People
Early Life and Education
Doug Burgum was born on August 1, 1956, in Arthur, North Dakota. He grew up in a small town and developed strong roots in the community. Burgum attended North Dakota State University and later earned an M.B.A. from Stanford Business School in 1980. This educational background laid the foundation for his future career in business and politics.
Business Career
After completing his M.B.A., Burgum worked as a consultant at McKinsey in Chicago. In 1983, he invested $250,000 in Great Plains Software, a fledgling company based in Fargo, North Dakota. He became the CEO of the company in 1984 and played a crucial role in its growth. Great Plains Software went public in 1997, and in 2001, Burgum sold the company to Microsoft for $1.1 billion in stock. This sale made him independently wealthy. Following the sale, Burgum worked at Microsoft as a senior vice president for six years. He also co-founded the Kilbourne Group, a real estate development company, and Arthur Ventures, a private equity firm.
Entry into Politics
In 2016, Burgum announced his candidacy for the governor of North Dakota, despite having no prior political experience. He campaigned on his business background and a promise to diversify the state’s economy. Burgum won the Republican primary in an upset and then took nearly 77 percent of the vote in the general election. He was sworn in as the 33rd governor of North Dakota on December 15, 2016. In 2020, he was reelected with more than 65% of the vote.
Governorship and Key Policies
As governor, Burgum focused on several key areas, including economic development, energy production, and tax relief. He championed significant income tax cuts and pushed for increased energy production. Burgum also established the state’s Department of Environmental Quality in 2017 and introduced an initiative to make North Dakota carbon neutral by 2030, focusing on carbon capture technology rather than reducing fossil fuel production. During his tenure, he navigated several crises, including the Dakota Access oil pipeline protests, severe droughts, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a prominent figure in North Dakota’s response to the pandemic, holding numerous press conferences and advocating for public health measures.
Presidential Bid and Endorsement of Trump
In June 2023, Burgum announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. His campaign emphasized his business experience and economic record but failed to gain significant traction. He participated in two GOP primary debates, using innovative strategies like offering gift cards to donors to meet the debate participation thresholds. However, his campaign struggled to raise funds and gain support, leading him to suspend his campaign in December 2023. Following his exit from the presidential race, Burgum endorsed Donald Trump and became one of his busiest surrogates, campaigning and raising money for Trump’s reelection campaign.
Appointment as Interior Secretary
After his presidential bid, Burgum remained a significant figure in Republican politics. In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump selected Burgum to lead the Interior Department in his upcoming administration. This appointment reflects Burgum’s extensive experience in energy and environmental issues, as well as his ability to navigate complex political landscapes.