Who is Doug Burgum?: Donald Trump's VP short list includes North Dakota governor
The Republican National Convention is less than six weeks away, and the presumptive GOP nominee, former President Donald Trump, has said his pick for vice president will likely be announced near the kick-off date on July 15.
As USA TODAY reported, Donald Trump’s campaign has stepped up its vice presidential search, requesting detailed information from at least four of the top contenders.
Two people familiar with the process, say North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott have all been asked to submit background information to the Trump campaign.
Veepstakes: VP Final Four? Donald Trump seeks info from Burgum, Rubio, Vance, and Scott
Who is Doug Burgum, North Dakota’s governor?
Burgum, 67, is a native of North Dakota, as is his wife, Kathryn, where the pair raised three children. Burgum is finishing his second term in the highest seat of the Peace Garden State as governor, but his career didn’t start in politics.
He was first a technology businessman, serving as the president and CEO of Great Plains Software, which he eventually sold to Microsoft. Later, Burgum became the senior vice president at Microsoft. He has also worked in real estate development and helped found a venture capital firm, Arthur Ventures.
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Before clinching the gubernatorial race first in 2016 with over 70% of the vote, Burgum attended North Dakota State University and Stanford University.
According to Forbes, the governor also has a solid financial portfolio, estimated to be worth $100 million.
Burgum began this election cycle as a presidential candidate running against the former president and ran on the economy, energy, and national security. Speaking at the Des Moines Register Political Soapbox in July 2023, he emphasized his campaign’s dedication to these three policy areas.
After dropping out of the presidential race in December, he endorsed the former president and was spotted at the GOP frontrunner’s campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, as well as showing his support outside Manhattan Criminal Court. He also denounced the NYC trial, telling CNN that the legal proceedings against Trump were “politically motivated.”
The former president was convicted on May 31 by a New York jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.
Who are Trump’s other possible VP picks?
In addition to Rubio, Vance and Scott, the GOP frontrunner is said to be considering Representative Elise Stefanik from New York and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
When will the VP candidates debate?
In May, Biden’s campaign agreed to CBS News’ invitation to a vice presidential debate in July or August between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump’s vice presidential nominee. A venue has yet to be determined.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Trump's VP short list includes N.D. governor. Who is Doug Burgum?