# Rob Kupec *Minnesota state senator (DFL), Senate District 4* Robert J. Kupec (born November 27, 1968) is a [[Minnesota]] politician who sits in the [[Minnesota Senate]] as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL).[^1] His seat, Senate District 4, covers most of Clay and Becker Counties.[^1] Kupec worked in television weather forecasting before running for office. He spent ten years as chief meteorologist at KVRR, and before that he worked at WDAY-TV.[^1] He won the District 4 seat in 2022, after the DFL incumbent, Kent Eken, chose not to run again.[^2] ## Early life, education, and career Kupec is a native of eastern Connecticut.[^3] His mother and father were both union organizers.[^3] He studied atmospheric science at the State University of New York at Albany and graduated in 1992.[^3] In 2000 he relocated to Moorhead, Minnesota. He worked as a meteorologist at WDAY-TV and later became chief meteorologist at KVRR.[^3] ## Political career In 1999, while still living in New York, Kupec sought a seat on the Albany County Legislature as the Green Party's candidate.[^2] Kupec entered the 2022 race for the open Senate District 4 seat after Eken declined to seek another term. He faced no opponent in the DFL primary.[^2] In the general election his opponent was Dan Bohmer, the Republican nominee and a member of the Moorhead City Council. Kupec won with 52.5% of the vote, and Bohmer received 46.8%.[^2] As of the cited entry's retrieval in October 2026, Kupec's listed committee assignments were Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development, where he is vice chair, along with Health and Human Services, Higher Education, and Labor.[^2] ## Personal life Kupec's wife, Deb White, serves on the Moorhead City Council. The couple has a son.[^4] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rob Kupec* (revision 1380804170, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birth date, party, Senate District 4 and its counties, broadcast career. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Kupec [^2]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rob Kupec*, "Political career" section (revision 1380804170, retrieved 2026-10-26) — 1999 Albany County Legislature candidacy, 2022 open seat, DFL primary, general-election result, committee assignments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Kupec [^3]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rob Kupec*, "Early life, education, and career" section (revision 1380804170, retrieved 2026-10-26) — birthplace, parents, education, move to Moorhead, meteorology career. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Kupec [^4]: Wikipedia contributors, *Rob Kupec*, "Personal life" section (revision 1380804170, retrieved 2026-10-26) — marriage and family. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Kupec