Is Doug Burgum the dark horse in the Trump VP race? After Kristi Noem killed her dog, Republicans consider the North Dakota billionaire and his wife's inspirational story of recovery

When former President Donald Trump welcomes potential running mates to Mar-a-Lago this weekend a dark horse could emerge as a favorite.

One-time frontrunner, South Dakota governor Kristi Noem, is all but out of contention following revelations she shot dead her 14-month-old dog Cricket.

Other candidates - including U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, Tim Scott and J.D. Vance; and congresswoman Elise Stefanik - are also set to attend.

But whispers are circulating about a lesser-known Republican who 18 months ago was little heard of outside his remote home state.

He is a billionaire businessman surrounded by a loving family and has the support of a wife who has her own inspirational back story overcoming drug and alcohol addiction. 

Republican presidential candidate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and wife Kathryn

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump shakes hands with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum

Enter Doug Burgum, Governor of North Dakota.

One reason for the so-called 'Burgum buzz' among Republicans is his uptick  of Fox News appearances.

Burgum is now a frequent guest on the network as he navigates the delicate cable news dance to attract Trump's favor. 

The governor from the rural state was brought on the network on Monday to discuss the pressing issue of pro-Palestine protests that continued raging at some of America's most elite colleges.

As an undergraduate of North Dakota State University, Burgum is not an expert on Ivy League schools or a policy guru on the political sensitivities of Israel and Palestine.

But he does have some thoughts to share about former President Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden.

'If President Trump was in office right now and we were leading through strength abroad, we would not be seeing this on our campuses today,' he said, laying blame for the college protests 'all at the feet of Joe Biden.'

Under Biden, Burgum asserted, Jewish students were afraid to go to class, because the president had not stepped up to help shut down the volatile protests that were preventing students from attending their university.

Burgum speaks in a steady fashion with traces of his North Dakota accent that evoke a calm midwestern approach, and the message is clear: Biden is weak and Trump is strong.  

The governor's performance on Fox News does not strike the viewer as 'star casting,' the quality that Trump respects the most.

But it was sufficient to get an endorsement from the former president's social media account, a video of Burgum's appearance being shared on Trump's Truth Social account.

Last week, Burgum appeared again on Fox News to condemn the 'sham trial' in New York City, describing it as 'election interference' that was keeping Trump off the campaign trail.

'It is absolutely election interference and it is so unfair to the public and to our country,' he said in another video that was appreciated and shared by Trump. 

Kathryn Burgum's struggle with alcohol addiction and her treatment platform

Burgum's wife Kathryn has struggled with alcohol addiction, but after she became the First Lady of North Dakota, she used her story to raise awareness of addiction and promote treatment options.

For six years, Burgum has shared details of her story of how she was a 'black out drinker' in high school which continued into college.

'My introduction to alcohol was, you know, full on right in the minute I took my first drink really, and then from there, as someone who has an addiction, has full on control of my life,' she said.

Burgum's wife talks frankly about her addiction struggle in order to give people hope and encouragement to seek treatment.  

Burgum's wife Kathryn has struggled with alcohol addiction, but after she became the First Lady of North Dakota, she used her story to raise awareness of addiction and promote treatment options

For six years, Kathryn Bugurm has shared details of her story of how she was a 'black out drinker' in high school which continued into college

The Burgum family's 2022 Christmas card 

She frequently talks about an eight-year struggle with multiple sobriety attempts and relapses, before finally succeeding. 

Her success relied on support and treatment assistance from her employer and her relationship with a supportive community that helped her get off alcohol for good.

She also turned to her faith.

'I was raised Catholic. I didn’t have a lot of faith, but I sort of knew there was something out there. So, I said, "Hey, if there’s anyone out there. I need help," she explained during a luncheon this week. 'And I’ve been sober since I uttered those words. For me, that was like the miracle that happened.'

Since then, Burgum has urged the country to reduce the shame and stigma around addictions in order to encourage people struggling with substance abuse to seek treatment.

'Our nation is at a place where it’s hard for us to listen to each other without judgment,' she said. 'There’s way too much judgment. We need to be patient and kind. We need to be tolerant.

Burgum made the conversation about addiction a part of her husband's presidential campaign, and continues talking about it as she and her husband has grown closer to the Trump family.

Burgum made the conversation about addiction a part of her husband's presidential campaign

The conversation fits within Trump's own efforts on combatting addiction during his first term as president.

Trump does not drink, citing his brother Fred's struggle with alcohol addiction as an influence. His brother struggled with addiction his entire life before dying from a heart attack at the age of 42. 

The president revealed details about his brother's struggle as he promoted addiction treatment during his first term as president.

The North Dakota Trump 

Burgum was a successful businessman in North Dakota before getting into politics, running his own self-funded campaign for governor and taking on the Republican establishment while winning the affection of voters in the state.

Though a long shot candidate for president in 2020, Republican consultants in DC appreciated his outside-the-box thinking that allowed him to stay in the debates by building up his donor list by handing out $20 gift cards for a one dollar donation.

Unlike Noem, the governor of the neighboring state of South Dakota, Burgum is not known to have killed any dogs.

During the Republican presidential primary he did discuss the proper way to kill a rattlesnake.

It came as he munched on nachos featuring rattlesnake meat during the Iowa state fair.

The key, he explained to hosts of the Ruthless podcast, was to stun a rattlesnake with a lariat before stepping on the head with the heel of one's boot and pull on the tail until the head came off.

'Then you can just take the snake back, skin it, dry off the skin, and then you're in nacho business,' he said with a chuckle.

Doug Burgum eats rattlesnake Nachos at the Iowa State fair

Republican presidential candidate North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum delivers remarks during the FOX Business Republican Primary Debate

Political operatives view Burgum with many of the same qualities as former Vice President Mike Pence used to have - low key, no drama, Midwestern appeal, and not a national figure trying to raise his political profile beyond Trump.

But Burgum has the additional qualities of a successful businessman who, like Trump, has a practical view on politics. 

His connections to wealthy donors are also considered an asset to the campaign.

Burgum appeared at Trump's record breaking $50.5 million Mar-a-Lago fundraiser in April and brought some of his wealthy friends with him.

The next morning, Burgum went on Fox News to celebrate the event as a 'night of unification' in the party and the beginning of the successful funding war against Biden.

Burgum and his wife were also spotted chatting with Trump during his Easter brunch at Mar-a-Lago, suggesting a newfound closeness with the former president. 

Trump's former campaign chief Corey Lewandowski recently mentioned Burgum as one of the 'top three' candidates currently under consideration for his running mate,

'His record is probably not as strong as it could have been from a rock rib conservative state like North Dakota but Doug is someone who has spent a lot of time with the president lately,' Lewandowski said in a New Hampshire radio interview, stressing he was only speaking for himself, and not for Trump.

Concerns from the MAGA community  

Trump's attention to Burgum has sparked some concern among the MAGA conservative faithful, some of whom are already bringing up his past.

'Doug Burgum repeats a lot of neocon talking points,' Human Events Senior Editor Jack Posobiec warned on X, sharing a link to Burgum's description for passing more Ukraine aid as a 'bargain' for Americans. 

Ryan Fournier, a chair for Students for Trump and the executive director of the communications firm Radical Alert, shared a long list of opposition research with his followers. 

'I think Burgum is not a good choice - all of what I posted is factual,' Fournier told DailyMail.com, arguing the similarities with Pence were not an asset.

'He would be another Mike Pence, and I have too much respect for Trump to not let him know that.' 

Fournier's post featured a quote from Burgum in 2023 where he said he would not likely do business with the former president.

'I don't think so,' Burgum responded, when asked by NBC anchor Chuck Todd in July whether he would do business with Trump. Asked why, Burgum replied that, 'I just think that it's important that you're judged by the company you keep.'

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and first lady Kathryn Burgum take their turn flipping chops and burgers at the Iowa Pork Producers Tent at the Iowa State Fair

That could make for an uncomfortable campaign ad, even though Burgum was one of the first candidates to drop out of the Republican primary and support Trump for president in January. 

The North Dakota governor separated himself from most of his fellow candidates during the Republicans primary debate after he voiced opposition to a federal abortion ban.

'I am on the record and I stand behind that we should not have a federal abortion ban,' he said during an August debate, pulling out a copy of The Constitution to defend his position on the grounds of the 10th Amendment.

'There were certain duties allowed to the federal government delegated to them by the states, the rest are left to the states, more importantly, or to the people,' drawing a round of applause from the audience.

That position fits neatly with Trump's ultimate position on the issue of abortion, choosing not to back a federal ban in favor of allowing each state to decide their own policy. 

Burgum's position gave pro-life activists cause for concern, but as governor of North Dakota, he signed a state ban on abortion with exceptions only on rape and incest prior to six weeks.

Midwest energy 

North Dakota's newfound prominence in the energy industry lifted Burgum's profile as he ran his campaign on importance of America becoming energy independent and economically prosperous. 

His record on energy sparked chatter that he could one day be Trump's pick for Secretary of Energy, much like former Gov. Rick Perry did in Trump's first term.

In January, Trump previewed that Burgum would be 'a very important piece of the administration,' and praised his temperament. 

'You need controversy for traction sometimes, and this guy is the most solid guy. There's no controversy whatsoever,' Trump said. 'And he's one of the best governors in our country.'

Burgum's success at fundraising and messaging for Trump, however, could boost his political future beyond a cabinet position to that of a heartbeat from the presidency and the future of the Republican party.