney general from 1992 to 2000 and 20th North Dakota tax commissioner from 1986 to 1992. As of 2021, she is the last Democrat to hold statewide office in North Dakota.

Born in Breckenridge, Minnesota and raised in Mantador, North Dakota, Heitkamp earned a B.A. from the University of North Dakota in 1977 and a J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School in 1980. In 1980 and 1981, Heitkamp worked as an attorney for the United States Environmental Protection Agency. She next worked as an attorney for North Dakota State Tax Commissioner Kent Conrad. She also became active in politics, joining the North Dakota Democratic–Nonpartisan League Party. In 1984, Heitkamp ran for North Dakota state auditor and lost to incumbent Republican Robert W. Peterson. In 1986, Conrad resigned as tax commissioner after his election to the U.S. Senate. Governor George A. Sinner appointed Heitkamp tax commissioner before she ran for the office and was elected with 66% of the vote against Republican Marshall Moore. She served in that position until 1992. In 1992, the incumbent North Dakota attorney general, Nick Spaeth, retired in order to run for governor. Heitkamp ran for attorney general and won with 62% of the vote. She was reelected in 1996 with 64% of the vote.

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