Meet Bob

Born and raised in North Dakota, I learned at an early age the importance of public service. My father, Martin “Buck” Stenehjem, taught us that public service is a great and noble endeavor.

The Stenehjem family has a long history of Republican service. In 1950, my grandfather, Martin Sr. ran for Congress. My grandmother, Emma, was chairwoman of the Republican Party in Ward County and was active in the women’s suffrage movement. When Bill Langer ran for U.S. Senate, Emma was his campaign manager and he carried every county in the state!

My father, Buck, ran for the state Senate in Renville County and in 1964 ran for Commissioner of the Dept. of Agriculture and Labor at the state Republican Convention.

My aunt, Gerridee Stenehjem Wheeler, served as Republican National Committee Woman from 1972-1980.

Additionally, four other relatives have served or currently serve in the ND state Legislature, and the Stenehjem family holds the distinction of being the only family in the nation to have had three brothers serving the Legislature at the same time (Rep. Al Stenehjem, Wahpeton; Senator Wayne Stenehjem, Grand Forks, now ND Attorney General; and Senator Bob Stenehjem, Bismarck).

My own public service career began at an early age as a member of the Teenage Republicans, then on to the College Republicans. In 1991, I was elected chair of the District 32 Republican Party and in 1992, I ran successfully to win a seat in the state Senate representing District 30 in Bismarck.

My Legislative experience includes serving on the Human Services and Finance and Tax Committees and serving as the Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. In 2001, I was elected by my peers to serve as the Senate Majority Leader, a position I currently hold.

I have also served as Chairman of the Legislative Council from 2003-2006, chairman of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation in 2003, and am the current Vice-Chair of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation, and the National Chairman of the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee.

Other Stenehjem relatives having served or currently in public service:

• Albert Stenehjem, Arnegard
  House 1913-1914
• Iver Drovdal, Arnegard
  House 1941-1946
• Paul Stenehjem, Devils Lake
  House 1965-1966
• David ‘Skip’ Drovdahl, Arnegard
  House 1993- current
• Wayne Stenehjem, Grand Forks
  Attorney General 2000-current