The governor of North Dakota, Doug Burgum is currently married to Kathryn Helgaas after his divorce from his first wife and has three children. Let’s meet his spouse, sons, daughter, and family.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum launched a 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday, making his case for the Republican nomination in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.
Burgum, 66, will face an already-crowded Republican field of candidates that includes former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and President Joe Biden announced in April that he will run for reelection in 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris once again joining him on the ticket.
He attended North Dakota State University (NDSU) to earn his undergraduate degree in 1978. During his senior year at NDSU, he applied to the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
He was accepted to study business at Stanford. While there, he befriended Steve Ballmer, who would later be CEO of Microsoft. During his last year at Stanford, Burgum “spent the whole final quarter on a project team with Ballmer.” He received his MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business in 1980. He later received honorary doctorates from North Dakota State in 2000 and from the University of Mary in 2006.
Burgum entered the Republican primary in the 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial election with no political experience. He upset longtime Attorney General and Republican-endorsed candidate Wayne Stenehjem in the primary election, and defeated Democratic nominee Marvin Nelson by a landslide in the general election. He was reelected by a wide margin in 2020.
Prior to his political career, he was into technology and founded some companies which all resulted in him having a huge fortune as of today.
Aside from his political and business life, Doug is a husband and a responsible father. He has been married twice and fathered children. So, what is known about the governor’s personal life? Read on for more about his family.
Image Source: typepad
Who is Doug Burgum married to?
Doug (real name: Douglas James Burgum) was born on August 1, 1956, in Arthur, North Dakota, United States. His parents are Katherine (Kilbourne) and Joseph Boyd Burgum.
About his love life, Doug Burgum has been married twice to two women; his first wife (now ex) is Karen Stoker and his current partner is Kathryn Helgaas.
He tied the knot with his first wife and the mother of his three children in 1991 after they had dated for a couple of years. How they met and details on heir wedding remains untold.
After 12 years of marriage, Burgum reportedly divorced Karen in 2003. As of today, the former couple remains good parents to their kids as she later endorsed his gubernatorial opponent.
Who is Doug Burgum’s new wife? In 2016, the Dakota governor married Kathryn Helgaas, who currently serves as North Dakota’s first lady. Helgaas was the CEO of Longhorn Marketing in Fargo, a company Doug had workd at and they apparently had been dating for years. Aside from being the first lady, Helgaas is all about good health and positivity. She has focused on reinvented programs on addiction, and recovery and mental well-being in her role.
As First Lady, Kathryn’s priority is supporting and developing initiatives to eliminate the shame and stigma of the chronic disease of addiction in North Dakota’s communities.
In a Facebook post, Burgum said he was “delighted” to introduce Kathryn Helgaas as his wife.
“I am delighted to introduce Kathryn Helgaas Burgum. Kathryn and I were married recently in a small ceremony with immediate family. #HowLuckyAreWe #WeFinallySaidIDo,” the post read.
“Doug and Kathryn appreciate the interest but respectfully decline to share the details of this very personal milestone in their life together,” Burgum’s new communications director Mike Nowatzki said in a statement..
Source: Instagram @dougburgum
The couple’s engagement had been announced during the campaign on Aug. 19, also on Facebook.
He wrote at that time in a post, “Excited to share the news that I surprised Kathryn with an engagement proposal last weekend, and she said yes!
“We are grateful for all the friends and family that have shared their love and support and we are both very excited about the journey ahead,” he added.
Image Source: Instagram
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Aside from politics, Doug Burgum’s children
Burgum is a father of three children; two sons and a daughter. The names of his kids are Jessamine Burgum, Joe Burgum, and Tom Burgum. His daughter Jesse is an actress. Aside from these detials, little is known about them.
Being a father has undoubtedly shaped Burgum’s perspective and influenced his dedication to building a better future for the people of North Dakota. As a parent, he understands the significance of creating a strong and prosperous community that provides opportunities and resources for future generations.
FAQ
Who is Doug Burgum married to?
Doug Burgum has been married twice. Most recently they were married to Kathryn Helgaas in 2016.
When did Doug Burgum get married?
Doug Burgum was first married in 1991 to Karen Stoker. They were last married in 2016 to Kathryn Helgaas.
How long has Doug Burgum been married for?
Doug Burgum was married to Karen Stoker for 12 years, and Kathryn Helgaas for 7 years.
Their longest marriage has been 12 years to Karen Stoker.
How many times has Doug Burgum been married?
Doug Burgum has been married twice.
When did Doug Burgum get divorced?
Doug Burgum was divorced from in 2003 from Karen Stoker
How many times has Doug Burgum been divorced?
Doug Burgum has been divorced once, in 2003.
How many children does Doug Burgum have?
The North Dakota governor has three kids; a daughter and two sons. The names of his kids are Jessamine Burgum, Joe Burgum, and Tom Burgum.