Rob Kupec

American politician
Rob Kupec
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 4, 2023
Preceded byKent Eken
Personal details
Born (1968-11-27) November 27, 1968 (age 55)
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseDeb White
Children1
ResidenceMoorhead, Minnesota
Alma materState University of New York-Albany
ProfessionMeteorologist

Robert J. Kupec (born November 27, 1968) is a Minnesota politician and member of the Minnesota Senate. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), he represents Senate District 4, which includes most of Clay and Becker counties. Prior to seeking elected office, he was for a decade the chief meteorologist at KVRR and previously at WDAY-TV.

Early life, education, and career

Kupec was born in eastern Connecticut.[1] Both of his parents were active union organizers. He attended college at the State University of New York-Albany, studying Atmospheric Science, and earned a degree in 1992.[2] He moved to Moorhead, Minnesota in 2000, and began work as a meteorologist, first for WDAY-TV and then served as chief meteorologist for KVRR.

Political career

Prior to moving to Minnesota, Kupec ran as a Green party candidate for the Albany County Legislature in 1999.[3][4]

In 2022, incumbent DFL state senator Kent Eken decided not to seek reelection.[5] Kupec ran, and was unopposed in the DFL primary. He defeated Moorhead City Councilman and Republican Dan Bohmer in the general election, winning 52.5% of the vote compared to Bohmer's 46.8%.[6]

Kupec serves on the following committees:[7]

  • Vice Chair: Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development
  • Health and Human Services
  • Higher Education
  • Labor

Personal life

He is married to Deb White, a Moorhead City Councilwoman.[4] They have one son, Quinn.[8]

References

  1. ^ "About". Kupec 4 MN Senate. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  2. ^ "Rob Kupec". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  3. ^ "Robert Kupec Runs for County Legislature, 1999 – GPUS Elections Database". Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  4. ^ a b "McFeely: TV meteorologist Rob Kupec makes bid for Minnesota state senate". InForum. 2022-05-05. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  5. ^ Carvell, Tasha. "Sen. Kent Eken retiring from Minnesota legislature". The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  6. ^ Janke, Ryan. "Kupec wins District 4 state senate seat". The Mighty 790 KFGO | KFGO. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  7. ^ "MN State Senate". www.senate.mn. Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  8. ^ "About Deb – Deb White for City Council". Retrieved 2023-03-14.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Members of the Minnesota Senate
93rd Minnesota Legislature (2023–2025)
President
Bobby Joe Champion (DFL)
President pro tempore
Ann Rest (DFL)
Majority Leader
Erin Murphy (DFL)
Minority Leader
Mark Johnson (R)
  1. ▌Mark Johnson (R)
  2. ▌Steven Green (R)
  3. ▌Grant Hauschild (DFL)
  4. ▌Rob Kupec (DFL)
  5. ▌Paul Utke (R)
  6. ▌Justin Eichorn (R)
  7. ▌Robert Farnsworth (R)
  8. ▌Jen McEwen (DFL)
  9. ▌Jordan Rasmusson (R)
  10. ▌Nathan Wesenberg (R)
  11. ▌Jason Rarick (R)
  12. ▌Torrey Westrom (R)
  13. ▌Jeff Howe (R)
  14. ▌Aric Putnam (DFL)
  15. ▌Gary Dahms (R)
  16. ▌Andrew Lang (R)
  17. ▌Glenn Gruenhagen (R)
  18. ▌Nick Frentz (DFL)
  19. ▌John Jasinski (R)
  20. ▌Steve Drazkowski (R)
  21. ▌Bill Weber (R)
  22. ▌Rich Draheim (R)
  23. ▌Gene Dornink (R)
  24. ▌Carla Nelson (R)
  25. ▌Liz Boldon (DFL)
  26. ▌Jeremy Miller (R)
  27. ▌Andrew Mathews (R)
  28. ▌Mark Koran (R)
  29. ▌Bruce Anderson (R)
  30. ▌Eric Lucero (R)
  31. ▌Cal Bahr (R)
  32. ▌Michael Kreun (R)
  33. ▌Karin Housley (R)
  34. ▌John Hoffman (DFL)
  35. ▌Jim Abeler (R)
  36. ▌Heather Gustafson (DFL)
  37. ▌Warren Limmer (R)
  38. ▌Susan Pha (DFL)
  39. ▌Mary Kunesh-Podein (DFL)
  40. ▌John Marty (DFL)
  41. ▌Judy Seeberger (DFL)
  42. ▌Bonnie Westlin (DFL)
  43. ▌Ann Rest (DFL)
  44. ▌Tou Xiong (DFL)
  45. ▌Kelly Morrison (DFL)
  46. ▌Ron Latz (DFL)
  47. ▌Nicole Mitchell (DFL)
  48. ▌Julia Coleman (R)
  49. ▌Steve Cwodzinski (DFL)
  50. ▌Alice Mann (DFL)
  51. ▌Melissa Wiklund (DFL)
  52. ▌Jim Carlson (DFL)
  53. ▌Matt Klein (DFL)
  54. ▌Eric Pratt (R)
  55. ▌Lindsey Port (DFL)
  56. ▌Erin Maye Quade (DFL)
  57. ▌Zach Duckworth (R)
  58. ▌Bill Lieske (R)
  59. ▌Bobby Joe Champion (DFL)
  60. ▌Kari Dziedzic (DFL)
  61. ▌Scott Dibble (DFL)
  62. ▌Omar Fateh (DFL)
  63. ▌Zaynab Mohamed (DFL)
  64. ▌Erin Murphy (DFL)
  65. ▌Sandy Pappas (DFL)
  66. ▌Clare Oumou Verbeten (DFL)
  67. ▌Foung Hawj (DFL)