From the Associated Press/Tacoma News Tribune
North Dakota Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer says billionaire oilman Harold Hamm has agreed to be his finance chairman if he runs against Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in November.
Hamm is the chairman of Oklahoma City-based Continental Resources Inc., which is one the oldest and biggest oil drillers in North Dakota. The oil tycoon also endorsed Donald Trump for president and had been under consideration for energy secretary.
Cramer says Hamm served as his finance chairman during his successful House bid in 2012.
The congressman says he’s reconsidering a Senate bid in North Dakota because people from his party don’t think Heitkamp can be defeated without him. Cramer says Hamm was among those who have encouraged him to run for the seat.
The head of North Dakota’s Republican Party says U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer is the GOP’s “best hope” of defeating Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in November.
Kelly Armstrong says Cramer is popular in North Dakota and has a proven conservative record. Armstrong says that if Cramer runs, he would have far better name recognition than state Sen. Tom Campbell, who is currently the only Republican challenging Heitkamp.
Cramer says he’s reconsidering a Senate bid in North Dakota because people from his party don’t think Heitkamp can be defeated without him.
Armstrong says the GOP would still have a shot at defeating Heitkamp if Cramer does not run because she is a Democrat in a heavily Republican state.
Former state Republican Party Chairman Gary Emineth dropped out of the race Tuesday because he expects Cramer to get in.
Cramer says he expects to make a decision by the weekend.
