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Ed Schafer
30th Governor of North Dakota
In office December 15, 1992 – December 15, 2000
Lieutenant(s)	Rosemarie Myrdal
Preceded by	George A. Sinner
Succeeded by	John Hoeven
Born	August 8, 1946 (1946-08-08) (age 61) Bismarck, North Dakota
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Nancy Jones Schafer
Religion	Episcopalian

Edward Thomas "Ed" Schafer (born August 8, 1946), is an American politician who served as the Governor of North Dakota from 1992 to 2000 representing the North Dakota Republican Party. He was nominated to become United States Secretary of Agriculture by President Bush on October 31, 2007.

Schafer was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota, and is the son of businessman Harold Schafer. His sister, Pam Schafer was the first wife of Democratic U.S. Senator Kent Conrad. [1]

His educational background includes a bachelor's degree from the University of North Dakota, and an M.B.A. from the University of Denver. Following graduation, he went to work at the Gold Seal Company, a North Dakota-based manufacturing company owned by his father, eventually serving as company president from 1978 to 1985.

He is married to the former Nancy Jones and has two children: Tom Schafer and Ellie Schafer; and two stepchildren: Eric Jones and Kari Jones. He is the first North Dakota Governor to be married while in office.

In 1990, Schafer unsuccessfully challenged then-U.S. Congressman Byron Dorgan's reelection bid capturing 35% of the vote, to Dorgan's 65%.^{[citation needed]} He was elected as North Dakota's 30th Governor in 1992, and subsequently won reelection in 1996. He did not seek reelection in 2000.

In 2004, he declined to run for United States Senate against Democrat Byron Dorgan despite calls from national Republican leaders including President George W. Bush. He was considered a very good candidate because of his extremely high approval rating in the state.^{[citation needed]}

In 2002, Schafer was appointed as Civilian Aide to the United States Secretary of the Army. He also appeared in 2003 with his team, The High Flyers, as a contestant in the American TV Series Junkyard Wars. As of 2006, Schafer is currently CEO of Extend America, a start-up wireless communications company. He is a frequent guest host of the "Hot Talk" program on WDAY-AM in Fargo, North Dakota. Since fall 2006, Schafer has also served as an advisor and sometimes spokesperson for the North Dakota chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a nationwide limited-government/pro-growth organization.

• 1996 Race for Governor
  • Ed Schafer (R) (inc.), 66%
  • Lee Kaldor (D), 34%
• 1992 Race for Governor
  • Ed Schafer (R), 58%
  • Nick Spaeth (D), 41%
• 1990 Race for U.S. House of Representatives - At Large
  • Byron Dorgan (D) (inc.), 65%
  • Ed Schafer (R), 35%

• High Plains Journal Article on Ed Schafer
• White Press Release RE: Agriculture Secretary Nomination