North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.Photo:Mike McCleary/The Bismarck Tribune via AP
Mike McCleary/The Bismarck Tribune via AP
North Dakota Gov.Doug Burgumlaunched a 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday, making his case for the Republican nominationin aWall Street Journalop-ed.
Burgum, 66, will face an already-crowded Republican field of candidates that includes former PresidentDonald Trump, former Vice PresidentMike Pence, and Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, PresidentJoe Bidenannounced in April thathe will run for reelectionin 2024, with Vice PresidentKamala Harrisonce again joining him on the ticket.
Here’s what to know about Gov. Burgum as he enters the national conversation.
He worked at McKinsey and Microsoft
After getting his MBA at Stanford University, Burgum began a stint at consulting firm McKinsey & Co. and later joined accounting software company Great Plains Software. Burgum eventually bought out the company and it merged with Microsoft in 2000, in a$1 billion dealthat led to his role as senior vice president of Microsoft Business Solutions Group.
He has since helped to found several companies, including venture capital firm Arthur Ventures and real-estate development firm Kilbourne Group.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.Stephen Yang/Getty Images
He was elected governor of North Dakota in 2016
The businessman launched his North Dakota gubernatorial campaign without any political experience, losing the state Republican Party’s endorsement in the primary race to former state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. Burgum, however, went on to defeat Stenehjem in a landslide in the state’s primary election, clinching the nomination and, later, the general election.
He was sworn in as North Dakota’s 33rd governor in December 2016, and ran again for the seat in 2020, winning the race handily.
Burgum has three kids
Burgum has three children with his first wife, whom hereportedly divorced in 2003(and who later endorsed his gubernatorial opponent).
In 2016, he married Kathryn Helgaas, who currently serves as North Dakota’s first lady and who has focused on addiction, recovery and mental well-being in her role.
North Dakota State Capitol Building.powerofforever / Getty Images
Burgum recently signed a strict abortion ban and several anti-trans laws in North Dakota
In April 2023, Burgum signed a bill that wouldban nearly every abortionin North Dakota, only allowing slim exceptions (such as cases of rape or incest) at up to six weeks’ gestation. At the time, the Republican issued a statement saying the measure “reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state.”
Burgum also signed into law a number of anti-trans measures, including a bill thatcriminalizes trans healthcare for minorsand another that allows public school teachers to misgender transgender students and colleagues (that bill also prohibits transgender studentsfrom using school restroomsand locker rooms consistent with their gender identity).
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In 2020, however, Burgumcriticized the Republican Party’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues, calling the rhetoric behind some of the party’s policy statements “hurtful and divisive.”
source: people.com
