Who will and will not be at Gov. Burgum’s ‘major’ announcement in Fargo this week

FARGO — Anyone who pays attention to North Dakota politics or follows the career of Gov. Doug Burgum likely has a few questions about his “major” announcement next week.

Who will be there to cheer Burgum on when he reveals a 2024 presidential run in Fargo around 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7?

Who will introduce Burgum to the national stage as he declares his quest for the Republican nomination?

We know who will not be present at the Sanctuary Events Center that day: the three members of North Dakota’s all-Republican congressional delegation.

A spokesperson for Sen. John Hoeven said he won’t be able to attend because the Senate will be in session next week, but offered this statement:

“I have known Doug Burgum for a long time. He has been a leader for our state in both the private sector and now as Governor. I have already spoken to Doug and he has my endorsement,” Hoeven wrote.

The senator added: “I wish him the very best and know he will do a great job telling the North Dakota story as he is out campaigning.”

The office of Sen. Kevin Cramer said he won’t attend because of the need to be on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Kelly Armstrong will be in D.C. too, with the House in session.

“Otherwise, he would be there,” said an Armstrong spokesperson regarding the Burgum announcement.

With Burgum’s lifelong family roots in North Dakota, and deep relationships built with classmates at Stanford University, colleagues in the tech world and more recently in state government, there’s likely to be a “who’s who” list in attendance.

Ed Schafer, North Dakota’s governor from 1992 to 2000 and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture under President George W. Bush from 2008 to 2009, said he’ll be there Wednesday.

“I want to be supportive of a North Dakotan who’s going to run for president,” Schafer said.

Several of Burgum’s colleagues in state government have indicated they will be in attendance for the announcement.

Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller, the former chief operating officer in Burgum’s office and former CEO of Border States Electric, has confirmed she will be there to support him.

North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley has cleared his calendar that day to drive from Bismarck to be at Burgum’s event.

“I’m going there for pretty straightforward reasons. I’m going there to support my friend. I’m going there to support my professional colleague,” he said.

The two have been acquainted for more than 20 years, Wrigley said, but have worked closely in their state government roles over the last year and a half.

Burgum grew up some 30 miles north of Fargo in Arthur, North Dakota, in a family Wrigley describes as “remarkable.”

“They’re philanthropic, they’re hard working, they’re innovators,” he said.

In Fargo, Burgum helped lead Great Plains Software from a small startup company in 1983 to a billion-dollar company serving 140,000 companies in 132 different countries.

He led Great Plains as CEO until Microsoft acquired the company in 2001, and remained on as senior vice president through 2007.

Burgum also founded Kilbourne Group, a real estate development firm that helped revitalize downtown Fargo, and co-founded Arthur Ventures, a venture capital firm.

Despite his roles in tech, business and government, some give the 66-year-old Burgum little to no chance of securing the nomination or becoming president, while others say not to count him out.

“I consider myself a high energy person and he’s 10 years older than I am. Energy and focus and drive on the campaign trail will not be something that people have to ask about,” Wrigley said about Burgum.

“I think he’s going to be pretty refreshing out there. I mean, nobody likes any of the candidates in the Democrat or Republican parties,” Schafer said with a laugh.

Burgum’s June 7 announcement will be carried live by national television pool outlet Fox News, which will distribute it to other national networks.

It will also be broadcast live on WDAY-TV 6 and streamed live on inforum.com.