BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) 鈥� North Dakota Republican is little-known on the national stage but is former President s vice presidential running mate.
The wealthy software entrepreneur has led North Dakota like a CEO. He's championed business-oriented items such as and tech upgrades for state government, from cybersecurity to state websites. He has not been outspoken on social issues, even as the state's Republican-led Legislature sent him a flurry of anti-LGBTQ+ bills last year. But after vetoing some of the bills in 2021 and 2023, he later signed most of them 鈥� around the same time he was preparing a 2024 presidential bid that fizzled within months.
Here are some takeaways on Burgum and his actions:
From small-town roots, Burgum became a wealthy executive
Burgum, 67, grew up in a tiny North Dakota town. After college, he led Great Plains Software, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2001 for $1.1 billion. Burgum stayed on as a vice president with Microsoft until 2007. He went on to lead other companies in real estate development and venture capital.
Burgum was largely known as a software executive and businessman before his upset campaign for governor in 2016 when he beat the state's longtime attorney general in the GOP primary. He ran on 鈥渞einventing鈥� government as the state grappled with a $1 billion revenue shortfall.
As governor, his focus was on economic, not social issues
Burgum campaigned in 2016 as a business leader and has governed with the same approach. He's talked about 鈥渢reating taxpayers like customers." He brought some Microsoft veterans and other private-sector people into state government.
He's cybersecurity enhancements, state website upgrades, cuts to state regulations and changes to higher education governance and animal agriculture laws. The planned is one of his biggest efforts.
Burgum can talk at length about energy policy and other topics of interest to him. He frequently boasts of North Dakota's underground 鈥済eologic jackpot鈥� for carbon dioxide storage, and touts an approach of 鈥渋nnovation over regulation.鈥�
People who have worked with him in the governor's office say he's extremely inquisitive and works long hours.
Burgum's positions on LGBTQ+ issues changed
Democratic and Republican lawmakers who have worked with Burgum say it was disappointing to see him sign a sheaf of anti-LGBTQ+ bills in 2023, and that he might have been eyeing the national stage as he did so. Burgum for president in June 2023, about a month after the legislative session ended.
In 2021, Burgum banning transgender girls from public schools' girls sports. In early 2023, he said would make teachers into 鈥減ronoun police.鈥�
But later in the 2023 session, as he prepared to run for president, he restricting transgender people, including a and similar to the bill he vetoed in 2021.
He also but vetoed a further-reaching one. Opponents said went after LGBTQ+ literature.
Burgum also signed a bill that after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. is one of the strictest in the U.S. Burgum has not been outspoken on LGBTQ+ issues or abortion.
Burgum in December 2023, having failed to gain traction. The next month, he said he as governor.
Jack Dura, The Associated Press
