Trump skips Burgum for VP, taps Vance
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum talks to members of the media Oct. 23, 2023, after addressing a special session of the Legislature. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will not be Donald Trump’s running mate.
Trump made the announcement on social media Monday as the Republican National Convention began in Wisconsin and two days after an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally.
The former president, who had teased that Burgum could be a “very important part of his administration,” named Ohio U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance as his pick for vice president.
Burgum said on social media Monday afternoon that Vance’s “small town roots and service to country make him a powerful voice for the America First Agenda,” adding that he looks forward to campaigning for the Trump-Vance ticket.
In an interview Monday night on CNN, Burgum described how he got the news.
“I got a call and a great conversation with the president and he said, ‘Hey, Mr. Secretary,’” Burgum told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “He’s always been so positive and so considerate to Kathryn and I this whole time and, as you know, we were never running for a Cabinet position, never running to be VP.”
When Burgum announced in January he would not seek a third term as governor, he said his decision was not related to Trump’s comments that Burgum could be part of his administration. But hours after making that announcement in Bismarck, Burgum appeared at a campaign event for Trump in North Carolina.
Burgum had reportedly been on Trump’s short list in recent weeks, appearing as a Trump surrogate at campaign events, at the New York criminal trial and on Fox News and other national media outlets.
Some have also speculated that Burgum could be a contender for Trump’s Cabinet if he’s elected, potentially serving as interior, energy or agriculture secretary.
“I think Doug would be disappointed to be in the Cabinet, because he’s an operator, he’s a manager, he’s a budgeter, he’s got good operational abilities,” said former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer, a Republican who also served as U.S. agriculture secretary.
Burgum declined to answer Monday night if he would accept a Cabinet post.
“There are going to be no Cabinet positions that President Trump will pick out unless he wins,” Burgum said in the CNN interview.
Burgum added that he’s going to spend his time governing North Dakota and “making sure that President Trump ends up in the White House.”
North Dakota state Rep. Paul Thomas, R-Velva, said the potential of Burgum serving in a Trump administration would be positive for the state.
“If he has a Cabinet position, whether it’s energy, whether it’s agriculture, or whatever, North Dakota wins,” Thomas said.
North Dakota Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, said he was a little disappointed Burgum wasn’t picked to become Trump’s running mate.
“He would have been a great vice president,” Hogue said in an interview with the North Dakota Monitor from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. “But he’ll make a great Cabinet position member as well, whether it’s interior or energy.”
Hogue said Monday afternoon he hadn’t spoken to Burgum since the vice presidential candidate announcement was made, but added he was told Burgum would have a speaking slot at some point during the convention.
“I haven’t seen him at the convention, but I’m sure he’s here,” Hogue said.
State Rep. Josh Boschee, D-Fargo, said the Burgum he has been seeing on the campaign trail in recent months has been disappointing.
“He certainly wasn’t recognizable as the moderate, independent-thinking governor that I’m used to here in North Dakota,” Boschee said Monday. “Hopefully, getting passed over for VP allows him to rebrand himself back to being the leader we know him to be.”
Burgum also hinted in January about a potential return to the private sector, saying his decision would be driven by where he could have the biggest impact.
Burgum ran for president during the primaries but left a crowded field of GOP candidates late last year when he was polling in last place and had failed to qualify for the third debate. In January, he was the first candidate to endorse Trump for president, making the announcement at a campaign event in Iowa.
This story was updated with additional reporting, including comments from Burgum during a CNN interview.