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Politics and Government News
The Associated Press and Dan Gunderson
Bismarck, N.D.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum says he won't seek a third term as governor

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum speaks at the State Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., on April 10.
Mike McCleary | Bismarck Tribune via AP 2020

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Updated: 2:00 p.m.

North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum announced Monday that he will not seek a third term as governor, over a month after he ended his bid for the GOP presidential nomination.

His recent endorsement of former President Donald Trump, and Trump's praise of the little-known governor, have fueled speculation about Burgum serving in a second Trump administration.

However during an early afternoon press conference Burgum said he wants to spend more time with his adult children and “completely and totally unrelated” to a possible cabinet job.

“It’s flattering what President Trump has, you know, said from the stage and said publicly,” he told reporters, “but the two things are, you know, completely not connected at all.”

Burgum, 67, is a wealthy software entrepreneur who won an upset victory in 2016 over the state's popular attorney general in the Republican gubernatorial primary election.

He did not rule out another run for office in the future, but he also said he could see the attraction of returning to the private sector.

“And just like in this job, you do it right in the private sector, creating great jobs and having a big impact,” he said. “Whatever, wherever that path may be, it’s gonna be where I can have the biggest impact.”

Before becoming governor, Burgum was best known as a software executive. He led Great Plains Software through its acquisition by Microsoft in 2001 for over $1 billion. He was a Microsoft executive until 2007 and has led other companies in real estate development and venture capital.

Burgum poured over $12 million of his own money into his presidential campaign, which he ended in December after six months. He drew attention for giving $20 gift cards to donors in order to meet donation requirements for the debate stage, and criticized debate qualification criteria as arbitrary.