by Mary Lou Masters
Republican North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is weighing a presidential bid in 2024, two sources familiar with the governor’s plans told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Burgum, who is the 33rd governor of North Dakota, will decide whether he’ll run for the GOP nomination within the next few weeks, the sources confirmed with the DCNF. The two-term governor is currently filming television advertisements in preparation for a presidential launch.
Following the conclusion of the state’s legislative session, Burgum (pictured above) indicated earlier this week he was now thinking about running for president in 2024, he told Inforum.
“There’s a value to being underestimated all the time,” Burgum told Inforum on May 13. “That’s a competitive advantage.”
If Burgum enters the growing Republican primary field, he would join former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and conservative radio personality Larry Elder. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence are widely expected to jump in the race next.
Burgum was overwhelmingly elected in 2016, beating his Democratic opponent 76.5% to 19.4%, and he won his second term in 2020 by roughly 40 points, according to Ballotpedia. He entered his first term with a 69% approval rating and garnered 58% just ahead of his second term, according to Morning Consult.
– – –
Mary Lou Masters is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Doug Burgum” by Office of the Governor, State of North Dakota. CC BY-SA 4.0. Background Photo “The White House” by René DeAnda.