Doug Burgum

Nonpartisan

U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2029

Years in position

1

Predecessor:Walter Cruickshank (Nonpartisan)

Prior offices:

Governor of North Dakota

Years in office: 2016 - 2024

Predecessor:Jack Dalrymple (R)

Successor:Kelly Armstrong (R)

Elections and appointments

Last convention

July 15, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

North Dakota State University

Graduate

Stanford University

Personal

Profession

Business

Contact

Official website

Official Facebook

Official X

Official Instagram

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign X

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Doug Burgum (Republican Party) is thesecretary of the interior in PresidentDonald Trump's (R) second term in office. The Senate voted 79-18 to confirm Burgum on January 30, 2025.^[1]

Trump announced on November 14, 2024, that he had selected Burgum as his nominee for secretary of the interior in his second presidential term. Trump also said Burgum would lead the National Energy Council, a newly-formed group consisting of "all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy."^[2] In a statement, Trump said, "Doug Burgum will protect our Nation's Natural Resources, restore our fabulous Oil and Gas advantage, and Make America, and its Energy, Dominant and Great Again!"^[3]

Burgum was the33rd governor of North Dakota. He assumed office on December 15, 2016, and left office on December 15, 2024. He was last elected onNovember 3, 2020, on a joint ticket withLt. Gov.Brent Sanford (R).

Burgum was born on August 1, 1956, inArthur, North Dakota. He received a bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University in 1978 and an MBA from Stanford University in 1980. After graduating from business school, Burgum worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company from 1980 to 1983.

He founded Great Plains Software, which was acquired by Microsoft for $1.1 billion in 2001.^[4][5] He then worked at Microsoft as a senior vice president from 2001 to 2007, and served on several boards before being elected governor, including Atlassian, and Intelligent InSites.^[6] Burgum was also a founder of Arthur Ventures, a venture capital firm, and Kilborne Group, a real estate development firm.^[7][8] As of September 2022, Burgum's net worth was more than $1 billion and he was among the wealthiest governors in the country.^[9]

Burgum first ran for office in 2016 when he was electedgovernor. The state's Republican Party endorsed another candidate in the race, but Burgum won the primary with 59.5% of the vote. He won the general election with 76.5% of the vote. During the 2016 campaign, Burgum said: "I am running as a moderate on social issues and as a fiscal conservative in a state that is socially conservative but has seen government spending rise more rapidly than even our fast-growing economy."^[10] He wonre-election in 2020 with 65.8%. On January 22, 2024, Burgum said he would not run for re-election.^[11]

As governor, Burgum signed a tax reform package that cut overall taxes by $515 million and restructured the state's personal income tax, collapsing the tax brackets from five to three, and lowering the rate on the highest bracket from 2.9% to 2.5%.^[12][13] He also announced a goal to make the North Dakota economy carbon neutral by 2030 without transitioning away from fossil fuels, saying the state would rely on large-scale innovation and carbon capture, and would achieve the goal "with zero mandates, zero regulations."^[14][15]

He also signed anabortion ban into law, prohibiting abortions throughout a pregnancy with limited exceptions up to six weeks for rape, incest, and some medical emergencies. After six weeks, rape and incest victims are prohibited from getting an abortion and only abortions to treat certain medical emergencies are allowed.^[16] He vetoed several measures related to LGBTQ issues, including a 2021 bill that would have restricted transgender students from participating in some school sports, and a 2023 bill that would have prohibited teachers from using pronouns for students other than those associated with their sex as assigned at birth.^[17][18] In 2023, he signed a bill similar to the 2021 legislation, restricting transgender participation in K-12 sports, that passed thelegislature with a veto-proof majority.^[19]

Burgum ran in the2024 Republican presidential primary. He declared his candidacy on June 7, 2023 and said: "we need a leader who's clearly focused on three things; economy, energy and national security and that is why today I am officially announcing I am running for president of the United States of America."^[20][21] Burgum withdrew from the race on December 4, 2023, and endorsed former PresidentDonald Trump (R) on January 14, 2024.^[22][23]Click here to read more about his presidential campaign. Burgum was among a small group of finalists theTrump campaign considered for the vice presidency in 2024.^[24][25][26]

Biography

Burgum was born on August 1, 1956, inArthur, North Dakota. He received a bachelor's degree from North Dakota State University in 1978 and an M.B.A. from Stanford University in 1980. After graduating from business school, Burgum worked as a consultant at McKinsey & Company from 1980 to 1983. He founded Great Plains Software in 1983, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2001. He then worked at Microsoft as a senior vice president from 2001 to 2007.^[6][5]

Burgum also served on several boards before being elected governor, including the Arthur Companies, Avalara, Atlassian, the Raikes School of Computer Science and Management at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and Intelligent InSites.^[6]

Political career

Governor of North Dakota (2016-2024)

Burgum assumed office as governor of North Dakota on December 15, 2016, and left office on December 15, 2024.

Nomination for secretary of the interior

See also:Donald Trump presidential transition, 2024-2025 andConfirmation process for Doug Burgum for secretary of the interior

Donald Trump's Cabinet (second term)
Candidate:Doug Burgum
Position:Secretary of the Interior
a	Announced:	November 14, 2024
a	Hearing:	January 16, 2025
a	Committee:	Energy and Natural Resources
a	Reported:	Favorable (18-2)
a	Confirmed:	January 30, 2025
a	Vote:	80-17

Trump announced on November 14, 2024, that he had selected Burgum as his nominee for secretary of the Department of the Interior in his second presidential term. Trump also said Burgum would lead the National Energy Council, a newly formed group consisting of "all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy."^[27] In a statement, Trump said, "Doug Burgum will protect our Nation's Natural Resources, restore our fabulous Oil and Gas advantage, and Make America, and its Energy, Dominant and Great Again!"^[28]

TheSenate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a confirmation hearing for Burgum on January 16, 2025.^[29] The Senate voted 80-17 to confirm Burgum on January 30, 2025. All 53 Republicans, 26 Democrats, and one Independent who caucuses with Democrats,Angus King (I-Maine), voted in favor of his nomination. Sixteen Democrats and one Independent who caucuses with Democrats,Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), voted against his nomination.^[30]Click here to read more about the confirmation process.

Summary of Senate vote on Doug Burgum's nomination for secretary of the interior (January 30, 2025)
Party	Votes for	Votes against	Not voting
Democrats	26	16	3
Republicans	53	0	0
Independents	1	1	0
Totals	80	17	3

Senate vote on Doug Burgum's nomination for secretary of the interior (January 30, 2025)
Angela Alsobrooks	Democratic	Maryland	Yea
Tammy Baldwin	Democratic	Wisconsin	Yea
Jim Banks	Republican	Indiana	Yea
John Barrasso	Republican	Wyoming	Yea
Michael F. Bennet	Democratic	Colorado	Yea
Marsha Blackburn	Republican	Tennessee	Yea
Richard Blumenthal	Democratic	Connecticut	Yea
Lisa Blunt Rochester	Democratic	Delaware	Nay
Cory Booker	Democratic	New Jersey	Not Voting
John Boozman	Republican	Arkansas	Yea
Katie Britt	Republican	Alabama	Yea
Ted Budd	Republican	North Carolina	Yea
Maria Cantwell	Democratic	Washington	Yea
Shelley Moore Capito	Republican	West Virginia	Yea
Bill Cassidy	Republican	Louisiana	Yea
Susan Collins	Republican	Maine	Yea
Chris Coons	Democratic	Delaware	Nay
John Cornyn	Republican	Texas	Yea
Catherine Cortez Masto	Democratic	Nevada	Yea
Tom Cotton	Republican	Arkansas	Yea
Kevin Cramer	Republican	North Dakota	Yea
Mike Crapo	Republican	Idaho	Yea
Ted Cruz	Republican	Texas	Yea
John Curtis	Republican	Utah	Yea
Steve Daines	Republican	Montana	Yea
Tammy Duckworth	Democratic	Illinois	Nay
Dick Durbin	Democratic	Illinois	Yea
Joni Ernst	Republican	Iowa	Yea
John Fetterman	Democratic	Pennsylvania	Not Voting
Deb Fischer	Republican	Nebraska	Yea
Ruben Gallego	Democratic	Arizona	Yea
Kirsten Gillibrand	Democratic	New York	Yea
Lindsey Graham	Republican	South Carolina	Yea
Chuck Grassley	Republican	Iowa	Yea
Bill Hagerty	Republican	Tennessee	Yea
Maggie Hassan	Democratic	New Hampshire	Yea
Josh Hawley	Republican	Missouri	Yea
Martin Heinrich	Democratic	New Mexico	Yea
John Hickenlooper	Democratic	Colorado	Yea
Mazie Hirono	Democratic	Hawaii	Nay
John Hoeven	Republican	North Dakota	Yea
Jon Husted	Republican	Ohio	Yea
Cindy Hyde-Smith	Republican	Mississippi	Yea
Ron Johnson	Republican	Wisconsin	Yea
Jim Justice	Republican	West Virginia	Yea
Tim Kaine	Democratic	Virginia	Yea
Mark Kelly	Democratic	Arizona	Yea
John Kennedy	Republican	Louisiana	Yea
Andy Kim	Democratic	New Jersey	Nay
Angus King	Independent	Maine	Yea
Amy Klobuchar	Democratic	Minnesota	Yea
James Lankford	Republican	Oklahoma	Yea
Mike Lee	Republican	Utah	Yea
Ben Ray Luján	Democratic	New Mexico	Yea
Cynthia Lummis	Republican	Wyoming	Yea
Ed Markey	Democratic	Massachusetts	Nay
Roger Marshall	Republican	Kansas	Yea
Mitch McConnell	Republican	Kentucky	Yea
David McCormick	Republican	Pennsylvania	Yea
Jeff Merkley	Democratic	Oregon	Nay
Ashley B. Moody	Republican	Florida	Yea
Jerry Moran	Republican	Kansas	Yea
Bernie Moreno	Republican	Ohio	Yea
Markwayne Mullin	Republican	Oklahoma	Yea
Lisa Murkowski	Republican	Alaska	Yea
Chris Murphy	Democratic	Connecticut	Nay
Patty Murray	Democratic	Washington	Nay
Jon Ossoff	Democratic	Georgia	Not Voting
Alex Padilla	Democratic	California	Yea
Rand Paul	Republican	Kentucky	Yea
Gary Peters	Democratic	Michigan	Nay
Jack Reed	Democratic	Rhode Island	Nay
Pete Ricketts	Republican	Nebraska	Yea
James E. Risch	Republican	Idaho	Yea
Jacky Rosen	Democratic	Nevada	Yea
Mike Rounds	Republican	South Dakota	Yea
Bernie Sanders	Independent	Vermont	Nay
Brian Schatz	Democratic	Hawaii	Yea
Adam Schiff	Democratic	California	Nay
Eric Schmitt	Republican	Missouri	Yea
Chuck Schumer	Democratic	New York	Nay
Rick Scott	Republican	Florida	Yea
Tim Scott	Republican	South Carolina	Yea
Jeanne Shaheen	Democratic	New Hampshire	Yea
Tim Sheehy	Republican	Montana	Yea
Elissa Slotkin	Democratic	Michigan	Yea
Tina Smith	Democratic	Minnesota	Yea
Dan Sullivan	Republican	Alaska	Yea
John Thune	Republican	South Dakota	Yea
Thom Tillis	Republican	North Carolina	Yea
Tommy Tuberville	Republican	Alabama	Yea
Chris Van Hollen	Democratic	Maryland	Nay
Mark R. Warner	Democratic	Virginia	Yea
Raphael Warnock	Democratic	Georgia	Yea
Elizabeth Warren	Democratic	Massachusetts	Nay
Peter Welch	Democratic	Vermont	Yea
Sheldon Whitehouse	Democratic	Rhode Island	Yea
Roger Wicker	Republican	Mississippi	Yea
Ron Wyden	Democratic	Oregon	Nay
Todd Young	Republican	Indiana	Yea

Elections

2024

Burgum announced his candidacy for the2024 Republican presidential primary on June 7, 2023.^[31] Burgum withdrew from the race on December 4, 2023.^[22]

Republican presidential primaries 2024

	Candidate	Pledged delegates
	Donald Trump	2,268
	Nikki Haley	97
	Ron DeSantis	9
	Vivek Ramaswamy	3

---

Total pledged delegates: 2,377

Click the links below to read more about the 2024 presidential election:

• Doug Burgum presidential campaign, 2024
• Presidential candidates, 2024
• Democratic presidential nomination, 2024
• Republican presidential nomination, 2024

2020

See also: North Dakota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020

North Dakota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020 (June 9 Democratic primary)

North Dakota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020 (June 9 Republican primary)

General election

General election for Governor of North Dakota

The following candidates ran in the general election for Governor of North Dakota on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Doug Burgum (R)	65.8	235,629
		Shelley Lenz (D)	25.4	90,925
		DuWayne Hendrickson (L)	3.9	13,833
		Michael Coachman (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
	Submit photo	Bruce Moe (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
	Submit photo	Jamie Brager (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Other/Write-in votes	4.9	17,472

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 357,859
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of North Dakota

Shelley Lenz advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Shelley Lenz	99.3	34,501
		Other/Write-in votes	0.7	231

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 34,732
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of North Dakota

IncumbentDoug Burgum defeatedMichael Coachman in the Republican primary for Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Doug Burgum	89.5	96,119
		Michael Coachman	10.2	10,904
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	356

---

	Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 107,379
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team.

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for Governor of North Dakota

DuWayne Hendrickson advanced from the Libertarian primary for Governor of North Dakota on June 9, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		DuWayne Hendrickson	77.6	705
		Other/Write-in votes	22.4	203

---

	There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 908
= candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Note: According to the office of the North Dakota Secretary of State, write-in votes are not itemized to specific candidates unless the write-in candidates received 10% of what the top vote-getter received for that office.^[32]

2016

See also:North Dakota gubernatorial election, 2016

Generel election results

Doug Burgum and Brent Sanford defeatedMarvin Nelson and Joan Heckaman andMarty Riske and Joshua Voytek in the North Dakota governor election.

North Dakota Governor, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Doug Burgum and Brent Sanford	76.52%	259,863
	Democratic	Marvin Nelson and Joan Heckaman	19.39%	65,855
	Libertarian	Marty Riske and Joshua Voytek	3.90%	13,230
		Write-in votes	0.19%	653
Total Votes				339,601
Source:North Dakota Secretary of State

Primary election results

Doug Burgum defeatedWayne Stenehjem andPaul Sorum in the Republican primary for governor and lieutenant governor.

Republican primary for governor and lieutenant governor, 2016
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Doug Burgum	59.47%	68,042
Wayne Stenehjem	38.59%	44,158
Paul Sorum	1.89%	2,164
Write-in votes	0.04%	51
Total Votes (432 of 432 precincts reporting)		114,415
Source:North Dakota Secretary of State

Campaign themes

2020

Doug Burgum did not completeBallotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf.Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at theFEC website. Clickhere for more on federal campaign finance law andhere for more on state campaign finance law.

Notable endorsements

See also:Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia'scoverage scope.

Noteworthy events

Reported as possible 2024 Republican vice presidential nominee

See also:Vice presidential candidates, 2024

Media reports discussed Burgum as a possible 2024 Republican vice presidential candidate.^[33] Former PresidentDonald Trump (R) selected U.S. Sen.J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate on July 15, 2024, the first day of the2024 Republican National Convention.

In2020, PresidentJoe Biden (D) announced Vice PresidentKamala Harris (D) as his running mate six days before the start of theDemocratic National Convention (DNC). In 2016, bothHillary Clinton (D) and Trump announced their running mates three days before the DNC and RNC, respectively.

Personal

Note: Pleasecontact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Burgum has three children with his first wife, Karen Stoker. He remarried in 2016 to Kathryn Helgas.^[5][34]

See also

• Donald Trump presidential transition, 2024-2025
• Donald Trump's Cabinet, 2025-2026

North Dakota	State Executive Elections	News and Analysis
North Dakota State Executive OfficesNorth Dakota State LegislatureNorth Dakota Courts	2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016North Dakota elections:2026 •2025 •2024 •2023 •2022 •2021 •2020 •2019 •2018 •2017 •2016	Party control of state governmentState government trifectasState of the state addressesPartisan composition of governors

External links

Footnotes

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