Conrad says goodbye to the Senate - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Since 1986 Kent Conrad has represented North Dakota on Capitol Hill.

After 5 successive elections Conrad is saying good bye to Washington D.C. and the duty of serving as your U.S. Senator.

Reporter Sarah Gustin takes you inside his D.C. office for a visit with one of the longest serving Senators in the nation. 

"That was back in 2000, I looked a lot younger then."

After 2 1/2 decades in office, there's plenty of memories and accomplishments to look back on.

"We call it the plaque wall." 

In 2006 Senator Kent Conrad had highest approval rating of any Senator in the United States.

And has since continued to climb the rack up the awards and climb the ranks--serving as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. 

(Sen. Kent Conrad / ND (D)) "When you are at the top of your game, that is a good time to leave,  better than to wait too long." 

Senator Kent Conrad has done what only 5% of U.S. Senators have--served 26 years in the U.S. Senate.

(Sen. Kent Conrad / ND (D)) "It feels like just yesterday that I came. Its amazing how fast 26 years ago. But it's been an incredible honor to serve the people of North Dakota."

Conrad says the last 2 farm bills, getting disaster aid for Grand Forks in 1997 and 1 billion dollars of federal assistance for Devils Lake are some of his most memorable accomplishments.

(Sen. Kent Conrad / ND (D)) "I'm especially proud that looking back that in the 90s we actually balanced the budget and were paying down the debt and I was deeply involved in those efforts, looking back those are some of the things I was proudest of." 

Conrad says the job duties and long hours have been pretty much what he expected when stepping into office, but the job isn't quite what it used to be.

(Sen. Kent Conrad / ND (D)) "The job is somewhat different because it's become more political theater than getting results and quite frankly a reason why I am less interested in being here. I am really interested in getting results and a lot of my colleagues on both sides are more interested in political posturing. And I Find that incredibly unfortunate, really unfortunate for the country. It was much more getting things done when I first came here than it is now. What will you miss most? The people. No question about it." 

(Sarah Gustin / sgustin@kxnet.com) "While the bills and concerns on Capitol Hill Changed over the years, Conrad says his priorities didn't. He says his number one priority to serve the people of North Dakota. In Washington D.C. for KX News, I am Sarah Gustin."

Conrad says his plans after retiring from the Senate haven't been finalized.

His wife represents Major League Baseball and Chairs the Sports Coalition so they will keep their ties in Washington D.C., but he says he they will be maintaining a residence in Bismarck and will here as much as they can be.

Heidi Heitkamp has been elected to take Conrad's place in office.