WASHINGTON _ GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer said Thursday he does not plan to run for Senate in North Dakota and instead will run for re-election to the House. He had faced pressure from President Donald Trump to challenge Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.
Cramer told WZFG-AM's Scott Hannen Show in North Dakota that passing on a Senate run was the best decision for his family.
"We decided that the best thing for our family, for me, and I think, frankly for North Dakota, is for me to seek re-election to the House of Representatives," Cramer said. As the at-large member, Cramer represents the entire state in the House.
"And while it's still a robust campaign, there's still lots of work to do, it's far less intense than flying around the country for the next few months, every weekend going to Chicago, New York, cities far away to raise adequate funds to run," Cramer said.
The announcement comes after Cramer met with President Donald Trump about the race. Cramer said Trump encouraged him to run and that he was leaning towards running. A weekend of discussions and prayer with his family while weighing various factors resulted in his decision not to run, Cramer said.
Cramer's decision leaves the GOP field to state Sen. Tom Campbell, who is also independently wealthy. Campbell is a co-founder of Campbell Farms and chairman of Choice Financial Banks Holding Company. He said he supports Trump's agenda.
"With today's announcement, now is the time for North Dakota conservatives to focus squarely on defeating Senator Heitkamp this November, and I am committed to doing exactly that," Cramer said in a statement. "I look forward to providing Kevin with a conservative partner in the Senate after I defeat Senator Heitkamp."
Heitkamp is one of five Senate Democrats up for re-election in states Trump won by double digits in 2016. Trump carried the Sioux State by 36 points. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the North Dakota race Tossup.
