Long-shot Republican presidential candidate and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum suspended his campaign Monday after failing to gain momentum with voters in a crowded primary field. In a statement, Burgum said: “While this primary process has shaken my trust in many media organizations and political party institutions, it has only strengthened my trust in America.” He also criticized the Republican National Committee’s debate requirements, calling them “arbitrary criteria.”
After months of stagnant polling, Burgum’s campaign revealed a lack of interest in the wealthy tech entrepreneur who was largely unknown outside of his home state. The 67-year-old pitched himself as a job creator uniquely qualified to build the economy and bridge connections between small towns and big cities. However, his platform never found traction with a Republican base that heavily favored former President Donald Trump, whom Burgum had supported in 2020.
Burgum’s campaign, largely self-funded, brought in $11.8 million through the second quarter, with about $10.2 million being loaned to the campaign by Burgum himself, according to financial filings. Despite his advertising reach matching that of more successful campaigns, he averaged about 1 percent nationally or 2 percent in Iowa and New Hampshire, indicating that his policy message and lesser-known name had not resonated with voters.
Burgum brushed off questions about his campaign’s viability as his polling stalled, comparing dropping out to predicting who would win the Super Bowl, then calling off the game. When he didn’t make the third debate, he also claimed that the event’s viewership numbers declined.
After entering the race in June, Burgum touted his state’s economic growth and his life story of working as a chimney sweep in college to taking out a loan on the farmland he had inherited to develop a software company that was acquired by Microsoft for $1.1 billion. Nevertheless, his campaign never gained the momentum needed to sustain it in the crowded field of candidates.
Burgum’s criticism of the primary process and his trust in America despite the suspension of his campaign will likely resonate with his supporters and draw attention to the challenges faced by long-shot candidates in a crowded political landscape.