BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Tech executive-turned-governor Doug Burgum announced Thursday that he’s seeking a second term, highlighting anew his themes of “reinventing” government and running North Dakota state government like a business.
In a video announcement posted on YouTube, the 63-year-old Republican highlights accomplishments since he took office three years ago against a backdrop of state revenue shortfall and the contentious protest over the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
Burgum said they are “reinventing government with modern business efficiencies” and have “turned a budget shortfall into a budget surplus and cut government spending without raising taxes.”
Burgum won in 2016 by running as an outsider, bucking what he called the “good old boy” party establishment and hitting the innovation theme.
He infuriated the GOP-controlled Legislature at the time with television ads that claimed lawmakers squandered the state’s oil bounty. He portrayed himself as a proven job-creator uniquely qualified to help diversify the state economy. And he beat the GOP’s preferred candidate, longtime state Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, in a primary before easily winning the general election.
At a press conference announcing his re-election bid, Burgum promised “teamwork and collaboration” with lawmakers and called any perception of friction between him and the GOP-controlled Legislature an untrue and “outdated storyline.”
Prior to taking office, Burgum had been critical of the Legislature’s stance on social issues, including its failure to pass a bill that would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation. His perceived liberal leanings on some social issues likely appealed to many Democrats, who crossed party lines to cast votes for him in the primary.
After taking office, Burgum walked a fine line on abortion in the highly conservative state until this year, when he signed two anti-abortion bills last session that were hailed as a victory by anti-abortion advocates.
Burgum who has long vowed to rein in “runaway” state spending, surprised many this year by supporting a record $14.7 billion, two-year budget that includes federal aid.
The current budget represents about $4.9 billion in state general fund spending, up about 12.5% from what was approved by lawmakers two years ago. But was $2 billion less than in 2013-2015.
Democrats haven’t held the governor’s office for more than a quarter-century and have no declared challenger yet. Former Democratic U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, the state party’s star, has said she won’t run.
Former U.S. Rep. Rick Berg, the state GOP chairman and a former legislator, said he expects Burgum to cruise to a victorious second term.
“Anyone facing him has a tremendous uphill challenge,” Berg said. “The economy is going well because people have confidence in our government.”
Burgum also personally funded much of his campaign in his first bid, but will not say by how much. State law does not require candidates to disclose their own contributions.
During his first term, Burgum has pushed to transform downtown areas throughout the state into vibrant social and economic hubs that are attractive to live in, while finding ways to diversify the state’s economy.
Burgum also has made a proposed presidential library for Theodore Roosevelt in western North Dakota a top priority.
The Legislature has clashed with Burgum over the governor’s veto powers in the past two legislative sessions, and the issue still remains largely unresolved.
Burgum was criticized from within his own party for watching the Super Bowl with first lady Kathryn Helgaas Burgum last year in Minnesota in a stadium suite sponsored by Xcel Energy. Burgum later said he reimbursed Xcel Energy for all costs related the weekend trip - almost $40,000.
The trip spurred the North Dakota state auditor to inspect travel-related spending in Burgum’s office. The audit found Burgum used state airplanes at least seven times for “inappropriate” commutes to or from his Fargo residence.
Burgum’s office defended the use of state planes as being within policy, a prudent use of taxpayer dollars, and a means of increasing efficiency and productivity.
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