Burgum, an Independent GOP Candidate, Invests $10 Million in Presidential Campaign

Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota recently revealed his commitment to financially support his dark-horse bid for the Republican presidential nomination, stating that he would invest his own dollars into the campaign. True to his word, Burgum’s campaign has raised a staggering $11.7 million in just 23 days, from June 7 to the end of the month. This impressive figure includes a personal investment of $10.2 million made by Burgum himself.

In addition to the funds raised by the campaign, the super PAC called Best of America, which supports Burgum’s White House aspirations, announced that it had raised over $11 million since its launch in early June.

While Burgum did not specify the exact amount of his personal investment in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, he emphasized his willingness to contribute his own resources to the campaign, citing his background in business and his belief in leading by example. He also emphasized the importance of building a strong team and garnering support from those who care about America, rather than solely relying on personal funds.

Burgum’s campaign highlighted that the $1.5 million raised from individual donors included contributions from over 200 donors in more than 20 states. Meeting the fundraising thresholds set by the Republican National Committee is crucial for candidates to qualify for the upcoming first primary debate hosted by Fox News on August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. These thresholds require candidates to have at least 40,000 contributions, with at least 200 unique donors from 20 or more states and/or territories.

“It’s clear Governor and business leader Doug Burgum will have the resources to make sure his message about the economy, energy and national security is heard by voters in early primary and caucus states as well as across the country,” campaign spokesman Lance Trover told Fox News. “As more people learn about Doug’s vision, and it becomes clear that he is the only candidate focused on the economic and national security issues that matter most, we are seeing an upswing in both small-dollar donors and interested bundlers.” 

In the race for the GOP nomination, former President Donald Trump is emerging as the clear frontrunner, leading the polls for his third consecutive White House bid.

Trump’s campaign and his political action committee, Save America, reported a combined fundraising total of $35 million over the past three months. This significant amount of funds suggests that Trump’s mounting legal challenges have actually fueled his 2024 presidential campaign.

During the second quarter of this year, Trump made history as the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges. He was indicted in New York City in April and faced another indictment in federal court in Miami in June.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is currently in second place in the polls, raised $20 million since the launch of his presidential campaign in late May through the end of June. The super PAC supporting DeSantis, Never Back Down, also announced a fundraising total of $130 million since its establishment in March.

Although trailing behind Trump by a significant margin, DeSantis is ahead of other contenders like Burgum and a large field of candidates who are polling in the single digits.

Nikki Haley, the former two-term governor of South Carolina and former ambassador to the United Nations under the Trump administration, reported $7.3 million in fundraising for her Republican presidential campaign and aligned political committees during the second quarter of 2023.

Additionally, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, whose presidential campaign shared its fundraising figures with Fox News, raised $6.1 million during the second quarter.

Fundraising, along with polling, serves as a crucial indicator of a candidate’s popularity and the strength of their campaign. The funds raised are used for various campaign activities such as travel, advertisements, and voter outreach efforts.