Conrad, Kent (1948-…), served as a member of the United States Senate from 1987 to 2013. Conrad, a Democrat, represented North Dakota. As a senator, Conrad worked to reduce and prevent federal budget deficits. He chaired the Senate Budget Committee from 2001 to 2003 and from 2006 until his retirement.
Conrad was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, on March 12, 1948. He received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in 1971 and a Master of Business Administration degree from George Washington University in 1975.
From 1974 to 1980, Conrad served as assistant to the North Dakota tax commissioner. He became tax commissioner himself in 1981 and served until 1986, when he was elected to the U.S. Senate.
Conrad began his Senate term in 1987. He did not run for a second full term in 1992, but instead won a special election to finish the term of North Dakota Senator Quentin Burdick, who had died. Conrad was elected to a full six-year term in 1994 and was reelected in 2000 and 2006. As a senator, Conrad served on committees on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Finance; and Indian Affairs. Conrad did not seek reelection to the Senate in 2012.
