| Kylie Oversen | |
| Office: | Chair of the North Dakota Democratic Party |
| Term Start: | April 13, 2019 |
| Term End: | May 8, 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Warren Larson |
| Successor: | Patrick Hart |
| Term Start1: | March 7, 2015 |
| Term End1: | June 24, 2018 |
| Predecessor1: | Bob Valeu |
| Successor1: | Warren Larson |
| State House2: | North Dakota |
| District2: | 42nd |
| Term Start2: | January 8, 2013 |
| Term End2: | December 5, 2016 |
| Predecessor2: | Stacey Dahl |
| Successor2: | Jake Blum |
| Birth Date: | 3 February 1989 |
| Birth Place: | Killdeer, North Dakota, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic |
Kylie Oversen (born February 3, 1989) is an American politician in the Democratic-NPL. She served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 42nd district from January 2013 to December 2016. The 42nd district is located in the northern portion of Grand Forks and includes the University of North Dakota.[1]
In March 2015, Oversen became the youngest state party chair in the United States when she was elected Chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL.[2]
Oversen was born and raised in Killdeer, North Dakota, a city of less than 1,000.[3] [4] Her paternal grandfather, Don Oversen, was a World War II veteran who died in April 2014.[5]
She attended the University of North Dakota, where she was elected Student Body President. In that capacity, she was noted for her extensive work improving the university's student fee allocation process. She was also active in the Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Ministry, calling it her "second home and family."[6] In 2012, she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Science.[7]
Following graduation, she began working with the University of North Dakota Alumni Association as a special projects coordinator for the Gorecki Alumni Center. She also interned with PLUS Program, serving families in Grand Forks County. She continued her work at the Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Ministry at UND, and was also a counselor at the American Legion Auxiliary Girls' State Program.
Oversen was not considering a career in politics until her senator sent her a Facebook message asking her to run for state representative. She told a magazine, "I had to read it several times." In 2012, she ran in her home 42nd district, and raised $7,275 for her campaign.[8]
In 2012, with 28.7% of the vote, Oversen was elected Democratic-NPL member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, representing the 42nd district since January 2013. The 42nd district is located in the northern portion of Grand Forks and includes the University of North Dakota.[1]
During the 2013 session, Oversen served on the Human Services and Transportation committees. She subsequently served on the Human Services and Political Subdivisions committees.
In March 2015, she was elected the Chair of the North Dakota Democratic-Nonpartisan League Party, the state's branch of the national Democratic Party, at age 26, making her the youngest state party chair in the United States.[2] In June 2018, she stepped down from that position to run for North Dakota Tax Commissioner in the November 2018 election.[9] In April 2019, she successfully returned to the Chair position.[10]
Oversen is a member of Greater Grand Forks Young Professionals and serves on the board of directors for the Red River Valley Habitat for Humanity as well as for the Area Health Education Centers, which are affiliated with the University of North Dakota Center for Rural Health.
Oversen has been a public advocate for lowering college and university tuition and fees at public institutions. She introduced a bill in the ND House of Representatives to freeze tuition at all of North Dakota's public institutions of higher education, but it was defeated in February 2015.[11]
Oversen supports same-sex marriage.[12]
| Party | Candidates | % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jake Blum | 27.2 | 2,029 | |
| Republican | Emily O'Brien | 26.1 | 1,948 | |
| Democratic-NPL | Kylie Oversen | 24.2 | 1,808 | |
| Democratic-NPL | Grant Hauschild | 22.4 | 1,673 | |
| Total votes | 7,466 | |||
| Party | Candidates | % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-NPL | Kylie Oversen | 28.7 | 2,524 | |
| Democratic-NPL | Corey Mock | 28.3 | 2,481 | |
| Republican | John Mitzel | 21.9 | 1,925 | |
| Republican | Mike Peterson | 21.1 | 1,852 | |
| Total votes | 8,782 | |||
Oversen resides in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Oversen is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.[14] When asked by The Lutheran, a monthly magazine and primary publication of the ELCA, "What's your calling?" she replied:
Broadly, public service. Once I got into the legislature, I found new ways I was able to express my faith in the area of social justice. I was proud to be an ELCA Lutheran in a discussion about discrimination based on sexual orientation ... to say 'some of us are called to social justice and equality as part of our faith, not against our faith.'
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