BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) 鈥� Former President has chosen North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to head the Interior Department. Some things to know about the two-term Republican governor of a sparsely populated state:
Burgum's background is in business
Burgum, 68, grew up in tiny Arthur, North Dakota, population 328. He earned a bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University and his master鈥檚 of business administration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
He went on to become a wealthy software executive. He led Great Plains Software, which Microsoft acquired for $1.1 billion in 2001. Burgum stayed on as a vice president until 2007. He's also led other companies in real estate development and venture capital.
He beat a longtime GOP officeholder to become governor
In 2016, Burgum ran for governor, his first campaign for elected office. He touted a message of as the state dealt with a massive revenue shortfall.
In a major upset, North Dakota's longtime attorney general in the Republican gubernatorial primary. He handily won his first term in the strong Republican state, which has about 784,000 residents.
He was easily
Burgum took a CEO's approach to leading
Burgum has taken a business-oriented bent as governor of North Dakota, where agriculture and oil are the main industries. He's pushed reduced regulations, and changes to animal agriculture laws and . Burgum also emphasized a 鈥渄ata-driven鈥� approach to governing, advocated for a in the state and prioritized engagement with tribal nations.
Burgum and his wife, Kathryn, have been public about her recovery from addiction, and as governor he has prioritized
Burgum is known as a policy wonk who works long hours and is highly inquisitive.
He has largely resisted wading into social issues, such as pushed by members of his own party, vetoing a few such bills and But as he was planning a run for president, a pile of bills opponents said targeted transgender people. They included a medical treatments for transgender kids, for transgender athletes, and transgender restrictions
His own presidential bid was short-lived
Burgum from June to December 2023. He campaigned on priorities of energy, economy and national security, but after his bid failed to resonate.
He appeared in two Republican debates 鈥� including the first, which he attended after playing basketball. He drew attention for his $20 gift cards to people who would donate $1 to his campaign so he would have enough individual donors to make the debate stage.
In January, before the Iowa caucuses, The same month, he a third term as governor.
Burgum has navigated crises as governor
When he entered office in December 2016, he dealt with the final months of the sometimes-chaotic of the He's led the state through and
He was the face of North Dakota's response to the coronavirus pandemic, holding dozens of press conferences, many of them daily in early 2020, including an emotional . He and his wife their COVID vaccinations in 2021.
Last year, amid his presidential campaign, Burgum for the Legislature weeks after the state Supreme Court , putting some state funding in jeopardy.
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This story was first published on Nov. 14, 2024. It was updated on Nov. 15, 2024, to correct Burgum鈥檚 age. He is 68, not 67.
Jack Dura, The Associated Press
