Governor Doug Burgum will not seek a third term in office.
His announcement on Jan. 22 increased speculation that he may be former President Donald Trump’s pick for vice president.
Burgum thanked the citizens of North Dakota “for twice giving” him and his wife Kathryn the opportunity to serve as governor and first lady.
“We have made incredible progress these past seven years, from record tax relief and historic investments in infrastructure, education and other priorities, to guiding our state through historic challenges including drought, flooding, the DAPL protests and a global pandemic,” he continued in the post on X. “We’ve diversified our economy and grown our agriculture and energy industries, revitalized Main Street and supported healthy, vibrant communities, reinvented government to be more efficient and effective, improved state-tribal relations and helped eliminate the shame and stigma of the disease of addiction while inspiring people to seek recovery.”
He added that “there has never been a better time to live, work and raise a family in North Dakota” and that the state is “extremely well-positioned for the future.”
Burgum terminated his 2024 presidential campaign in December after approximately six months. He did not qualify for the fourth presidential debate.
“The RNC’s clubhouse debate requirements are nationalizing the primary process and taking the power of democracy away from the engaged, thoughtful citizens of Iowa and New Hampshire,” he said in a statement, per NBC News. "The RNC’s mission is to win elections. It is not their mission to reduce competition and restrict fresh ideas by ‘narrowing the field’ months before the Iowa caucuses or the first in the nation New Hampshire primary.”
“These arbitrary criteria ensure advantages for candidates from major media markets on the coasts versus America’s Heartland,” said the governor.
Burgum, who sold his technology company Great Plains Software to Microsoft in 2001 for over $1 billion, previously stressed that his aim was to be the Republican Party’s presidential nominee – not Trump’s vice president.
“I [had a] fabulous 30 years in the private sector, a lot of opportunities there. … I’m not running for a Cabinet position. I mean, I’m not selling a book, I’m not running [for] Cabinet,” he said during an interview in August. “All I’ve ever done: CEO, entrepreneur, build businesses, attract talent, be successful, understand how the globe works, and lead stuff, like the miracle story, the success story of North Dakota.”
When asked about his pick for a future running mate while speaking at a town hall on Jan. 10, Trump told reporters, “Well, I can't tell you that, really.”
“I mean, I know who it's going to be,” he added.
Burgum publicly threw his support behind the former president at a rally in Iowa on Jan. 14.
"Four years ago, I was speaking on behalf of President Trump at the Iowa caucuses in Sioux City, and today I’m here to do something that none of the other presidential primary candidates have done. And that’s endorse Donald J. Trump for the president of the United States of America,” he told the crowd, per The Hill.
“I’ve seen President Trump and what he’s been able to do. I’ve seen it as a business leader and I’ve seen it as a governor,” Burgum added. “I’ve seen the difference that President Trump can make.”
Two days later, Trump was declared the winner of the Iowa Caucus and thanked Burgum during his victory speech – calling him “the most solid guy” and “one of the best governors in our country.”
“I hope that I’m going to be able to call on him to be a piece of the administration, a very important piece of the administration,” Trump said.
In addition to Burgum, there is speculation that South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, and New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik are all possible conders for the second spot on Trump’s ticket.
