Doug Burgum

Doug Burgum
Name	Doug Burgum
Caption	Official portrait, 2016
Order	33rd
Office	Governor of North Dakota
Lieutenant	Brent Sanford, Tammy Miller
Term start	December 15, 2016
Predecessor	Jack Dalrymple
Birth date	1 August 1956
Birth place	Arthur, North Dakota, U.S.
Party	Republican
Spouse	Karen Stoker (m. 1991; div. 2003), Kathryn Burgum (m. 2016)
Education	North Dakota State University (BS), Stanford University (MBA)

Doug Burgum is an American businessman and politician serving as the 33rd Governor of North Dakota since 2016. A member of the Republican Party, he previously had a successful career in the software industry, most notably as a senior vice president at Microsoft following the acquisition of his company, Great Plains Software. Burgum gained national prominence as a candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential primaries before suspending his campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump.

Early life and education

He was born in Arthur, North Dakota, and grew up in the nearby small town of Arthur, where his family owned a grain elevator. Burgum attended North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota, graduating with a bachelor's degree in university studies. He then earned a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in Stanford, California, an experience that profoundly shaped his entrepreneurial outlook.

Business career

After Stanford University, he returned to Fargo, North Dakota, and in 1983 co-founded Great Plains Software, a company that developed accounting software for mid-sized businesses. Under his leadership as chairman and CEO, the company grew significantly, going public on the NASDAQ in 1997. In 2001, Microsoft acquired Great Plains for approximately $1.1 billion, and Burgum joined Microsoft as a senior vice president, overseeing their Business Solutions Group. He left Microsoft in 2007 and later engaged in venture capital and real estate development, notably leading the revitalization of downtown Fargo through projects like the Block 9 building.

Political career

He first ran for public office in the 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election, defeating the state Republican party's endorsed candidate, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, in the primary. Burgum went on to win the general election against Democratic-NPL nominee Marvin Nelson. He was re-elected by a wide margin in the 2020 North Dakota gubernatorial election. His tenure as Governor of North Dakota has focused on economic diversification, tax reduction, and energy policy, strongly advocating for the state's oil, coal, and agricultural sectors. He served as chair of the Western Governors Association in 2022.

2024 presidential campaign

On June 7, 2023, he announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, positioning himself as a candidate focused on the economy, energy independence, and national security. His campaign struggled to gain traction in national polls but was noted for its heavy spending on television ads and a unique offer of $20 gift cards to donors. Following a weak showing in the Iowa caucuses, he suspended his campaign on December 4, 2023, and subsequently endorsed former President Donald Trump.

Political positions

He is a fiscal conservative who has signed significant income tax cuts and eliminated the state property tax on personal property in North Dakota. On energy policy, he is a staunch supporter of the fossil fuel industry, opposing the Biden administration's climate regulations and advocating for carbon capture and storage technology. He signed one of the nation's most restrictive abortion bans, which took effect after the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. He has also supported legislation regulating transgender participation in school sports and limiting discussions of critical race theory in K-12 schools.

Personal life

He was first married to Karen Stoker, with whom he has three children. Following their divorce, he married Kathryn Helgaas in 2016; as First Spouse of North Dakota, she has been a public advocate for recovery and addiction issues. Burgum is a survivor of a near-fatal plane crash in 1984. An avid supporter of North Dakota State Bison football, he and his wife reside in the governor's residence in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Category:1956 births Category:Governors of North Dakota Category:North Dakota Republicans Category:American technology company founders Category:Living people Category:People from Cass County, North Dakota Category:Stanford Graduate School of Business alumni Category:North Dakota State University alumni