Christian Smith
Doug Burgum has unexpectedly emerged as the top choice to serve as former President Trump’s running mate, a development that comes after the North Dakota governor failed to gain traction against the former president in his bid for the White House.
Burgum was little known outside his home state when he began his presidential campaign last year. But since he supported Trump after suspending his campaign, he has been an important ally and close advisor to the former president.
In a sign of the governor’s growing influence, he appeared alongside Trump at a recent rally in New Jersey and attended his trial in New York on Tuesday. The former president hinted that Burgum – whose net worth has been estimated in the tens of millions – should expect a future under his administration, regardless of who he chooses.
“[Trump] You obviously want a partner, you want someone you can trust, someone who can be effective in helping you advance your agenda, someone who can help you win, and I think Burgum ticks a lot of boxes,” said Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak.
Burgum, during his presidential run in August, initially rejected the idea of serving as Trump’s running mate or in his potential cabinet, telling CNN that he “happy to do many other things.”
But after declining to run for a third term as governor and joining Trump’s team as an energy policy adviser, he has received increasing attention and been included on lists of candidates Trump is considering.
Not coincidentally, he has also become a more frequent presence in Trump’s orbit in recent weeks.
Burgum addressed the crowd Saturday before Trump’s rally in Wildwood, NJ, leading a chant in which he repeatedly asked, “Who are we going to send back to the White House?” with the crowd chanting back, “Trump.”
And the former president praised him during his speech and signaled that Burgum would have some role in his administration.
“You won’t find anyone better than this gentleman in terms of knowledge… He made his money in technology, but he probably knows more about energy than anyone I know, so get ready for something,” Trump said, addressing Burgum . “OK, just get ready.”
A Republican strategist said Burgum performed well at the rally by warming up the crowd ahead of Trump.
“He came on stage and not only did he look like a vice president, and the president cares that you look like a central cast member,” the strategist said.
The governor continued his association with Trump on Tuesday as one of several surrogates present at his trial in the hush money case in which the former president is accused of falsifying business records related to an alleged payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
The strategist said many may be ignoring Burgum, but he would provide “balance” to the ticket with Trump because he is practical and can “get the job done without irritating.”
“I think the fundamental Republican principles are what Burgum represents, of limited government, of strong national security, of having a great energy policy so that we can continue to move our economy forward,” said the same strategist.
Burgum had never held office before being elected governor of North Dakota in 2016. Before that, he led a technology company called Great Plains Software before selling it to Microsoft for more than $1 billion.
Hence, he has a great deal of personal wealth, with Forbes estimating his net worth be at least US$100 million — something that could be useful to Trump’s campaign as he grapples with sizable legal bills.
Trump’s fundraising committees spent nearly $50 million on legal expenses last year, and his leadership PAC has spent millions more already this year. As Biden’s campaign surpasses Trump’s fundraising totals, getting greater financial assistance would be a boon for the former president’s campaign.
Mackowiak said Burgum’s personal wealth is a strength for him as a pick because the trial Trump is facing has taken up time he could spend fundraising. He said that factor may not be as significant once the trial ends in a few weeks and Trump potentially has more time to raise money.
GOP strategist Tyler Glick noted that Burgum lent his own campaign millions of dollars, and his net worth would allow him to spend some of his money on a Trump-Burgum campaign.
“Obviously, with all these bills, you also have to fund the campaign apparatus, so I think some of the pie has moved up the priority list,” he said.
Observers said Trump is looking for someone he can get along with, as he appears to be doing with Burgum.
Republican donor Dan Eberhart — who serves as CEO of Canary, LLC, a drilling services company with business in North Dakota — said Burgum and Trump “get along really well” while traveling and being together.
“Trump respects the fact that he is a very successful businessman turned politician. And I also think it meets the hidden criteria of ‘not overshadowing Trump,’” he said.
Burgum and Trump are also aligned on abortion, an issue that has been difficult territory for Republicans to navigate since the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Wade in 2022. Both said they supported the Supreme Court’s decision and allowed states to decide their abortion policies for themselves, but would not support a national abortion ban.
The Republican strategist noted that Burgum declared his support for states’ abortion rights early in the presidential campaign, even before Trump did just last month.
“This is how our entire effort as a party has been for more than 50 years, and now this is the position that the president, our candidate, has taken,” said the strategist. “And so, hopefully, even if he’s not the vice presidential nominee, the president will continue to use some of his policy positions that I think resonate very much with much of the Republican Party.”
Strategists say that even if Trump doesn’t choose Burgum, the governor appears to be in a strong position to be a key part of his administration.
“I think it’s highly likely that if he’s not vice president, then he’ll be Secretary of Energy or Secretary of the Interior,” Mackowiak said. “Highly probable.”
Glick said Trump’s picks after his 2016 victory were something of a “wild card” because those chosen didn’t necessarily have experience in the departments they led, which could happen again.
“Who knows? You could see [Burgum] in any number of cabinet positions if last time was any indicator,” he said.
Brett Samuels contributed reporting.
