Doug Burgum in 2016 ND Governor's race


On Civil Rights: No discrimination because of sexual orientation

Q: Would you support discrimination protections for LGBT citizens?

Nelson: Yes.

Stenehjem: I do support extending anti-discrimination protections for the LBGT community in housing and employment. One thing that will be necessary is to establish that discrimination in that area is a problem that needs to be addressed. No one should have to worry about finding a job or a place to live because of their sexual orientation. But these protections must also be accompanied by protections for religious freedom, especially as it relates to small business.

Burgum: As with any legislation, the specific language is very important. I believe no one should be discriminated against because of their sexual orientation and would want to work with the legislature to appropriately address this issue.

Source: Grand Forks Herald on 2016 North Dakota Gubernatorial debate Jun 25, 2016

On Drugs: Opioid epidemic threatens our way of life

Q: What can the state do to help deal with the opioid addiction crisis?

Burgum: Drug abuse is skyrocketing in North Dakota. It's an epidemic that is hurting North Dakota families, employers, and taxpayers and threatening our way of life. It's past time our attorney general begins making these issues a top priority, and as governor I look forward to working with him to address this important statewide crisis. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Working together across the state, we need to invest more time, energy, and resources in prevention, and we need to treat addiction like the chronic disease that it is. As Governor, I'll work with communities, employers, and health care providers to restrict the supply of drugs like meth, fentanyl, and heroin, fight the federal reimbursement incentives that are fueling the exponential rise in the abuse of highly addictive prescription drugs, reform our corrections system, and get people the help they need.

Source: Grand Forks Herald on 2016 North Dakota Gubernatorial debate Jun 25, 2016

On Immigration: Consider filing a lawsuit over refugee resettlement

Burgum said, "when North Dakota withdrew from the federal refugee resettlement program, the Federal Government, with questionable authority to do so, selected the non-profit Lutheran Social Services to oversee the refugee program in North Dakota. While I have tremendous compassion for these refugees, this action amounts to federal overreach. Filing a lawsuit against the federal government shouldn't be taken lightly, but it is certainly an option that deserves consideration and debate."
Source: Breitbart.com on 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial race May 5, 2016

On Corporations: Economy of the future built on collaboration for innovation

Q: How do you view the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in North Dakota?

DB: Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of our economy. From the original Dakota Territory pioneering settlers, to the grassroots innovators whose ideas and actions lead to the creation of global companies, North Dakota has a history of innovation. The economy of the future will be built around collaboration from research, universities, communities, companies, and entrepreneurs. We have to do more than create great jobs; we have to create communities that foster interaction and ideas that become attractors for innovators. While innovation and entrepreneurship are simply buzzwords for some, for me, they are tangibles that I have lived and breathed throughout my entire life in North Dakota.

Source: EmergingPrairie.com on 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial race Apr 26, 2016

On Corporations: Founded software company at age 26; grew to 2,000 staff

At the age of 26, I literally "bet the farm" to provide the seed capital for then fledgling startup, Great Plains Software. Before being acquired by Microsoft, we grew Great Plains to 2,000 team members hailing from more than 220 towns and cities across North Dakota. After leaving Microsoft, I co-founded Arthur Ventures, which strongly supports the tech startup community in North Dakota, which has grown to more than 120 team members and is working to transform healthcare operations worldwide.
Source: EmergingPrairie.com on 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial race Apr 26, 2016

On Civil Rights: Gay marriage is ok, but not running on social issues

Very few southwest North Dakotans pushed them on Burgum's social leanings -- both he and Stenehjem are on record supporting gay marriage and have been quiet on most other social issues -- and said he saw this as a sign of what voters are truly concerned about.

"We're not running on social issues," Burgum said. "We're running because we believe we can get conservative business leaders into the office -- people who can help set the state on the right track, relative to our fiscal things. It (social issues) doesn't come up. We don't talk about it and they don't bring it up, because I don't think it's the thing that's leading on voter's minds right now."

Source: Dickinson Press on 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial race Apr 20, 2016

On Government Reform: Pledge to support term limits

MY PLEDGE
Source: 2016 North Dakota governor campaign website DougBurgum.com Feb 2, 2016

On Health Care: Pledge to oppose Obamacare

MY PLEDGE
Source: 2016 North Dakota governor campaign website DougBurgum.com Feb 2, 2016

On Tax Reform: Shrink government and stop property tax hikes

Doug will eliminate the runaway spending of career politicians that stuck North Dakota with a $1.1 billion deficit.