North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, a former software executive and investor, has decided to end his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination after struggling to gain traction.
Burgum, 67, largely self-financed his campaign and positioned himself as a traditional, business-minded conservative. However, he faced challenges standing out among the shadow of former President Donald Trump.
In a statement, Burgum stated his decision to suspend his campaign, reiterating his commitment to improving the lives of Americans by moving the country in a different direction than President Joe Biden on key issues such as the economy, energy, and national security.
While not openly critical of Trump, Burgum did acknowledge Biden as the rightful victor of the 2020 election, rejecting claims of fraud. Despite this, he refrained from publicly condemning Trump’s efforts to overturn the election results.
Burgum’s lack of prominence in the early debates, coupled with his low polling numbers compared to candidates like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Trump, contributed to his difficulties gaining momentum.
To qualify for the first two debates, Burgum’s campaign offered $20 gift cards to the first 50,000 donors who pledged at least $1.
(Article by James Oliphant)
