Patricia Lopez, Columnist

Burgum Has Two Things Trump Wants: A Fat Wallet and Thick Hair

The North Dakota millionaire governor appears to check all the boxes for the former president.

June 23, 2024 at 12:00 PM UTC

Corrected

June 23, 2024 at 5:31 PM UTC

Patricia Lopez is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. She is a former member of the editorial board at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she also worked as a senior political editor and reporter.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was among the many candidates auditioning for the role of Donald Trump’s running mate to show to support the former president at his New York trial. — North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was among the many candidates auditioning for the role of Donald Trump’s running mate to show to support the former president at his New York trial.
Photographer: Alex Kent/AFP via Getty Images

Provide news feedback or report an error

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

This article is for subscribers only.

North Dakota only has three electoral votes and Donald Trump easily won the state in 2016 and 2020. Its governor, Doug Burgum, is little known outside the state beyond a mercifully brief presidential run.

So why is Burgum suddenly popping up on everyone’s shortlist as a potential Trump VP?