Rob Kupec
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 4th district
Assumed office
January 4, 2023
Preceded byKent Eken
Personal details
Born (1968-11-27) November 27, 1968
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. 1 2 "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.
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