North Dakota Republican Governor Doug Burgum Launches Run For President

North Dakota Republican Governor Doug Burgum announced Tuesday evening that he was launching a 2024 presidential campaign. 

Burgum, first elected governor of North Dakota in 2016, announced his campaign in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, stating that he would focus on the economy, national security, and energy production. He previously worked as an executive at Microsoft. 

“When Joe Biden released his video announcing his re-election campaign, it was shocking what was missing. He failed to articulate any economic vision for the country, he ignored the anxiety of families grappling with inflation, and he looked the other way as a recession looms,” Burgum, 66, wrote in his announcement. “We need a change in the White House. We need a new leader for a changing economy. That’s why I’m announcing my run for president today.”

The governor, who grew up in Arthur, North Dakota, has also addressed culture war issues during his time as governor, signing a ban on transgender surgeries for minors and a pro-life bill that effectively banned all abortions in the state. 

Earlier this year, Burgum vetoed a bill that would have mandated teachers only use a student’s “preferred pronouns” if the child’s parents and a school administrator had given prior approval. He also previously vetoed a bill prohibiting biological males from girls’ sports before signing such a ban into law in 2023.