North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was rushed to a Milwaukee emergency room on Tuesday after sustaining an injury while playing basketball with his staff, according to a source familiar with the situation. The 67-year-old presidential candidate’s ability to stand for the first GOP primary debate on Wednesday night is now in question.
Burgum is one of the eight candidates scheduled to participate in the debate. However, it remains unclear whether he will be able to attend. All candidates are expected to visit the event site on Wednesday afternoon for a walk-through, but it is uncertain if the North Dakota governor will be able to join them.
The debate, which will be aired on Fox News at 9 p.m. ET, holds significant importance for Burgum. As the least-known contender on the stage, the wealthy former software executive sees this as an opportunity to introduce himself and his campaign to a wider audience. He expressed his hope to explain who he is, what he stands for, and why he is running during an interview on NBC.
Burgum qualified for the debate stage in July by reaching the Republican National Committee’s 40,000-unique-donors threshold. To attract donors, he offered gift cards worth in exchange for $1 donations. He also met the polling requirements and signed the pledge to support the eventual GOP presidential nominee, both of which were necessary to participate in the debate.
Currently serving his second term as North Dakota governor, Burgum announced his run for president in 2024 in June. Despite having less name recognition compared to other GOP candidates, his campaign focuses on key issues such as the economy, energy, and national security.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Governor Burgum will be able to recover in time for the debate. This story will be updated with any additional information.
How does Governor Burgum’s injury affect his ability to participate in the first GOP primary debate?
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was in for a surprise on Tuesday when a basketball game with his staff took a turn for the worse. The 67-year-old presidential candidate suffered an injury that landed him in a Milwaukee emergency room, leaving his ability to stand for the first GOP primary debate on Wednesday night in question.
Burgum is one of the eight candidates slated to participate in the debate, but it’s unclear whether he will be able to attend. All candidates are expected to visit the event site for a walk-through on Wednesday afternoon, but it remains uncertain if the North Dakota governor will be among them.
The debate, set to air on Fox News at 9 p.m. ET, holds significant importance for Burgum. As the least-known contender on the stage, the wealthy former software executive sees this as an opportunity to introduce himself and his campaign to a wider audience. In an interview on NBC, he expressed his hope to explain who he is, what he stands for, and why he is running.
Burgum qualified for the debate stage in July by reaching the Republican National Committee’s 40,000-unique-donors threshold. To attract donors, he offered gift cards worth $20 in exchange for $1 donations. He also met the polling requirements and pledged to support the eventual GOP presidential nominee, both of which were necessary for participation.
Currently serving his second term as North Dakota governor, Burgum announced his run for president in 2024 in June. Despite having less name recognition compared to other GOP candidates, his campaign focuses on key issues such as the economy, energy, and national security.
As of now, it remains uncertain whether Governor Burgum will be able to recover in time for the debate. Rest assured, we will update this story with any additional information. Stay tuned!
Oh no! I hope he recovers quickly.
Wishing Governor Burgum a speedy recovery! The debate won’t be the same without his presence.