Doug Burgum, 67, hails from the small town of Arthur, North Dakota, which has a population of just 328 people. He completed his bachelor’s degree at North Dakota State University and later obtained an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Prior to his political career, Burgum achieved great success in the business world. He was a prominent software executive, becoming the head of Great Plains Software, a firm acquired by Microsoft for $1.1 billion in 2001. Burgum remained with Microsoft as a vice president until 2007 and has since managed various companies in sectors like real estate and venture capital.
Burgum made his political debut when he contested the governor’s seat in 2016. His campaign focused on the idea of “reinventing” government to address a significant revenue deficit facing the state. In a surprising win, he defeated a long-established Republican attorney general in the primary elections. Burgum went on to secure his position as governor in a state with a heavy Republican lean, home to approximately 784,000 residents. He was re-elected in 2020 with considerable ease.
Under his leadership, Burgum has approached governance with a CEO mindset, focusing on the major industries of agriculture and oil within North Dakota. His policies have included tax reductions, streamlined regulations, and reforms in animal agriculture and higher education governance. An advocate for data-driven decision-making, he has also championed the establishment of a Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in the state and has worked on fostering relationships with tribal nations. Additionally, Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, have publicly addressed her struggle with addiction, highlighting the importance of resources for addiction treatment in his administration.
Burgum is recognized for his dedication to policy development and for working long hours. While he has generally avoided entanglement in social issues—such as anti-LGBTQ initiatives championed by some in his party, which he vetoed in 2021 and 2023—he did sign measures in 2023 that critics argue were discriminatory against transgender individuals. These included restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth and participation bans in sports.
His attempt to run for president spanned from June to December 2023, during which he focused on critical issues like energy, economic policies, and national security. Ultimately, he withdrew after his candidacy failed to gain significant traction. Burgum participated in two Republican debates, famously continuing his campaign after injuring his Achilles tendon while playing basketball. At one point, he garnered attention by offering $20 gift cards to those contributing to his campaign to meet individual donor requirements for debate participation. After suspending his presidential aspirations, he publicly endorsed Trump in January before the Iowa caucuses and later opted not to seek a third gubernatorial term.
As governor, Burgum has also faced several challenges, including the final phase of the contentious Dakota Access pipeline protests after taking office in December 2016. He has navigated through severe droughts and disastrous storms, serving as the face of North Dakota’s COVID-19 response by conducting numerous press briefings, especially during the early days of the pandemic when he made impassioned pleas for mask-wearing. Both he and his wife received their COVID vaccinations in 2021. Recently, during his presidential campaign, he convened a special legislative session aimed at addressing financial woes after the state Supreme Court invalidated an important bill that threatened state funding.