Biography:

Byron L. Dorgan was born in Dickinson, N.D., and resides in Bismarck, N.D. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of North Dakota in 1965, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Denver in 1966.

Dorgan served as a deputy North Dakota tax commissioner from 1966 to 1969, then was appointed state tax commissioner to fill a vacancy. He was elected to the post twice afterward.

He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1974, but won election to the U.S. House in 1980 and served six terms, winning his last five House races by at least 65 percent of the vote.

In 1992, he won a seat in the U.S. Senate. He was re-elected in 1998.

Dorgan and his wife, Kimberly, have two children. He has one son from a previous marriage.

Past Campaigns:

Byron Dorgan won the U.S. Senate seat vacated in 1992 by Democrat Kent Conrad, the man he once hired in 1974 to run his unsuccessful House campaign.

In 1992, Dorgan defeated Republican Steve Sydness, a Fargo businessman, to win Conrad's Senate seat. Dorgan captured 59 percent of the vote, to Sydness' 39 percent.

Dorgan was re-elected in 1998, defeating Republican Donna Nalewaja with 63 percent of the vote. Dorgan first ran for the U.S. House in 1974, but lost to Republican incumbent Mark Andrews.

Andrews moved to the U.S. Senate in 1980, and Dorgan won election to the House, defeating state Sen. James Smykowski of Cayuga. Dorgan was re-elected easily to five consecutive House terms, winning each time with at least 65 percent of the vote. Before coming to Congress, Dorgan was North Dakota's tax commissioner. He was appointed to the post in 1966 and won re-election twice.

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