BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has named North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Interior Department. Some things to know about the two-term Republican governor of a sparsely populated state:
Burgum comes from business
Burgum, 67, grew up in miniature Arthur, North Dakota, population 328. He earned a bachelor’s degree from North Dakota State University and his master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
He grew into a wealthy software manager. He led Great Plains Software, which Microsoft acquired in 2001 for $1.1 billion. Burgum remained vice president until 2007. He also led other companies in real estate development and venture capital.
He beat a longtime GOP incumbent and became governor
In 2016, Burgum ran for governor, his first campaign. He delivered a message of “reinventing” government as the state grapples with massive revenue shortfalls.
In a major upset, Burgum defeated North Dakota’s longtime attorney general in the Republican gubernatorial primary. He easily won his first term in office in the sturdy Republican state with around 784,000 inhabitants.
He was easily re-elected in 2020.
Burgum took a CEO leadership approach
As governor of North Dakota, where agriculture and oil are the main industries, Burgum has adopted a business-oriented orientation. He has advocated for income tax cuts, reduced regulations and changes to animal husbandry laws and higher education governance. Burgum also emphasized a “data-driven” approach to government, advocated for a Theodore Roosevelt presidential library in the state and prioritized collaboration with tribal nations.
Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, have spoken publicly about their recovery from addiction, and as governor, he has prioritized resources for addiction treatment.
Burgum is known as a political weirdo who works long hours and is extremely curious.
He has largely resisted addressing social issues, such as anti-LGBTQ measures pushed by members of his own party, and has vetoed some such bills in 2021 and 2023. But even in 2023, as he planned a run for president, he signed an opponent who said the bill targeted transgender people. These included a ban on gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender children, bans on transgender athletes, and transgender restrictions in schools.
His own presidential candidacy was short-lived
Burgum ran for president from June to December 2023. He campaigned on energy, economic and national security priorities, but dropped out after his bid failed to gain traction.
He appeared in two Republican debates – including the first, which he attended after injuring his Achilles tendon playing basketball. He drew attention to his campaign by offering $20 gift cards to people who would donate $1 to his campaign so that he would have enough individual donors to make the debate a reality.
In January, before the Iowa caucuses, he endorsed Trump. That same month, he declined to seek a third term as governor.
Burgum overcame crises as governor
When he took office in December 2016, he was dealing with the final months of sometimes messy protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline. He has led the state through terrible droughts and devastating storms.
He was the face of North Dakota’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, holding dozens of news conferences in early 2020, many of them daily, including an emotional plea for face masks. He and his wife publicly received their COVID vaccinations in 2021.
Last year, in the midst of his presidential campaign, Burgum called a special session for the Legislature to deal with a budget mess, weeks after the state Supreme Court invalidated a key bill, jeopardizing some state funding.
