Doug Burgum will not seek a third term as North Dakota governor

The former presidential candidate won decisively in the 2016 elections and was re-elected in 2020.

North Dakota Governor and former presidential candidate Doug Burgum reported that he will not run for re-election in November. There are rumors that he will be one of Donald Trump's key men in the event that the former president returns to the White House.

"Today we announced that we will not seek a third term as governor. Serving as governor and first lady of North Dakota has been one of the most incredible and rewarding experiences of our lives. We are eternally grateful to the citizens for giving us this opportunity," Burgum and his wife, Kathryn Burgum, wrote in a statement. "There’s never been a better time to live, work and raise a family in North Dakota. Our state is extremely well-positioned for the future thanks to the efforts of everyone on Team ND to empower people, improve lives and inspire success."

At the beginning of December, Burgum put an end to his presidential aspirations, blaming the media and political party structures for his decision. Subsequently, he publicly endorsed Donald Trump, who is the favorite to be the Republican candidate in the next presidential election.

Burgum took office as governor of North Dakota after the 2016 election, in which he received over 76% of the vote. In the 2020 elections, he managed to retain his victory, although this time with a lower percentage of support (66%).