ARTHUR, N.D. ― It was the early Nineteen Nineties, and Doug Burgum had a message to ship to companions of Nice Plains Software program gathered on the “Stampede to Fargo” convention.
Burgum, then CEO of the startup accounting software company, took the microphone and apologized for a flaw found in a brand new product set to go available on the market − and to show his sincerity, he pulled out a uncooked egg and slammed it on his head.
“I’ve egg on my face. We have now egg on our face. And we are going to make this proper,” Burgum informed the lots of of attendees, in keeping with Tami Reller, who first began working with Burgum as a receptionist at Nice Plains earlier than rising up the ranks to grow to be the corporate’s chief monetary officer.
Egg remnants remained on Burgum as he took questions from companions within the room for the following two and a half hours.
The anecdote illustrates a no-nonsense, private and deeply earnest method to enterprise and politics that Burgum’s admirers say helped catapult him from software program government to North Dakota’s Republican governor, and now onto former President Donald Trump’s short list to be his vice presidential running-mate.
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“The extra you understand him, the extra you admire what he brings − and what you see is what you get,” Reller mentioned.
But to some who’ve followed his career, the present image of Burgum as a staunch defender of Trump runs counter to the Burgum they knew: a businessman they thought-about independent-minded, much less excited about partisan politics, and unafraid to butt heads with the suitable flank of his get together as governor.
“He is all the time thought for himself. At all times. Did not matter what it was,” mentioned Paul Lako, 56, who resides in Burgum’s hometown of Arthur, North Dakota, inhabitants 325. “If it was Doug, he did issues his manner. He was good at it. And it appears to me now, he is type of simply altering his methods a bit of bit so he suits in.”
USA TODAY spoke to greater than two dozen North Dakotans − together with Burgum enterprise associates, Republican and Democratic state lawmakers, relations, buddies, and each longtime supporters and critics − to be taught extra a few determine who has burst onto the nationwide scene as he is ascended up Trump’s VP leaderboard. Burgum declined to be interviewed.
Allies of Burgum − who was identified to typically hold his hair in a pony tail within the Nineteen Eighties and put on white tennis sneakers with fits earlier than it was cool − described a coverage wonk obsessive about element, who listens attentively to others, effortlessly absorbs new data, thinks outdoors the field, articulates a imaginative and prescient, and might converse the language of farmers in North Dakota as simply as he can converse with executives in Silicon Valley.
Burgum is massive on accountability and humility, they mentioned. Republican state lawmakers in North Dakota mentioned it is common to get a cellphone name approaching midnight from the governor concerning the greatest points brewing on the statehouse.
“It sounds cliché, however you may’t spend 20 minutes round him and never instantly acknowledge that it is a problem-solving, solution-oriented, decided, vibrant, succesful particular person,” mentioned Drew Wrigley, North Dakota’s Republican legal professional common.
However others, like Jim Fuglie, former government director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Celebration, who runs a popular North Dakota political blog, mentioned the Burgum who he crossed get together traces to again for governor in 2016 is not the identical Burgum making the rounds on cable information as we speak.
“He was fairly unbiased of the Republican Celebration for a very good lengthy whereas when he was first governor,” mentioned Fuglie, former state tourism director in North Dakota. “And so it has been a bit of little bit of a shock, I believe, to a whole lot of North Dakotans to see him go so deep into the Trump world.”
Why is Trump trying so carefully at Burgum?
Burgum’s strengths that shined regionally and within the tech world did not generate a lot buzz throughout his short-lived long-shot presidential campaign final yr within the Republican main. Burgum dropped out earlier than voting started and struggled for airtime throughout televised debates. He is maybe finest remembered for battling by way of an Achilles tear he suffered throughout a pick-up basketball sport with marketing campaign employees to participate in one of many debates the following day.
Now, Burgum is having his second.
The 67-year-old checks many containers off that Trump is on the lookout for as a possible vice chairman. And Trump has proven a passion for the second-term governor who grew to become a Microsoft government after promoting Nice Plains in 2001 to Microsoft for $1.1 billion in stock.
Enticing, telegenic with thick, full hair, Burgum appears the half as vice chairman, Trump is satisfied, in keeping with these near him. Trump appreciates Burgum’s robust public-speaking means, his cash and his experience in power and fossil gas points, an space wherein Burgum has grow to be an adviser to the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
Different Republicans in Trump’s VP hunt embrace Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina and J.D. Vance of Ohio.
A yr in the past, Burgum said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he would not do enterprise with Trump. “I simply assume that it’s vital that you just’re judged by the corporate you retain,” he mentioned final July. However now Burgum has become one of Trump’s go-to surrogates, taking the stage with the previous president at rallies and attacking President Joe Biden on cable tv appearances.
“This man is tireless, he is dedicated, he is good, he is humorous. He is nothing like he is portrayed within the press,” Burgum, discussing Trump, informed Fox Information this month. “In the event you requested me that very same query as we speak, I might be like, ‘Completely, I might do enterprise with him.'”
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Burgum in Could traveled to a New York courthouse in a present of assist for Trump throughout the former president’s hush-money trial. Burgum was among several VP contenders in Atlanta for Thursday’s presidential debate between Trump and Biden.
On the marketing campaign path for Trump, Burgum has drawn criticism from Democrats for saying People are “living under a dictatorship” with Biden. He has pointed to federal environmental laws within the power sector and Biden’s government motion on immigration and scholar mortgage debt. (Trump truly took far more executive actions as president than Biden − 220 government orders to Biden’s 139.)
“These are the issues that authoritarians and dictators do: They do not observe our democratic processes they usually simply assert their very own liberal view, and that is what the Biden administration is doing,” Burgum said last week.
North Dakota US senator believes Burgum is certainly one of two last candidates
Trump’s consideration of Burgum has put a rare spotlight on North Dakota, the nation’s fourth least populated state − rural, deeply conservative and as soon as an unlikely place to supply a significant get together running-mate.
“You consider, properly, what does a middle-age white man (like Burgum) from a state with three electoral votes that hasn’t gone Democrat since Lyndon Baines Johnson carry to the ticket?” U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., mentioned. “And then you definitely see it enjoying out the best way I believe it is enjoying out, and I believe him and Tim Scott are the frontrunners. The truth is, I might be shocked if it is not one of many two of them.”
If Trump had been to decide on Burgum as his vice chairman nominee, it would not be the primary time he is opted for a governor of a Republican-dominant state. Trump chose Mike Pence, the previous congressman and Indiana governor, as his running-mate in 2016, rejecting any calculus {that a} vice chairman ought to come from a swing state.
Just like Pence, Burgum has a mild-mannered temperament in whole distinction to the flame-throwing Trump. Some observers have speculated that Trump may desire an understated vice chairman, like Burgum, who would not often draw extra consideration than the president.
“You begin seeing in addition to (Burgum) performs out within the market,” Cramer mentioned, “and the soundness he kind of brings to the messaging, notably on financial points and power points, and also you assume, properly, this actually may occur. I see all the worth on the planet to him being on the ticket.”
North Dakota’s senior Republican U.S. senator, John Hoeven, can be firmly in Burgum’s nook. And if he is not named Trump’s vice presidential nominee, Burgum supporters imagine he is a first-rate candidate for Power or Commerce secretary.
Hoeven, a former governor of North Dakota, mentioned he lobbied for Burgum when Trump visited the U.S. Capitol on June 13 for the primary time since leaving the White Home.
“I believe Doug’s within the hunt. However I believe if he would not get the VP, I believe he shall be within the Cupboard. I actually do,” Hoeven mentioned. “However no one is aware of however President Trump.”
Hoeven mentioned Burgum’s means to ship the previous president’s message has impressed Trump. “And in the event you watch him, as he is continued to do it, he will get higher and higher at it. Some individuals say, ‘Oh he could be a little wonky or possibly even go on into an excessive amount of element.’ It is partially simply because he is actually clever and he is aware of these things.”
Large concepts as a child in Arthur
A Trump decide of Burgum would mark fairly an increase for a governor born and raised in tiny Arthur, located about 40 miles northwest of Fargo, North Dakota. The farm city stretches about 16 blocks, comprised principally of modest single-family houses, and a small assortment of retailers on Essential Avenue. Mary’s Market − a grocery that doubles as a quilt store − Kelly’s Café and a sports activities bar known as Coaches Corner are among the many greatest native attracts.
Throughout the road is the city’s most placing function: a hovering grain elevator, operated by the Burgum household since 1906, and different elevators constructed later. As we speak, it is owned by Arthur Corporations, Inc., led by Burgum’s family.
The Burgums, who settled in Arthur in the 1880s, are central to the town’s story and survival. Burgum’s grandfather, J.A. Burgum, was Arthur’s mayor from 1921 to 1923. Along with the Burgum farm and grain elevator, the household operated a mercantile, had stake within the native financial institution and helped construct its racquetball facility.
“The Burgum household has been glorious to the city,” mentioned Lako, who owns an excavating firm in Arthur and is amongst Burgum’s many hometown followers. “They’re the rationale that this city remains to be right here and flourishing.”
“They’re the cash on the town,” Audrey Doyle, 78, a self-described Democrat who voted for Burgum as governor, mentioned as she loved latest 70-degree climate within the yard of Hillside Flats together with her buddy Bonnie Zieske.
“Would not that be good to have a vice chairman from Arthur?” Ziekse, 76, mentioned with fun. “It will be fairly neat.”
Burgum’s childhood dwelling, a purple, ranch-style dwelling throughout from St. John Lutheran Church, nonetheless sits on the nook of 1st Avenue and third Avenue.
Shirley Nedrebo, 88, lived throughout the road from Burgum’s dwelling and attended Arthur United Technique Church with the Burgum household. She remembers when Doug was born and mentioned he displayed an entrepreneurial streak at an early age.
“He had concepts that had been simply out of this world,” Nedrebo mentioned, recalling a younger Burgum, in all probability six or seven years previous, beginning his personal makeshift newspaper with assist from his dad and mom to print off the paper. “He would go round city and promote subscriptions to the newspaper. My mother purchased one. That is simply what a bit of child did.”
Burgum competed in soccer, basketball and observe and subject in highschool, and performed within the band, in keeping with Tom Iwen of Arthur, a classmate and buddy of Burgum. He mentioned Burgum was in style and acquired together with about everybody.
“He was energetic, variety, by no means picked on individuals or something like that,” Iwen mentioned, recalling Burgum’s confidence displaying by way of as a child. “He can stand up and discuss something in entrance of anyone.”
“He had an important creativeness,” mentioned Kevin Skunes, one other classmate, who used to remain at Burgum’s home in Arthur when storms prevented him from getting again to his home additional out within the nation. “He actually needed to be the most effective he might be at the whole lot.”
Promoting the farm for the tech world
After highschool, Burgum attended North Dakota State College, beginning a chimney-sweeping enterprise as a scholar, and later enrolled on the Stanford Graduate Faculty of Enterprise.
Then, in 1983, he guess the household farm − mortgaging 160 acres of farmland he inherited for seed cash to take a position $250,000 within the software program firm Nice Plains. Burgum later bought the corporate to Microsoft in 2001, a transfer that made him Microsoft’s senior vice chairman till 2007.
On the time, Microsoft was led by Steve Ballmer, a Stanford classmate of Burgum. The accounting software program operation at Nice Plains advanced into Microsoft Enterprise Options, which Burgum managed.
As we speak, Burgum’s web value is valued at greater than $100 million, according to Forbes magazine, making him one of many richest governors within the nation however removed from billionaire standing. As a part of the Microsoft acquisition of Nice Plains, Forbes reported that Burgum obtained greater than 1.7 million Microsoft shares, then value about $100 million.
Reller, who was the thirty sixth worker employed at Nice Plaines, later labored alongside Burgum as government vice chairman of selling at Microsoft. She mentioned Burgum was approachable, simple to speak to, an important listener and each keen to assist whereas holding his staff to a excessive customary.
“It all the time felt like he had our again,” Reller mentioned, crediting Burgum’s work tradition for the corporate’s minimal worker turnover. “That management package deal is what compelled so many people to be part of (Nice Plains) for a really very long time and, frankly, couldn’t think about leaving.”
On the street whereas at Nice Plains, Burgum snapped pictures with each potential investor he met so he would bear in mind them the following time. Throughout the firm’s annual “Stampede to Fargo” conferences with buyers, Burgum usually began remarks with a historical past lesson. One time it was on the exploration of Lewis and Clark. One other yr he informed the story of New Zealand explorer Edmund Hillary. He would then interact in lengthy question-and-answer classes with buyers that Reller described as “iconic.”
Some within the budding tech trade within the Nineteen Eighties and Nineteen Nineties noticed Fargo-based Nice Plains as an underdog stacked in opposition to larger markets. However Reller mentioned Burgum noticed the corporate’s Midwest roots as a energy, permitting it to tug prime expertise from the area. As we speak, Microsoft nonetheless operates a Fargo campus. “He was by no means irritated by it,” Reller mentioned of the surface perceptions. “He was simply all the time affected person in describing our aggressive benefit.”
Burgum campaigned for governor on ending North Dakota’s “good old boys club” in his first election in 2016.
With the assistance of his private lucky, he erased a large polling lead within the Republican main held by Wayne Stenehjem, a former North Dakota legal professional common and state senator who was endorsed by the state’s Republican Celebration. Burgum secured the Republican nomination by 20 share factors and simply received the final election to grow to be North Dakota’s thirty third governor.
Critics from the suitable and left
In Bismarck, North Dakota’s capital, Burgum pushed cuts to revenue and property taxes and overhauled North Dakota’s pension plan for public staff. He launched a “purple tape discount” working group to chop authorities waste. He is credited with serving to safe the longer term Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library set to open in 2026 in Medora, North Dakota.
Burgum has additionally supported the state’s oil and gasoline trade, defending the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline and serving to shield a major coal-fired power plant in North Dakota from shutting down− whereas on the identical time signing a pledge to make the state carbon-neutral by 2030.
“He got here in to state authorities as any person who was extensively revered within the software program trade, however he is now properly regarded within the power trade as properly,” mentioned North Dakota Senate Majority Chief David Hogue. “And that is as a result of he is self-taught, he is initiated, and he is acquired this unquenchable curiosity that drives him to all the time be studying and looking out.”
Burgum has three grownup kids and has been married twice. In 2016, he married Kathryn Burgum, the state’s first woman, who has brazenly mentioned her battle with alcoholism to carry consciousness to dependancy.
Rep. Mike Lefor, the Republican chief within the North Dakota Home of Representatives, mentioned Burgum has a “photographic reminiscence” and a “strategic thoughts” and has usually gotten together with the Republican-supermajority legislature. “The legislative department and government department − there’s pure stress occasionally. However we have labored very properly, even on instances we do not agree. He is not a unpleasant particular person,” Lefor mentioned.
A lot of the pushback Burgum has obtained as governor got here from the far-right of his get together within the legislature − a gaggle that calls itself the Bastiat Caucus and considers itself the North Dakota model of the Home Freedom Caucus in Congress.
Rick Becker, a former North Dakota state consultant who led the caucus, criticized Burgum for supporting authorities subsidies for companies, rising government spending, and supporting restrictions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I do not assume, philosophically, he is within the camp of Republicans or Democrats. He’s a technocrat,” mentioned Becker, who lost a Republican primary race to Julie Fedorchak this month for North Dakota’s lone congressional seat. The state’s outgoing congressman, Rep. Kelly Armstrong, received the Republican nomination for governor to interchange Burgum, defeating Burgum-backed Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller. Armstrong was endorsed by Trump.
“If Trump chooses Burgum for VP, I am unsure what his angle is,” mentioned Becker, an RNC conference delegate and Trump supporter. “President Trump has made some personnel errors up to now. With this alternative, I hope it isn’t one other one. The conservatives in our state, we’re all saying the identical factor: We simply do not get it.”
From the alternative facet of the political spectrum, Democrats argue Burgum has shifted to the suitable to curry favor with Trump. Tim Purdon, a former U.S. legal professional in North Dakota appointed by President Barack Obama, mentioned he broke get together ranks to vote for Burgum in 2016 as a result of he noticed the Republican as a “reasonable, affordable man.”
“I believed for six years, he kind of ruled like that particular person,” Purdon mentioned, pointing to Burgum’s efforts to enhance relations with North Dakota’s native American tribes and applauding the governor’s vetoes in 2021 of Republican-backed laws that took aim at transgender youth in class sports activities and one other invoice in search of to dam the state from mandating face coverings throughout the pandemic.
“However he has positioned himself in his run for president, and now his try and grow to be the vice chairman, because the Trumpiest Trumper whoever Trumped,” Purdon mentioned. “Does Doug Burgum imagine that the election was stolen and that Donald Trump is really the best president in American historical past?
“Does he imagine that or is he simply saying that to achieve energy? I do not know, however I am going to inform you this: I do not know which a type of is worse.”
Burgum has discovered himself, allies say
North Dakota Rep. Zac Ista, the Democratic chief within the Home, mentioned Burgum hasn’t stood as much as the “excessive voices inside his personal get together,” citing his signature final yr of a invoice banning most abortions, besides within the case of rape or incest throughout the first six weeks of presidency.
“I believe you would be hard-pressed to seek out anybody from any get together of the state that believes Doug Burgum is authentically a Trump-like Republican,” Ista mentioned. “However the query I hold coming again to is, after some time, you grow to be that which you’re pretending to be. So the extra the governor is out on the nationwide stage stumping for a now-convicted felon, the extra I assume he is revealing his true character.”
Republican allies of Burgum reject such assessments.
“My colleagues and I’ve been speaking about this. The Doug Burgum we have seen for the final couple months is the Doug Burgum that everyone knows and have labored with,” mentioned North Dakota state Rep. Mike Nathe of Bismarck. He mentioned Burgum appeared rushed throughout public appearances as a presidential candidate, however the previous few weeks “has been himself all the best way: very considerate, very good, proper on level.”
As for Burgum’s previous criticism of Trump, Nathe mentioned he believes Burgum has gotten to know Trump quite a bit higher since then. “That exhibits the flexibleness of Gov. Burgum. He is prepared to work with individuals, and I haven’t got an issue with it,” Nathe mentioned.
In the meantime, Iwen and different Dakota Excessive Faculty classmates of Burgum, class of 1974, are holding a fiftieth reunion in Arthur on July 27. They scheduled festivities after the Republican National Convention, set for July 15-18 in Milwaukee, with Burgum in thoughts.
“Hopefully he is there,” Iwen mentioned. “We set it round his schedule.”
Contributing: David Jackson. Attain Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
