Doug Burgum 2024 presidential campaign
The 2024 presidential campaign of Doug Burgum began on June 7, 2023, at an event in Fargo, North Dakota.[1] Burgum, the governor of North Dakota since 2016, was seeking the Republican Party nomination in its 2024 presidential primaries. Following his failure to qualify for the third or fourth Republican debate, and his lack of presence in the polls, Burgum withdrew his candidacy on December 4, 2023.[2]
Doug Burgum for America
Doug Burgum
33rd Governor of North Dakota (2016–present)
June 7, 2023
December 4, 2023
Mike Zolnierowicz (campaign manager)
Miles White (campaign chair)
A New Leader for a Changing Economy
Campaign[edit]
Launch[edit]
On June 5, 2023, Burgum posted a video to his Twitter account, highlighting his accomplishments as governor and teasing a "big announcement" on June 7.[5] He formally announced his campaign in The Wall Street Journal the morning of June 7,[1] with the launch of a campaign website and a rally in Fargo scheduled to take place later that day.[6]
On June 12, it was reported that Burgum had become the top-spending candidate in both Iowa and New Hampshire, mostly on television advertisements.[7] On June 21, 2023, Politico reported that Burgum hired Mike Zolnierowicz, former Chief of Staff to Bruce Rauner, as his campaign manager.[8]
Burgum has defended his entry into an already-crowded race with the assertion that additional competition will be good for the party, while highlighting his Midwestern roots and history of working in manual labor positions before becoming wealthy in the technology sector.[9]
First debate[edit]
To secure his place on the debate stages, Burgum offered individuals who donated $1 to his campaign a $20 gift card as a "Biden Relief Card",[10][11] an offer which prompted questions of its legality. On July 19, he announced that he had cleared the 40,000 donor requirement to appear in the first Republican presidential primary debate.[12] In a June 7 poll shortly after announcing his candidacy, 90% of Republican voters responded that they did not know who Burgum was and going into the first debate he was polling at just 0.4%.[13]
Burgum attended the first debate on August 23, 2023, despite injuring his Achilles tendon the day prior while playing a basketball game with his campaign staff.[14] However, at the debate, Burgum had the second smallest amount of speaking time of any of the candidates.[15][16]
Funding[edit]
Burgum's campaign had been notably able to garner large amounts of funds, raising $15.2 million by October 20, despite his low presence in the polls. This was thanks to a series of ultra-wealthy donors backing Burgum, including: First International Bank CEO Steve Stenehjem, actor Josh Duhamel, New York Jets lineman Connor McGovern, Coca-Cola CEO J. Frank Harrison III, eBay chairman Thomas J. Tierney, Milwaukee Bucks owner Michael Fascitelli and Microsoft executives Patrick Meenan and Ryan Kruizenga. Burgum was also supported by a series of SuperPACs, namely those created by Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, as well as The Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative PAC, the North Dakota Petroleum Council PAC, and the pro-Coal Lignite Energy Council PAC.[47]
Burgum's campaign was also largely self funded. Forbes estimated that his net worth at the start of his campaign to be ~$100 million, making him the third wealthiest Republican candidate behind just Donald Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are both billionaires. However, most of Burgum's net worth is held in family trusts and Microsoft stock and is not necessarily cash-on-hand. As of November 8, 2023, Burgum has spent more than $12 million on his presidential campaign.[48]