Little-Known Politician Joins GOP Race Amid Growing Competition

Doug Burgum, the little-known governor of North Dakota, has officially announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president, further expanding the crowded Republican primary field. Burgum, who won re-election in the strongly Republican state last year, shared his announcement on Wednesday morning. In a preview video released the day before, he branded himself as “a new leader for a changing economy,” suggesting a campaign focused on practical, everyday issues rather than divisive cultural debates.

Notably, Burgum refrained from mentioning President Joe Biden or former President Donald Trump in his announcement video. Instead, he emphasized a need for constructive action, stating, “Anger, yelling, and fighting… that’s not gonna cut it anymore. Let’s get things done.”

While his campaign appears to prioritize economic concerns, Burgum’s record aligns him with the conservative wing of the GOP. He is a strong supporter of the fossil fuel industry—a key sector in North Dakota—and has enacted a near-total abortion ban in the state.

Burgum’s entry into the 2024 Republican presidential primary comes as a wave of candidates announces their bids. Just days prior, former Vice President Mike Pence and ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie filed their candidacy paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. Christie, once an ally of Trump, is now positioning himself as a critic, having launched his campaign at St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire on June 6. Pence is scheduled to kick off his campaign with a rally on Wednesday, followed by a CNN town hall appearance that evening.

This week’s new candidates join an already diverse primary field, which includes notable figures such as Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, all of whom are persons of colour. The frontrunners in the race, Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, both hail from Florida, while lesser-known businessman Perry Johnson is based in Michigan.

With Burgum’s announcement, the Republican primary is shaping up to be one of the most varied and competitive in recent history.