North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum speaks at National Governors Association’s Summer Workforce Symposium

FARGO — North Dakota governor and Republican presidential candidate Doug Burgum talked technology at Microsoft Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Burgum was a speaker at the National Governors Association’s Summer Workforce Symposium. He focused on how his role as a former tech executive would benefit the nation if he is successful in his bid for president.

He also touched on how the state of North Dakota is taking the lead on many technological innovations, including utilizing artificial intelligence.

Burgum has been under fire nationally this week for seemingly avoiding to talk about other republican candidates.

WDAY News got a chance to ask Burgum why he seems to be focused on defeating Biden in the polls and not other republican candidates like Trump.

“Lots of folks want to talk about the past, they want to talk about 2020,” Burgum said. “They want to talk about other stuff, but there’s an entire industry built around that, in the media, in social media. There’s an entire industry. They don’t need my voice in that thing . We’re going to keep talking about what we can do for America.”

Burgum added that his campaign believes the best way to win the Republican nomination is to help Americans understand the future without focusing on the past.