North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Burgum faces a tough challenge in a field dominated by former President Donald Trump and better-known governor Ron DeSantis of Florida. He plans to campaign in early voting states, including Iowa and New Hampshire, portraying himself as a common-sense, rural state conservative with experience in energy policy. Burgum signed measures in North Dakota to cut taxes and regulations and increase spending on infrastructure and education. However, he is not the most notable candidate to announce a presidential campaign on Wednesday, with former Vice President Mike Pence launching his White House bid in Iowa.
According to an article in The Sentinel-Tribune, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Burgum, a former computer software entrepreneur, faces an uphill battle in a crowded field dominated by former President Donald Trump and the better-known governor in the race, Ron DeSantis of Florida.
Burgum, 66, made the announcement in The Wall Street Journal and was expected to kick off his campaign in Fargo, where he lives and which is near the tiny farm town of Arthur, where he grew up. He plans to visit early voting states right away, campaigning in Iowa on Thursday and Friday, and in New Hampshire on Saturday and Sunday.
In a video previewing his announcement, Burgum portrayed himself as a common-sense, rural state conservative, distinctly experienced in energy policy and far removed from the bitter war of words between Trump and DeSantis as the 2024 GOP campaign heats up. He emphasized the need for respectful dialogue and a focus on getting things done.
“Anger, yelling, infighting, that’s not going to cut it anymore,” Burgum said in the video, which features breathtaking vistas from across North Dakota. “Let’s get things done. In North Dakota, we listen with respect, and we talk things out. That’s how we can get America back on track.”
As governor of the state’s fourth-least populous state, Burgum signed measures to reduce regulations on businesses, expand access to telemedicine, and invest in infrastructure. He has also been an advocate for renewable energy, particularly wind power, and has emphasized the importance of diversifying North Dakota’s economy beyond its reliance on oil and gas.
However, Burgum faces an immense challenge in a field dominated by Trump, who has not yet announced his candidacy but is widely expected to run, and DeSantis, who has gained national attention for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida. Burgum is not even the most notable candidate to announce a presidential campaign on Wednesday, as former Vice President Mike Pence was launching his White House bid in Iowa, taking on the president he served loyally for four years.
Despite the long odds, Burgum believes he has a message that will resonate with voters, particularly those in rural areas who feel left behind by the political establishment.
“We need a change in the White House. We need a new leader for a changing economy. That’s why I’m announcing my run for president,” he said in his commentary in The Wall Street Journal.
It remains to be seen whether Burgum’s long-shot bid will gain traction in a crowded and competitive field, but his candidacy adds another dimension to what is shaping up to be a fascinating and unpredictable race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
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